Boeing Hopes to Set Record with 777-200LR Flight

Boeing Hopes to Set World Record with 777-200LR Flight

The Boeing Company announced its intention to set a new world record during the flight of a 777-200LR Worldliner on November 9, 2005. The plane will fly an eastbound route from Hong Kong to London in the record attempt.

With a payload of full fuel and only 35 passengers and crew, the non-stop trip could exceed a distance of more than halfway around the world according to Boeing. A representative from the United States National Aeronautics Association will fly with the airplane to monitor the record attempt.

"The flight plan we have in place will allow us to set a new distance record well above the current one," said Capt. Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann, the project pilot leader for the 777-200LR record flight attempt. The flight is expected to last about 23 hours and cover more than 11,000 nautical miles (20,300 km). Two sets of pilot crews will be required.

Two General Electric GE90-115B engines power the record attempt aircraft.