The Boeing 777-200 is the initial version of the highly successful and widely used Boeing 777 "Triple Seven" family, which revolutionized long-haul commercial air travel. It's a large, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner designed for long-range, high-capacity routes.
Here are some key characteristics:
- Configuration: A wide-body aircraft with two powerful engines. It's distinctive for its large diameter engines and long fuselage.
- Engines: Powered by two massive turbofan engines (Pratt & Whitney PW4000, General Electric GE90, or Rolls-Royce Trent 800 series). These were, at the time of its introduction, some of the most powerful engines ever built for commercial aviation.
- Capacity: Typically seats between 305 and 440 passengers, depending on the airline's configuration.
- Range: The standard 777-200 has a range of approximately 5,235 nautical miles (9,695 km). There's also an 777-200ER (Extended Range)variant which significantly boosts this to over 7,700 nautical miles (14,300 km), making it capable of ultra-long-haul flights.
- Speed: Cruising speed is around Mach 0.84 (about 560 mph or 900 km/h).
- Key Features: It was the first Boeing aircraft to be entirely designed by computer. It introduced a modern "glass cockpit" with fly-by-wire controls, a wide cabin (often allowing for 3-4-3 seating in economy), and a spacious feel. It quickly became a favorite for its efficiency, reliability, and passenger comfort on long-duration flights.
The 777-200 and especially the 777-200ER became workhorses for airlines on transcontinental and intercontinental routes worldwide, setting new standards for long-range twin-engine operations and proving that two engines could safely and efficiently replace three or four on even the longest flights.
