Boeing goes the distance

Boeing made aviation history last Thursday when the 777- 200LR Worldliner, an aircraft said to be capable of connecting any two cities, landed in London, after having flown eastbound non-stop from Hong Kong.

With a full fuel load, 35 passengers and two sets of pilots, the plane covered more than 20,000km in a non-stop flight lasting 23 hours. In doing so, the 777-200LR broke the previous world record by a commercial jetliner.

The current distance record for a plane of its size and class was set by a Boeing 747-400 in 1989, which flew 17,039km non-stop from London to Sydney.

According to Boeing, the successful record attempt was made possible because of the 777-200LR’s fuel efficiency and its reliable GE90-115B engines, which were developed by General Electric.

Representatives from the Guinness Book of Records were waiting to greet the plane as it landed.

The first 777-200LR will be delivered to Pakistan International Airlines in early 2006. In addition, EVA Air, Qatar Airways and Air India have announced orders or commitments for the long-range aircraft.