Boeing has begun work on the wings for its new generation 777-8 freighter ahead of its revised entry to market date of 2028.
The aircraft manufacturer said it has created the first spar, the long beam that forms the critical load-bearing support, for the first 777-8F wing.
The team at Boeing's Composite Wing Center has also made skin panels and stringers for the wings, which together with spars, give the wings strength and shape.
For the 777-8F, wing spars measure more than 30.5 m long.
Production of major assemblies for the 777-8F is also underway at Boeing and key suppliers, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Subaru, in support of the first delivery.
“We’re excited to be building wings for the new freighter and see this program succeed,” said Dan Truong, process centre leader. “I’m looking forward to seeing the airplane fly, knowing we contributed.”
Boeing said engineers have completed more than 80% of the drawings that define the configuration of the 777-8F and are continuing detailed design of systems and parts.
Teams are also testing systems in laboratories to help demonstrate they perform as intended.
Ben Linder, 777F and 777-8F chief project engineer, added that "customers are counting on us to deliver the first 777-8 Freighter to expand their operations and replace retiring 747-400 Freighters".
The 777-8F was originally anticipated to come to market in 2027, but in October 2024, Boeing announced it would delay launch until 2028.
Customers have ordered 59 777-8Fs since Boeing launched the programme in 2022 with Qatar Airways as the launch customer.
Boeing’s 2025 Current Market Outlook projects a two-thirds increase in the global freighter fleet by 2044, including approximately 885 large widebody freighters.
