Pilot sets world record

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Perhaps the title should be Passengers set world record for jet lag

http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/PA_NEWA19049391131622713A000?source=PA Feed


Pilot sets world record
10 November 2005

A Boeing 777 plane has landed at Heathrow Airport after completing a record-breaking non-stop flight.

Piloted by American captain Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann, the plane touched down in west London following a 12,000-mile easterly-heading flight from Hong Kong.

The plane, carrying 35 passengers, beat the existing non-stop passenger airline record of 10,823 miles achieved by another Boeing 777.

Painted in Boeing's distinctive blue colours, the aircraft touched down at 1.13pm UK time after a flight of 22 hours and 42 minutes.

Three Heathrow fire crews shot a celebratory water spray over the aircraft as it taxied to a halt after a journey of 13,422 miles.

 

[XS650]

They only had 30 some people on the plane, at least they weren't cramed in like coach class sardines. That would have been cruel and unususal punishment.

 

[kanling]

This flight was not a passenger flight. The aircraft is the 777-LR (Long Range), which is still in the flight test program and has not yet been delivered to any airline. The passengers were journalists, Boeing people, and the like.

There have only been five orders for this plane, 3 from EVA Air (Taiwan), and 2 from PIA (Pakistan). It doesn't seem like a big success, but there aren't that many routes that need this kind of range.

http://777.newairplane.com/

 

[pitzel]

I think Air Canada has ordered, or is in the process of ordering these planes for the Vancouver to Sydney, AU, the Toronto to Hong Kong, and the Toronto to Dehli/Bombay routes.

Long range or not, existing airplanes are severely limited on these routes for various reasons.