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American plane maker 
Boeing has celebrated its latest production milestone, with the debut of its Boeing 777-8F rolling out from the hangar. This will now see the aircraft transition to pre-flight preparations, which will see the engines being integrated, ground testing, and eventually test flights.
As reported by Aviation Week, the aircraft was debuted briefly at the manufacturer’s Everett production facility on Thursday, April 23, and now will move out of final assembly, with preparations now with its sights set on its first flight. The stage of pre-flight preparations is crucial to ensure the aircraft can perform adequately before entering any flight testing.
Debuting The Boeing 777-8F At Everett
The 777-8F is the American plane maker’s latest next-generation cargo aircraft, which is expected to offer superior range and efficiency when compared to older generation freighters. The recent rollout marks the aircraft’s latest chapter for the 777X, which has been plagued with delays in certification, testing, and delivery.
Those who have ordered the 777-8F are looking forward to the latest in aviation technology, including folding wingtips, which can allow the aircraft to fit into ICAO size E gates. The 777-8F will offer up to 30% superior fuel efficiency when compared to the previous 777 models, and is expected to enter commercial service by 2028 or 2029.
Simple Flying contacted Boeing for a statement, and we will update this article once we hear back.
Patiently Waiting For The Next Generation Of 777s
Officially launched in 2013, Boeing launched the 777X family of aircraft as an improvement on the widely popular 777. The aircraft are in the process of being assembled at Boeing’s Everett factory, and the first 777-9 took flight in January 2020. The program has sadly been plagued with several delays, with the planned commercial delivery of the 777-9 expected next year. At the moment, this marks the first 777X freighter to be completed in the assembly stage.
Lufthansa is poised to become the first airline to receive the 777X, with flight tests expected in April this year, while Doha-based 
Qatar Airways is expected to become the initial operator of the 777-8F freighter variant, with the Middle Eastern carrier having an order for 34 of the airplane type.
Other notable operators that are awaiting their 777-8F include European carriers Cargolux, and Lufthansa Cargo, while Japanese ANA All Nippon Airways is also patiently awaiting its own 777-8F. For Boeing, the 777-8F has been widely labeled as the future of all long-haul capable cargo air transport, and more recently has been building on the rapid growth of air cargo demand that was experienced in the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Inside The World’s Largest Twinjet Freighter As Boeing Starts 777-8F Wing Assembly
The process is already underway.
What Will Make The 777-8F Such A Success?
The Boeing 777X will incorporate the GE9X engines, with composite wings, and the unique folding wingtips. Modern technology has been inspired by the 787 Dreamliner, and onboard the plane, a total of 45 pallets will be able to be accommodated, including 31 on the main deck, with an additional 13 on the lower deck.
The increase of 17% in volume when compared to its predecessor will see the 777-8F capacity, including its maximum payload, be comparable to the 747-400F. The total payload onboard the aircraft will reach a total of 118 tonnes, and have the ability to fly up to 5,074 miles (8,165 km).
This increased payload and ability to fly further enable airlines to operate more long-haul routes with fewer technical stops. The improved fuel efficiency also widely supports the aviation industry’s ambitious sustainability targets, that ensuring lower operating costs for airlines. Boeing began its first production of the 777-8F in July last year, and while that’s been almost a year ago and over a decade in the making since the type was first introduced, it marks the next generation of cargo air transportation.
