The Boeing 777 story

The 777 started her life as a sibling of the 767, nicknamed the 767-X, in 1986 with the ambition to become an airplane situated between the 763 for 269 passengers and the 744 with 420 seats. However, the 777 should not be trapped inbetween these two sizes, but to possibly grow to an even larger plane, the 773 with up to 550 seats in a one-class configuration. Boeing has done very extensive market research for this program, what resulted in a group of airlines which helped Boeing to design the new airplane right to the needs of an airline, named the Gang of Eight.
Under the slogan "Working together" United, American, Delta, British Airways, Japan Airlines, All Nippon, Cathay Pacific and QANTAS worked together with Boeing. During the design-phase the gang reduced itself to a Gang of Four, with only United, All Nippon, British Airways and Japan Airlines remaining but effectively being involved in creating the new airplane.
The 777 was designed from a clean sheet of paper or better from a blank computer screen. The 777 is Boeing's first plane which was completely designed on the computer using CAD and CAM programs.

The starting order for the 777-program was hand-written on a yellowish sheet of paper and is signed by executives from United and Boeing. This paper is now known as the B777 Objectives. Two weeks after this historic date, Boeing's board members gave the final authorization to offer the 777 to airlines.
On April 9th, 1994 the first 777 was rolled out in a ceremony with around 100.000 people attending it. Two months after the roll-out, the first 777 had its maiden flight which lasted 3h48min. This flight was the beginning of an eleven-months long flight-test-program.
In April 1995 the 777 received its certification from the FAA and the JAA. Becoming the first plane which receives both on a single day. The 15th May 1995 marks the 1st delivery of a 777 to an airline, United Airlines. Roughly a month later United had the 1st flight in regular passenger services, as flight UA921 from LHR to IAD. Two other United 777s had their inaugral flights the same day.
Three years after the first 777 had its roll-out, Boeing started production of the first stretched 777, the 777-300. Five months later the 1st 773 had its ceremonial roll-out. Cathay Pacific received the 1st 773 in May 1998.
The 500th 777, a 77W, was delivered as a "christmas present" to Air France in late December 2004.
The 777th B777 was ordered on the 24th November 2005 by Emirates, placed in the single largest firm order for 777s (43x).

The 777 program steadily improves and advances, this also lead into the production of the Longer-Range models (773ER and 772LR) and also a freighter variant of the 777, the 77F is based on the 772LR ".
Since 2003 Boeing and Jeppesen offer a fully integrated Class3 Electronic Flight Bag for the 777, which is integrated into the two side-consoles (one for the pilot and one for the co-pilot). The 777 is the first airplane to have such a system installed. The EFB reduces carry-on "paper" navigation charts and can calculate a better load sheet and therefore improves the 777s performance.

"This is a vital milestone in our effort to e-enable the air transport system," said Ray Marzullo, Boeing vice president, Flight Services during the press conference about the FAA Approval for the EFB. "The EFB will bring airlines significant gains in efficiency and situational awareness through the strategic application and integration of data."

Main features of the EFB are (source Boeing.com):
# Airport moving map which precisely displays the airplane's position on an airport tarmac.
# Performance calculator that allows to instantly calculate ideal speeds and engine settings, taking into account any weather, runway, and payload. This allows as much as 9.000 kg extra on a flight. This feature is also available for landings.
# Cabin surveillance systems.

The EFB is also available for already delivered 777s, because the position for this system was also built in earlier 777s.
KLM was the first customer to receive a EFB-installed 777 in 2003. More and more airlines are now receiving 777s with EFB installed.
Pakistan Int'l., Malaysia Airlines and Air New Zealand are some of the other customers. The EFB is already factory-installed in all 77Ws and 77Ls.
As of summer 2004 Boeing offers another improvement to the newer 777s (77E, 77W, and 77L).
In the yet-unused space between the cabin's ceiling and the airplane's crown, there is enough space to hold a restrooms for the crew.
This feature offers to the airlines more seats that are available for paying passengers.
There are different options available: The 77E and 77L are offered with a six-bunk rest station, while the 77W is offered with either six-, eight- or ten-bunk stations and a personal storage. The pilot's rest stations are built with two sleeping berths and two biz-class-comfort seats, a lavatory can also be integrated.