Boeing attempts record jet flight

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Source: BBC NEWS

Boeing attempts record jet flight

Aerospace giant Boeing is attempting to break the world record for the longest non-stop passenger airline flight.

A Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner jet is due to take off from Hong Kong at 1030 local time (1430 GMT) and arrive in London on Thursday at 1330 GMT.

The 23-hour flight will cover about 12,000 miles, taking the plane over North America rather than the usual shorter route to London via Russia.

Boeing hopes to challenge arch rival Airbus with its new long-haul jet.

Making history

Boeing said the current world record for the longest non-stop commercial airline flight was set in 1989 by a Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet, which flew 10,500 miles from London to Sydney.

The US-based firm said it hoped Wednesday's world record attempt would encourage airlines to offer non-stop flights across the world, saving fuel and time spent on stopovers.

Boeing is facing fierce competition from European manufacturer Airbus, which earlier this year launched its A380 double-decker passenger jet with the aim of capturing the long-haul market.

Boeing said the planned flight from Hong Kong would carry 35 passengers, including Boeing executives and clients, journalists and crew members.

"Boeing is set to make aviation history in the next few hours and we are going to set a new long-distance non-stop record for commercial planes," said Lars Andersen, Boeing's vice president in charge of the 777 programme.

The flight will be piloted by American captain Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann.

The twin-engine Boeing 777-200LR, which is due to come into service next year with Pakistan International Airlines, will be able to carry 301 passengers.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/b ... 420110.stm

Published: 2005/11/09 07:17:03 GMT

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