Cathay Pacific donates first ever Boeing 777 to museum

Cathay Pacific has donated a recently retired Boeing 777-200 aircraft to a museum in Arizona.

The aircraft embarked on its maiden flight in 1994 and was the first of over 1500 777-200s to be built by Boeing.

After over 18 years of flying for Cathay Pacific, the plane will now take up residence at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson.

During its time in service, the aircraft operated 20,519 flights and was in the air for more than 49,687 hours.

Cathay Pacific, based in Hong Kong, currently has five 777-200s, 12 777-300s and 53 777-300ERs amongst its fleet of 149 aircraft.

This is the same aircraft back in 1994.
This is the same aircraft back in 1994. Photo credit: Boeing

The 777-200's retirement is a case updating the fleet. Cathay Pacific is the launch customer for the new Boeing 777X, which is expected to be delivered in just over a year's time.

The first 777X prototype was unveiled in Seattle last week and Cathay Pacific has ordered 21 of the state-of-the-art aircraft.

The first Boeing 777X won't even leave the ground.
The first Boeing 777X won't even leave the ground. Photo credit: Boeing.

Arizona's Pima Air and Space Museum is the third largest aviation museum in the United States.

The retired aircraft made its last ever landing at Tucson on Tuesday (local time).

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