As I promised three weeks ago, here are the full set of blank illustration templates for the Boeing 777-8 (also known as the 777X). Before diving into this post completely though, I suspect that there are at least a few of you who are eager to point out that my original promise was to have these drawings done in two weeks. Not three. Sorry about that. But as they always say: better late than never!
777-8 templates with and without the folded wingtips
Just as how I presented my side view drawings of the 777–9 three weeks ago, here are the full set of illustrations for the 777–8 showing the wingtips both fully extended and folded. I can’t imagine there would be a lot of demand for the drawings of the wingtips in the folded configuration, but I’m just covering all the bases and trying to be as thorough as possible.
As you can see, this is a stunningly good looking aircraft. The proportions are nearly perfect in my opinion, with the massive engines hanging off an all new 787-style wing. It’s a beast of an airplane, and in my opinion, I’m tempted to say that it may actually be better looking than the A350 (my current favorite at the time of this writing).
What exactly is the 777-8?
The Boeing 777–8 is the direct successor of the 777-200, with an increased overall length of 229 feet (68.9 m). Although significantly longer than the -200 variant, it’s mission is roughly the same. Personally, I tend to think of it as a 777–200 on steroids thanks to its increased capacity and longer range.
Of course there’s a lot more to it than that, and I recommend reading the 777X Wikipedia page for all the juicy stats and latest information. But for the purpose of this article, all you need to know is that it’s the successor to the -200.
Also worth noting is the fact that the 777–8 is essentially a shorter version of the 777-9 (which I posted side view templates for three weeks ago). All of the significant upgrades for the -9 are included in this -8 variant. Wings, vertical stabilizer, engines…it’s basically the same aircraft with a shorter fuselage.
What are all the visual differences between the 777-8 and 777-200?
Without giving getting into the specifics of how the 777–8 varies from all the separate variants of the -200 (ER, LR, etc.), I’ll keep this list relatively simple and focus only on the major visual differences. Here’s the major stuff:
- The 777-8 is longer than the 777-200 by 20 ft (6.09 m)
- Overall wing area has increased by 860 sq ft (262.13 sq m)
- Not only is the wing longer, it’s an all new design very similar to the 787
- The all new GE9X engines are roughly 20% larger (my estimation)
- The vertical stabilizer is all new, featuring a 787 style design
What are all the visual differences between the 777-8 and 777-9?
As I mentioned earlier, the 777–8 is essentially the same aircraft as the 777–9 (but shorter). Of course I’m only talking about visual differences here, and again, I refer you to the 777X Wikipedia page if you want to learn all about the technical differences between the two variants. As far as I can tell, here are the major visual differences between the two:
- The 777-8 is shorter than the 777-9 by 22 ft (6.71 m)
And that’s pretty much it! See? I told you that these are essentially the same airplanes, and as far as I can tell there are no major design differences between the two. Don’t hold me to this though, as there hasn’t even been a prototype built of the -8 yet, so it’s anyone’s guess as to what the final production model is actually going to look like.
That is one handsome aircraft!
I’m rather fond of is as well. So far it seems that the -9 is the more popular aircraft for the airlines though!
Fokker 50 Would be awesome!
That one is on the short list I think. I can’t imagine it would be all that difficult to do!
Hehe, Indeed! I’m Currently working on my own Fokker 50 template though
Any update on the Boeing 707 templates?
Yeah, sorry about the delay! I haven’t had much time to work on it since my last post, but…now with all this self-isolation stuff going on in the world, I’m slowly finding more time to spare. I’m in the middle of a big project (for something else) right now, but that will end in about two weeks. Once it does, I’m planning on working on aircraft illustrations again. Stay tuned!
After the 707 is it time for Soviet aircraft?
Maybe! I’m going to do a poll of some kind to see what people want the most…
Hi, long time no see.
So I know after two weeks you will start to illustrate 707, here is some information I fund:
– Although there have 4 different engine choices for 707 (PWJT3C for 720 and 707-120; PW JT3D for 707-120B/-320B/-320C; PW JT4A for 707-320 and RR Conway 508 for 707-420), actually you only need to draw two engines because JT3C, JT4A and Conway 508 are look same.
– The hardest part for 707 actually is vertical tail while -120 is shortest (only 38 ft 8 in) and others are longer but very close (both are close to 42 ft)
– Actually the easiest thing I think is the body because it is 99% the same to 737 (both windows, door design, cockpit window are the same to 737. The only differences are the horizontal stabilizer of 707 is longer and 707’s end of the body don’t have APU so it has a different shape), so you can just use the same body from the previous 737 series.
Hoping these information can help you.
Also, I check the list of major aircraft introduced after 1957 and the only one aircraft after 1957 you haven’t illustrated is McDonnell Douglas DC-9, so I think maybe after 707 you can finish DC-9 then continue Soviet/Russian aircraft.
Have a good day.
Thanks so much for all the information! This really does help a ton – I knew the 707 was going to be quite complicated, so having a detailed summary of the biggest differences is a nice way to get started. I’m probably not going to do every variant since it would take forever to do them all. I’ll probably start with the most popular version first (not sure what that is yet), and then move on to another completely different aircraft after that.
The most common variant of the 707 is the 707-320C with 337 built, the next most popular is the 707-320B with 174 built. the third most popular variant in the 720B with 89 built, then the 707-120B with 72, 707-320 with 69, 720 with 65, 707-120 with 56, 707-420 with 37, 707-138 with 7, 707-138B with 6, and 707-220 with 5.
the 707-138 and 707-138B are shortened versions of the 707-120 and 707-120B respectively that were built for Qantas, they are 10ft (6 frames) shorter than a normal 707-120/120B. the 707-220 was a “hot and high” version of the 707-120 built for Braniff and were powered by PW JT4A turbojets.
Hope this extra info helps!
Yeah, thanks George – that helps a ton! It also gives me a slight twinge of heartburn knowing that it’s going to be (potentially) a very long time before I’m able to tackle every variant. haha!
Create a 777-8 freighter template
I honestly had no idea that was a thing lol. That should be a fairly easy one to do IMHO – I’ll add it to my list.