Above: A 777-9 performs a flying display over Lake Washington in Seattle during Seafair, with thousands viewing in boats and on the shore. (© Boeing photo)

For Boeing Capt. Mike Kingen, a third-generation pilot who flew the 777-9 over a crowd of thousands in the recent Boeing Seafair Air Show, one moment stands out.

• “Seeing all the families and kids waving,” said Kingen, who flew alongside Capt. Korhan Orgun. “It’s exhilarating and humbling to represent Boeing in such a meaningful way.”

Kingen and Orgun are part of a team of pilots and engineers who create air show displays, unique performances that highlight the design and capabilities of Boeing’s commercial airplanes.  

• “Our routines allow us to demonstrate how quiet the 777-9 is while showcasing its huge, beautiful wings,” said Sean Richardson, a flight test engineer involved in developing the demonstrations for Boeing’s commercial models.
• Boeing regularly conducts aerial performances with the company’s commercial products at Seafair and at air shows around the world as well as The Boeing Classic in Seattle and the RBC Heritage in South Carolina, both pro golf tournaments sponsored by Boeing.

Capt. Korhan Orgun (left) and Capt. Mike Kingen commemorate another successful air show demonstration. (Ryan Coe photo © Boeing; © Boeing video by Wen Huber, Jim Lally and Ryan Coe)

A team effort: While air show routines and flyovers last several minutes, they reflect years of experience, careful planning and practice.

• “We approach designing the routines like any other engineering flight test, with safety as No. 1,” Richardson said. “We create maneuvers that appear extreme while operating within a strict set of constraints, including airshow rules.”
• “We start by discussing the maneuvers, then move to the simulator to test our ideas,” Kingen added. “From there, we’ll take it to the airplane and practice at an airfield, until we’re ready to show it off in front of crowds.”

Capt. Mike Kingen practices an air show routine in the 777X engineering simulator in Seattle. (Marian Lockhart photo © Boeing)

Why they fly: The 777-9 air show routines serve as a tribute to the thousands of Boeing teammates who design, build and test the airplane, the team said.

• “So many people have dedicated their lives to these airplanes,” Kingen said. “Our neighbors and friends get to see the great work our teams do at Boeing.”
• “I grew up attending Seafair, and now I bring my kids to watch the air show,” Richardson shared. “It’s so special to see the crowd enjoying the display, taking pictures and applauding our routine. We do this for our community, for our Boeing family.” 

A rewarding role: “Sometimes I can’t believe this is my job – I’m in a flight simulator with the world’s greatest test pilots,” Richardson said. “As an airplane enthusiast, you couldn’t ask for anything cooler.”

The 5-year-old daughter of Sean Richardson, a flight test engineer, cheers on a 777-9 air show demonstration practice flight. (Photo courtesy of Sean Richardson)