Yeah, we would associate the number to a Casino 99% of the times, and a 777 on the slot machine means a perfect win on any slot machine. Some prefer to call it "Triple Seven" and the others call is "Seven Seven Seven".
777 is actually a winning plane from Boeing, which has been the most trusted plane all over the world especially in the long haul and the ultra-long haul category. This plane has had an exceptional safety record and is a favorite among airline to put it on its busiest routes. This plane was introduced in 1994 and since then been an instant hit. A lot of new versions have kept coming in and all of them have weighed in additional benefits, keeping Boeing`s bank account flooded with money all the time.
What makes the 777, so popular ?
The 777 is a twin-engine plane, meaning, 2-engines but still able to service routes managed by the four engine Boeing 747 or an A340. Basic maths tells us that, it is cheaper to run 2 engines than 4. Despite being just a 2-engined plane, it was able to service the distances previously managed by the B747 or the A340. This aircraft soon became a replacement aircraft for the fuel sucking planes. Every major airlines has placed order for this flying beauty. It is nothing short of a magic carpet, it is a silent flying machine, where vibrations felt neither during the take-offs, nor during the landings, and the cruise control at 40,000ft is so awesome, that you`d feel, you are walking among the clouds literally. Over 1200 triple 7`s have been built so far and orders are pending for an additional 550.
Different versions of the "777"
777-200 - This was the first of 777`s to be made.
777-200ER - The ER stands for extended range, this was an extension to the previous model but offered better range.
777-300 - This was a longer version of the 777-200ER
777-200LR - This is one special plane, the LR stands for Long Range, this particular model offered the flexibility to travel almost 17000km, which none of the modern day aircrafts can even think of. This plane has a distinguished feather of flying non-stop between Hong Kong and London for 22 hours and 42 minutes (the plane had only the main crew and the supporting crew, no cargo either), flying east wards, obviously, the wrong direction to fly this route, but then for the record there were no two points which were as away from each-other, this flight saw two sun rises, thanks to time difference and jet-setting.
777-300ER - This model is the most sold model of the 777 family, and it is an extension of the 777-300 with extended range possibility. This plane has the range to cover up 90% of the world`s city pairs, and that is a big adjective to its name. This model is by far the most sold among all the 777s.
777 Freighter - This is the freighter version of the 777, and a preferred model in the cargo business.
Last year during the Dubai Airshow in November 2013, a new 777 program, the 777X was announced, where Boeing announced the 777-8X and the 777-9X, offering better range than all its previous family members. The most unique feature of this series is that planes will have foldable wings, meaning the wings would be extended when the flight is cruising in the skies, that would mean better mileage, and when it has landed the wings` size would be shrunken by a couple of feet. This concept is the first to be ever carried out by any airplane.
Emirates, British Airways, Air France, United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, are all the major users of the 777 planes. It is because of this plane that newer routes were launched and its direct benefit was passed on to the consumers. Emirates is the largest consumer of the 777. It is the only airline to have purchased every single version of the 777. It has 128 777s in operation at the moment and an additional 203 on order. Clearly, from the Emirates fleet analysis, it is obvious that the Emirates Airlines trusts the 777 more than the A380.
In 2016, the 777 is going to be the most delivered plane, surpassing the current leaser 747.
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Photo courtesy: shutter stock and respective owners. I do not own any of the images.
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