Boeing Arrives at End of World's Longest Nonstop Commercial Flight

Nov. 10, 2005
The 777-200LR Worldliner touched down in London after an almost 23-hour journey of more than 12,586 miles from Hong Kong.

A Boeing Co. jet arrived in London on Thursday at the end of an attempt to break the record for the longest nonstop flight by a commercial jet.

The 777-200LR Worldliner - one of Boeing's newest planes - touched down shortly after 1 p.m. (1300 GMT) at London's Heathrow Airport after an almost 23-hour journey of more than 20,300 kilometers (12,586 miles) from Hong Kong.

The flight traversed the Pacific Ocean and North America before landing in London.

Boeing said that Guinness World Records representatives would monitor the flight and attend the landing at London's Heathrow Airport.

The plane has four pilots and was carrying 35 passengers and crew, including Boeing representatives, journalists and customers.

Boeing wanted to fly the jet farther than a Boeing 747-400 that flew 17,039 kilometers (10,500 miles) from London to Sydney in 1989.

The record-breaking attempt is part of Boeing's fierce competition with its European rival Airbus. The Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner was designed to compete directly with the popular Airbus 340-500, which has a flight range of 16,700 kilometers (10,380 miles).

After leaving Hong Kong, the Boeing jet was flying to the northern Pacific Ocean, crossing North America and cruising over the Atlantic Ocean to London, said Boeing spokesman Chuck Cadena. Hong Kong-London flights usually fly over Russia.

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On the Net:

The plane's flight path can be tracked at http://www.777.newairplane.com

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