Backgrounder: Boeing 777-200

Boeing 777-200 interior seat map (malaysiaairlines.com)

Boeing's wide-body 777 was originally conceived as a stretched 767, but the company instead adopted an all new design.

Notable 777 features include a unique fuselage cross section, Boeing's first application of fly-by-wire, an advanced technology glass flight deck with five liquid crystal displays, comparatively large scale use of composites (10 percent by weight), and advanced and extremely powerful engines.

The 777 was also offered with optional folding wings where the outer 6m/21ft of each would fold upwards for operations at space restricted airports.

The basic 777-200, launched in October 1990, was offered in two versions, the basic 777-200 (initially A-Market) and the increased weight, longer range 777-200IGW (Increased Gross Weight, initially B-Market). The IGW has since been redesignated 777-200ER.

The 777-200 first flew on June 12, 1994, with Federal Aviation Administration and Joint Aviation Authorities certification awarded on April, 19 1995. The FAA awarded full 180 minutes Extended range Twin Operations clearance for PW4074 -200s on May 30 that year. The first customer delivery was to United Airlines in May 1995. The first 777-200IGW/ER was delivered to British Airways in February 1997. (airliners.net)