This week’s movie Monday was inspired by a blog authored by a 24-year-old Malaysian 777 pilot. Journeys Across Continents is a must read that chronicles a MAS first officer’s cross-crossing the world in the right-seat of a 777-200ER. He guides you through all aspects of his world travels and delves into the technical workings of the 777. He combines some great up-close technical photography with his love of flying. I could not recommend this blog more.
After touching down in Kuala Lumpur on April 2, the aircraft was refueled and turned around for a departure 2 hours, 4 minutes later back to Boeing Field. The return trip (heading east still) took 18 hours, 39 minutes, establishing a new Speed Around the World, Eastbound record. The 64th 777 built, registered 9M-MRA, was delivered April 23, 1997 to Malaysia Airlines.
The record still stands to this day, but only because The Guiness Book of World Records classifies the 777-200ER in a different weight class than the -200LR. The 777-200LR established a Distance Traveled Non-Stop by a Commercial Airplane in November 2005 with a 11,664 nm non-stop flight from Hong Kong to London, eastbound in 22 hours, 42 minutes.
Parts two and three are below the fold.
This post was originally published to the internet between 2007 and 2012. Links, images, and embedded media from that era may no longer function as intended.
This post originally appeared at Flightglobal.com from 2007 to 2012.