GEnx-Powered Boeing 787 Dreamliner Sets New Distance and Speed Records on Round-the-World Flight

December 9, 2011

This week, Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner powered by GE’s GEnx engines took off from Seattle for a record flight to circumnavigate the globe. The plane stopped only in Dhaka, Bangladesh for two hours of refueling. The flight set two new world records for its weight class in nonstop distance flown and speed for an eastbound flight around the world. Our graphic below has the nuts and bolts.

krutarj

Appears that average speed was approx 1000 km/hr…I seem to remember flying at similar speeds on 777s (may be slightly less), so not sure if this is appreciably faster? Is the speed record simply due to single refueling stop? Anyway, what was the max speed attained at any time during the flight?

And, not mentioned in the story – what was the fuel consumption during this trip? and how would that compare to other planes (and engines on them) such as 777 or A350 etc? I think that may be a much bigger story here.

Of course needs to be normalized wrt to # of passengers & cargo weight etc.
Johnson

This is simply amazing. Proud to be associated with GE!!
Don Winston

See a picture of this beautiful plane (with beautiful GE engines, of course) as it’s taking off from Boeing Field at…..

http://www3.airlinesanddestinations.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/111208-787worldrecords-01.jpg