Boeing's newest widebody, the 777-9, continues to make progress on its way to entering commercial service. One of its most active 777-9s has been routinely conducting test flights, flying several times per week at a minimum. Some days the aircraft conducts multiple flights per day, racking up hundreds of flight test hours in its steady march towards certification.

The 777-9's latest test flights

According to data from FlightRadar24.com, the Boeing 777-9 registered N779XW (MSN 64240/ Line number 1567) conducted its two latest test flights on April 15th. The first flight of the day had it travel from Seattle Boeing Field (BFI) to Moses Lake (MWH), spending two hours in the air. The aircraft's second flight had it return to Boeing Field from Moses lake. This time, the aircraft only spent about 90 minutes airborne.

Throughout March and April, the test aircraft has mainly been flying in and out of Seattle and Moses Lake- either conducting 'flights to nowhere' and returning to the origin airport, or making trips between the two facilities. In February, the jet was in Singapore, being shown off to prospective customers with a series of demonstration flights. Some six demo flights were conducted during its time at the 2022 Singapore Airshow. This same aircraft was also the jet shown off at the Dubai Airshow in 2021.

Boeing has a total of four prototype 777-9s. These are registered N779XW, N779XX, N779XY, and N779XZ. Data from FlightRadar24.com indicates that N779XZ hasn't taken to the skies since November 2021, while the most recent flights of N779XX and N779XY took place at the start of April and mid-March 2022, respectively.

Optimism expressed at Singapore Airshow

According to FlightGlobal, the Boeing team was "upbeat and confident" at the Singapore Airshow on the progress being made by the 777-9. Brian Hermesmeyer, Boeing's senior director of product marketing, reported that the company's four 777X prototypes had completed some 1,900 flight test hours over 650 flights by mid-February 2022. Other members of the Boeing team praised the aircraft's engines and flight systems, as well as the aircraft's innovative folding wingtips- positive news that one would expect from company representatives hoping to find more customers at an airshow.

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As has become somewhat common for new aircraft programs (whether by Airbus, Boeing, or other firms), Boeing's newest aircraft is behind schedule. This has some airline executives frustrated with the delays. Emirates placed a massive order for the newly-announced jet back in 2014, and had expected deliveries to begin in 2020. However, the airline is now looking at a multi-year delay.

"Don’t forget – the aircraft was originally designed for delivery in April 2020, it’s now 2024 if we are lucky. You’ve now got a four-year delay with the program. If they got another year on it, we are going to question if this is fit for purpose or not, what’s the problem with it?"

-Tim Clark, President, Emirates

A report by Reuters noted that in May 2021, the FAA told Boeing that it would not certify the 777X until mid- to late 2023. However, Ian Won, acting manager of the FAA aviation safety office that oversees Boeing, warned that existing certification schedules 777-9 (and 737-10) may not be accurate. A source reporting to Reuters noted Won believes the existing schedules are "outdated and no longer reflect the program activities."

Whatever the case may be, it's still a good sign that test aircraft continue to be flying fairly regularly.

Do you think any more delays to the program will emerge? Or are the current estimates likely to hold steady? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment.

Sources: FlightGlobal, BOE Family Flights, FlightRadar24.com, Reuters