Keeping the Flag Flying

[Barb-SAN]

Look who JUST started flying Non-Stop London-San Diego!! 11 hrs...:hyped::hyped::ukflag::usflag:
Eh, just in case any of you Brits need an excuse to fly to San Diego...:D
or vice-versa...
It was a beautiful, clear, sunny, windy afternoon today,...perfect for taking photos. This is the
first time I've seen the 777 (and it's got so MANY WHEELS!...and is so big)!

You also get a great view of downtown coming in to land at San Diego Lindbergh Field. ;)

[Falcon]

Triple 7 , Queen of the skies.

[helen31]

That is a stunning picture! I love the two country's flags both in the picture. What I want to know is how can a two engined plane make the journey of 6,000 miles/11 hours. It has always been a 4 engined plane from the UK to the West Coast to my knowledge.:confused:

[Barb-SAN]

Thanks!
Falcon may have more to say about the 2-engines. For your reference, here's the FlightAware track from last night's flight. The dotted blue line is the planned flight route, the green the actual route. You can see that much of the flight is actually over land. I suspect the blue dotted line may be more accurate for the first part of the flight. I looked at today's flight, and tracking stopped shortly after take-off. So the flight-aware software may just connect the starting point and where they resume tracking over N.America...hence the straight green line for the first few hours.

[Falcon]

Nice view of the lakes.

[Barb-SAN]

Looking up the tail number (letters) of this plane, here's some additional information & photos:http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Boeing/777/36516,G-YMMR-British-Airways.php
and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_777
777-200ER
The 777-200ER ("ER" for Extended Range), the B-market version of the −200, was originally known as the 777-200IGW for its increased gross weight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_weight).[128] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_777#cite_note-127) The −200ER features additional fuel capacity and an increased maximum takeoff weight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_takeoff_weight) (MTOW) over the −200.[126] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_777#cite_note-Boe_700-200-200ER_specs-125) Aimed at international airlines operating transatlantic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_flight) routes,[15] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_777#cite_note-Eden112-14) the −200ER's maximum range is 7,700 nautical miles (14,300 km).[126] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_777#cite_note-Boe_700-200-200ER_specs-125) In addition to breaking the eastbound great circle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_circle) "distance without landing" record, the −200ER also holds the record for the longest ETOPS-related emergency flight diversion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversion_airport) (177 minutes under one engine), on a United Airlines flight carrying 255 passengers on March 17, 2003, over the Pacific Ocean.[129] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_777#cite_note-128)[130] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_777#cite_note-129)

[Dachiri]

What I want to know is how can a two engined plane make the journey of 6,000 miles/11 hours. It has always been a 4 engined plane from the UK to the West Coast to my knowledge.:confused:

Newer, better technology, mostly. The engines are really, really powerful and very fuel efficient. I've flown one of these bad boys 15 hrs/8,000 miles (although that was a *300* ER rather than a 200). Moreover, the 777 is a bit smaller than the 747, and has a substantially lower maximum take-off weight:

777-200 - 545,000lbs
777-200ER - 656,000lbs
747-400 - 875,000lbs

But only a portion of that lower take-off weight is accounted for my fewer passengers and less baggage...the plane also needs less fuel than a 747...carry the 4 and, voila, a fuel-efficient 2-engine plane carries hundreds of passengers almost halfway around the world with no problems!

I adore the 777's. They're so quiet. :D