Aircraft
Folding Wingtips Present Challenge for Next Narrowbodies
‘Wing of Tomorrow’ saves fuel but won’t fit at today’s narrowbody gates
777X
Boeing says the 777X’s high-span composite wing achieves more-efficient aerodynamics than those of the A350-1000, against which it will compete upon certification.

Folding wingtips could be considered something of a proven concept since they are a signature feature of the 777X. But before such technology can enable greater wingspans on the eventual successors to the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 Max families, several technical challenges still must be resolved.

Boeing has demonstrated the viability of folding wingtips on widebody jets. With its 235-foot wingspan, the 777-9 would not fit at airport gates and in taxiways without them. (FAA airport specifications show the 777-9’s folded wingspan measuring 213 feet.) That means airports do not have to alter infrastructure to accommodate the aircraft.

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