Seventh 777-9 test jet makes its first flight and will mainly fly ETOPS certification tests

Boeing/Boeing 777X

A seventh 777-9 flight-test aircraft flew for about three hours from Boeing Field in Seattle. Unlike the others, it will mainly support ETOPS testing, the approval airlines need to fly twin-engine jets far from diversion airports. The test fleet had passed 4,800 flight hours on more than 1,700 flights, about half of planned certification testing.

• About 3-hour first flight over Washington, Oregon and Idaho on July 29, 2026
• Test fleet: 4,800+ hours, 1,700+ flights; roughly half of certification testing done
• Remaining: final Type Inspection Authorizations and ETOPS demonstrations
• One airframe has passed a full simulated service life in fatigue testing