Another Jumbo Heads For Assembly
Boeing Company has completed major assembly of the first set of
wings for the 747-8 Freighter. The new 135-foot 3-inch wings
incorporate the latest aerodynamic technologies to fly farther and
more efficiently. The advanced airfoil provides improved overall
performance and greater fuel capacity.
This latest family of the 747 jetliners meets airline
requirements for a passenger airplane that serves the 400- to
500-seat market between the 555-seat Airbus A380 and the 365-seat
Boeing 777-300 Extended Range airplanes, and a freighter that
continues the leadership of the 747 Freighter family in the world
cargo market.
Boeing launched the airplane on November 14, 2005, with firm
orders for 18 747-8 Freighters; 10 from Cargolux of Luxembourg and
eight from Nippon Cargo Airlines of Japan. The combined list price
value of the orders is approximately $5 billion.
Boeing had been studying the market feasibility of a new 747 for
some time, working with operators to establish their requirements
for an incrementally larger 747 to continue the profitability of
current 747 fleets. By working together with customers and applying
the innovative new technologies of the 787 Dreamliner, Boeing was
able to create the 747-8 family. In fact, the designation 747-8 was
chosen to show the technology connection between the 787 and the
new 747.
Both the passenger and freighter versions of the 747-8 will
allow operators to maximize their profitability. Seat-mile costs
for the 747-8 Intercontinental are 13 percent lower than the
747-400, with 2% lower trip costs. The 747-8 Intercontinental is
more than 10 percent lighter per seat than the A380 and consumes 11
percent less fuel per passenger. That translates into a trip-cost
reduction of 21 percent and a seat-mile cost reduction of more than
6 percent compared to the A380.
The 747-8 is the only large airplane that fits today's airport
infrastructure, giving airlines the flexibility to fly to more
destinations. The 747-8 will build on the current 747's capability
to fly into most airports worldwide, using the same pilot type
ratings, services and most ground support equipment. With a range
of 14,815 km (8,000 nmi), the 747-8 Intercontinental can connect
nearly any major city pair in the world.
The 747-8 family provides new revenue opportunities that will
allow airlines to maximize profits. For example, the passenger
airplane has 51 additional seats to accommodate 467 passengers in a
typical three-class configuration and also offers 26 percent more
cargo volume. The 747-8 Freighter offers a range of 4,390 nmi and
has 16 percent more cargo volume than the 747-400, which allows it
to hold seven additional pallets with the same nose-door loading
capability, industry-standard 10-ft-high pallets and real-world
cargo density capability at 9.9 lb/cu ft.