Folding jet airliner wingtips have been OK'd by the FAA, which means that Boeing will go ahead with revamping its massive 777 aircraft to include wings that fold upward so that it can still park at airport gates after landing, Bloomberg noted.
Boeing has been building the first of its twin-engine models designed to carry more than 400 passengers, however, the plane maker encountered a bit of a snag recently.
In order to operate efficiently, the 777X jetliner had to be designed with wings that were longer than the current 777 aircraft's 213 feet wingspan, PC Magazine noted.
The revamped model now features a wingspan of 235 feet, but this makes the plane too wide for existing parking gates at airports.
Boeing came up with a nifty solution to solve the predicament — folding wingtips.
When grounded, the last 11.5 feet of each wing will fold upward to reduce the aircraft's wingspan and when taking off, the wingtips will fold back down again.
This is a first-of-its-kind design, so there are no governing aircraft design standards in place. Regulations specifically pertaining to the design have now been drawn up as special conditions, and the FAA has approved.
Boeing's new 777X aircraft has been in the making for several years, but it has not been without its share of drama.
Last year the World Trade Organization delivered a setback to the European Union in a long-running trade row with the United States over aircraft subsidies, reversing a ruling that Boeing had received prohibited support for its newest jet.
The decision by WTO appeal judges overturns a decision to ban some Washington state support for facilities including a $1 billion plant designed to build the world's largest carbon-composite wings for Boeing's 777X jet.
Boeing also fell behind schedule after the FAA brought forth concerns of various potential safety issues, however, program chief Kevin Bartelson said the company expects to get the process back on schedule by this summer, Bloomberg noted.
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