Boeing marked the official launch of production activity for the first test aircraft in a public ceremony on October The company started building the wing spar in the newly-erected composite wing center in Everett, Washington, during the summer. The October 23 ceremony coincided with the drilling of the spar by an automated machine in another building on the campus.
The ceremonial launch of production for the X family comes about 14 months before the scheduled first flight of the test aircraft in the first quarter of Entry into service with Launch customer should occur about a year after first flight.
Meanwhile, GE Aviation is continuing certification testing of the GE9x engine, while the second engine is to test running on a ground test stand since May. It has been increased in diameter by around 7m 23ft over the current ER model, to Flight testing of the X is set to commence in Boeing expects to deliver the first during , with the longer-range -8 model to follow one year later.
Boeing has secured firm orders for of the aircraft—s and s— since launching the program at the Dubai air show in November the last order for s from Singapore Airlines was finalized in Washington, DC on October The first Airbus Aneo equipped with a modified fuselage and additional cabin exits is nearing completion on the final assembly line in Hamburg. The pair of doors immediately behind the wing has also repositioned aft by four fuselage frames with a deactivation option.
Other interior changes include slimmer seats, redesigned rear galley and lavatory module, and a new rating for exit doors. The Aneo ACF is due to enter service next year and the changes it features will be incorporated into the extended-range ALR version of the Aneo, which is due to enter service in This variant features increased weights and up to three auxiliary fuel tanks, to boost range by up to nm km to 4,nm.
