He is credited with 20 inventions, eight of which he received patents for. The Super Soaker, first patented in 1986, is his most popular invention. An engineer by training, Johnson has worked on both the stealth bomber project for the Air Force and the Galileo space probe for NASA. Inventor Lonnie Johnson holds more than 80 U.S. patents, but it’s his invention of the Super Soaker toy that is perhaps his most endearing claim to fame. George Washington Carver became one of the leading agronomists of his time, pioneering numerous uses for peanuts, soybeans, and sweet potatoes.

By the time manufacturing of the 777 began in 1993 at Boeing’s factory in Everett, Washington, the manufacturer had received 118 orders for the aircraft from 10 airlines. The Boeing 777 is a family of wide-body twin-engine commercial jet aircraft with variants for both passenger and cargo transportation. Two passengers, who had not been wearing their seatbelts, were ejected from the aircraft during the crash and were killed. The 307 surviving passengers and crew on board evacuated before fire destroyed the aircraft. Following flight testing, aerodynamic refinements have reduced fuel burn by an additional 1.4%.

To avoid disrupting current 777 assembly, a temporary low-rate assembly line was set up for up to 38 airframes before transitioning to the main FAL in the early 2020s. In February 2018, its wing components were ready to go through assembly as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the 787 composite wings manufacturer, advised Boeing on the wing assembly. Boeing’s first composite wing spars, stringers, and skin panels are formed in the $1 billion Composite Wing Center before assembly on a new horizontal build line. In February 2018, Subaru (ex–Fuji Heavy Industries) completed the first aluminum and titanium center wingbox integrated with main landing gear wheel wells at its Handa factory. A major leap in automated production, it drills the tens of thousands of holes in the fuselage more quickly, accurately, and safely. Aircraft Numbers 1 and 6 were planned to be used for ground tests; four 777-9s (No. 2 to 5) were slated for the flight test and certification campaign, with two 777-8s to come later.

Best In Black: 10 Black Inventors That Impacted The World

It has a maximum design range of 8,555 nautical miles (15,844 km; 9,845 mi) as of 2017update. It holds the world record for the longest nonstop flight by a commercial airliner. The -200 was primarily aimed at US domestic airlines, although several Asian carriers and British Airways have also operated the type. Each manufacturer agreed to develop an engine in the 77,200–98,000 lbf (343–436 kN) of thrust class for the world’s largest twinjet, resulting in the General Electric GE90, Pratt & Whitney PW4000, or Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines.

  • The program has suffered from numerous delays; as of October 2025,update Boeing expects the first aircraft to be delivered in 2027.
  • As of April 2021update, 247 aircraft had been ordered by 25 customers, with 45 orders remaining unfilled.
  • By using 3-D computer aided design tools, Boeing engineers were able to design a more aerodynamically advanced and structurally efficient airplane with exceptional fuel economy.
  • Airlines around the world are looking for efficient, long-range aircraft that can handle high passenger volumes without skyrocketing costs.
  • The Triple Seven can accommodate a ten–abreast seating layout and has a typical 3-class capacity of 301 to 368 passengers, with a range of 5,240 to 8,555 nautical miles nmi (9,700 to 15,840 km; 6,030 to 9,840 mi).

The advanced wing design of the 777 features a long span with increased thickness to dramatically improve airplane performance and reduce operating costs. On August 6, 2025, Cathay Pacific ordered an additional 14 aircraft, which brings the airline’s total commitment to 35 airframes. The deal also includes 8 spare engines plus two options and a maintenance service contract for the General Electric GE9X engines. It will seat around 426 passengers with a range of 7,285 nmi (13,500 km; 8,383 mi).

  • Deficiencies in Asiana Airlines’ pilot training and in Boeing’s documentation of complex flight control systems were also cited as contributory factors.
  • Folding wingtips, 21 feet (6.40 m) long, were offered when the 777 was first launched, to appeal to airlines who might use gates made to accommodate smaller aircraft, but no airline purchased this option.
  • These second-generation 777 variants have extended raked wingtips and are powered exclusively by 110,000–115,300 lbf (489–513 kN) GE90 engines.
  • Two other minor momentary losses of thrust with Trent 895 engines occurred later in 2008.
  • The Boeing 777 was born out of a simple need, airlines wanted a plane bigger than the 767 but smaller than the 747.
  • The 787 ‘surge’ line at the Everett factory would be converted into a 777X early production line by the end of 2015.

Alexander Miles significantly impacted the safety of elevators with his groundbreaking design. However, savvy engineers knew that McCoy’s cup was the best, so when purchasing the part, they’d ask for “the real McCoy.” As a result, trains didn’t have to stop as frequently, which reduced costs, saved time and improved safety.

In 1907, he opened his own sewing machine and shoe repair shop. Repairing sewing machines inspired him to make his first invention, a belt fastener for sewing machines. It was here that he developed his own design for a steam engine. Many of these black inventors had to face continuous obstacles, yet creativity and resilience led them to innovate things that have been used for a long time. Elijah McCoy invented an automatic lubrication system for steam engines.

The Portable Electric Hair Straightener

As the undercarriage was in the process of being retracted, the aircraft landed on its rear underbody and engine nacelles, resulting in the separation of one engine, loss of control and subsequent crash. The accident was attributed to ice crystals suspended in the aircraft’s fuel clogging the fuel-oil heat exchanger (FOHE). The first fatality involving the twinjet occurred in a fire while an aircraft was being refueled at Denver International Airport in the United States on September 5, 2001, during which a ground worker sustained fatal burns. The first of these, a 777F in 2018, performed the world’s first commercial airliner flights using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). KMC claims this requires less structural reinforcement, which results in a lighter and more fuel-efficient aircraft.

The 1,000th 777 off the production line, a -300ER set to be Emirates’ 102nd 777, was unveiled at a factory ceremony in March 2012. Emirates is the largest airline operator as of 2018update, and is the only customer to have operated all 777 variants produced, including the -200, -200ER, -200LR, -300, -300ER, and 777F. The first program, the Quiet Technology Demonstrator (QTD) was run in collaboration with Rolls-Royce and General Electric to develop and validate engine intake and exhaust modifications, including the chevrons subsequently used in the 737 MAX, and 787 series. Kansas Modification Center claims a maximum payload of 205,000 lb (93 t), room for 47 pallets, and a range of about 5,400 nmi (10,000 km; 6,200 mi) at maximum payload. By March 2023, IAI had a backlog of over 60 orders, and completed the first flight of its prototype. The company has been in discussion with several airline customers, including FedEx Express, UPS Airlines, and GE Capital Aviation Services, to provide launch orders for a 777 BCF program.

The Story Behind Boeing 777

The combination of baseline and priced optional features will result in an approximate five percent overall fuel use per seat improvement. Optional priced features allow operators to accommodate more seats for more revenue and further improve fuel efficiency per seat. By moving crew and attendant quarters off the main deck, operators can free as many as four to seven revenue passenger seats, or room for up to six LD-3 containers. Comfort at every seat and convenience throughout the cabin makes flying productive for business travelers, restful for leisure travelers and enjoyable for all on board. Further enhancing the flying experience, the 777 passenger windows are 12% larger than the A350.

A-Z List of Black and African-American inventors and inventions

First deliveries are planned for May 2020 while the first production wing spar was going to be loaded in early December. By September, the static test 777X article was completed, lacking engines and various systems, ahead of its structural testing on ground. The first wing was completed in May for static tests before the flight test wings. Wing assembly is difficult, with the light but strong carbon-fiber material being less forgiving than traditional aluminum, and aircraft systems integration in a special demonstration lab is not as quick as planned.

Lonnie Johnson (Born October 6,

Raked wingtips were added to improve overall aerodynamic efficiency, extending each wing by 2 meters (6.5 feet). On February 14, 2019, it was reported that Etihad would take only 6 of the X airliners it had originally ordered. Emirates’ demand had been slowing and it was considering deferral of deliveries, having the smallest sovereign wealth fund backing of the Gulf carriers. Boeing acknowledged that the GE9X engine would have sufficient margin to power a stretched variant.

To stay within the size category of the current 777 with a less than 213 ft (65 m) wingspan, it features 11 feet (3.5 m) folding wingtips with the folding wingtip actuation system made by Liebherr Aerospace. On October 2, 2025, it was reported that the first delivery would slip again to 2027, resulting in additional charges estimated at between $2.5 billion and $4 billion. As of September 2024, its estimate has been revised to an entry into service by early 2027.

In 1868, he and Robert Tanner Freeman became the first blacks to enroll in Harvard Dental School. As a solution, Goode invented a cabinet bed, similar to what would now be called a Murphy bed. It was in Chicago where Sarah met her husband, Archibald Goode, a carpenter, and stair builder.

Design

Boeing was also redesigning the inboard flap fairings to reduce drag by reducing pressure on the underside of the wing. Lasting 22 hours and 42 minutes, the flight surpassed the -200LR’s standard design range and was logged in the Guinness World Records. On November 10, 2005, the first -200LR set a record for the longest non-stop flight of a passenger airliner by flying 11,664 nautical miles (21,602 km; 13,423 mi) eastward from Hong Kong to London. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation, demand for new jets fell in 2020 and Boeing further reduced monthly 777 production from five to two aircraft. By April 2014, with cumulative sales surpassing those of the 747, the 777 became the best-selling wide-body airliner; at existing production rates, the aircraft was on track to become the most-delivered wide-body airliner by mid-2016.

Largest Long-range Twin-engine Jetliner

He also received patents for a device to quickly moisten vegas casino envelopes and one for operating street railway switches. Philip B. Downing changed that when he invented a mailbox design with an outer and inner safety door. The ability to store blood (or, as Drew called it, banking the blood) for longer periods of time meant that more people could receive transfusions.

The aircraft features the largest landing gear and the biggest tires ever used in a commercial jetliner. Smaller folding wingtips of 11 feet (3.35 m) in length will allow 777X models to use the same airport gates and taxiways as earlier 777s. Folding wingtips reemerged as a design feature at the announcement of the upgraded 777X in 2013. In 2013, a new wing made of composite materials was introduced for the upgraded 777X, with a wider span and design features based on the 787’s wings.

Two other minor momentary losses of thrust with Trent 895 engines occurred later in 2008. It entered service with Ethiopian Airlines in December 2024 on lease from Altavair. Various airframes have been used since to test a wide variety of technologies in collaboration with a range of industrial partners. The program started in 2011, with the first ecoDemonstrator aircraft flying in 2012. The main purpose has been for VIP transport, including as an air transport for heads of state, although the aircraft has also been proposed for other military applications.