FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom, July 12, 2008 -- Air India's newest Boeing [NYSE: BA] 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplane arrived Saturday in Farnborough, United Kingdom, ahead of Monday's opening of the Farnborough International Airshow. The 777-300ER will be on display during the air show highlighting its new livery, interior and passenger amenities.

The 777-300ER is the 10th 777 delivered to Air India from its December 2005 order of 68 Boeing jetliners.

The aircraft, named "Jammu and Kashmir" in keeping with Air India's tradition of naming its 777s after the various states of India, has a three-class configuration, including four first-class, 35 executive class and 303 economy seats. The airline will operate the 777-300ER on its India to United States via London route.

Air India, India's national flagship carrier, in July 2007 became the first India-based airline to operate nonstop flights from India to the United States with its first 777-200LR (Longer Range) Worldliner airplane.

The twin-engine Boeing 777 is the most fuel-efficient airplane in its category, a key element in its leading economic and environmental performance.

On February 2, 2006, Boeing announced that the 777-200LR had been certified by both FAA and EASA to enter into passenger service with airlines.[43] The first Boeing 777-200LR was delivered to Pakistan International Airlines on February 26, 2006 and the second on March 23, 2006. PIA has at least nine 777s in service and the company plans to replace all of its older jets with the series.

The 777-300ER is the Extended Range (ER) version of the 777-300 and contains many modifications, including the GE90-115B engines, which are the world's most powerful jet engine with 115,300 lbf (513 kN) thrust. Other features include raked wingtips, a new main landing gear, extra fuel tanks (2,600 gallons), as well as strengthened fuselage, wings, empennage, nose gear, engine struts and nacelles, and a higher MTOW, 775,000 lb versus 660,000 lb for the 777-300.

The KC-777 is a proposed tanker version of the 777. In September 2006, Boeing publicly announced that it was ready and willing to produce the KC-777, if the USAF requires a bigger tanker than the KC-767. In addition the tanker will be able to transport cargo or personnel.[51][52] Boeing instead offered its KC-767 Advanced Tanker for U.S. Air Force's KC-X competition in April 2007.[53] .

Air India was founded by J. R. D. Tata in 1932 as Tata Airlines, a division of Tata Sons Ltd. (now Tata Group). On October 15, 1932, J. R. D. Tata himself flew a single-engined De Havilland Puss Moth carrying air mail (postal mail of Imperial Airways) from Karachi's Drigh Road Aerodrome to Bombay's Juhu Airstrip via Ahmedabad. The aircraft continued to Madras via Bellary piloted by former Royal Air Force pilot Nevill Vintcent.

Congratulations Air India !!

Reported by Sandra Englund