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The Boeing 777, in passenger service since 1995, is now starting a new life as a freighter. The first Boeing 777 freighter, which rolled out of the assembly plant on May 21st 2008, made its maiden flight on July 14th 2008 out of Paine Field in Everett WA. The total flight test took over three hours, the testing phase in flight went well despite problems with data transmission. The aircraft returned to the ground to have this problem fixed. Flight testing will resume after data transmission problem is resolved.
A flight test program covering 270 flight test hours is to be completed before the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Europe Joint Aviation Authorities (CAA) certify the aircraft airworthy, one this is done the first unit will be delivered.
Air France, which now operates a fleet of fifty Boeing 777's in passenger version, launched the B777 Freighter in May 2005 and is expecting the first delivery sometimes in 2009. Air France received its first passenger 777, a 200 Series, ten years ago. The B777F will join a fleet of B744F currently in service with Air France.
Fed Ex, a large shipping company based in Memphis TN, is also very interested in the aircraft.
The Boeing 777-200F will have a range of close to 5000NM with a full payload, a cruising speed of Mach .84 at an altitude of 35000ft. It will enable the freight carriers to plan their flights by scheduling longer legs with fewer intermediate stops. According to the Boeing Commercial Airplanes website, 11 customers have ordered the 777F, Air France being one of them.
