Double Trouble For The A380 Program?

ANN 04.01.07 SPECIAL EDITION: "Sick and tired of all the hype... that's what we are," says an anonymous Boeing spokesmen just prior to the surprise roll-out of the doubly fascinating new Boeing 747-38.

Boeing sources agree that the inspiration for the new design were rooted in a few documents left over from past Boeing Boss Phil Condit -- who became enamored of a concept he read about seven years ago... on ANN!

"Phil never quite got over the idea of a new Boeing that basically used the same parts we've been building all along... the adaptation of two fuselages to a 747 derivative airframe gave him the inspiration for what he gleefully called 'Boeing's P-38.' And after all the hype over the A380 got under everyone's skin, we just couldn't pass up the chance to one-up the Airbusters once and for all... I mean, they'll never do a twin fuse A380... the wiring would keep them stumped for decades."

The inaugural B747-38 is expected to start flight testing as soon as Seattle finishes reinforcing the taxiway and runway for the test flights which should feature initial takeoff weights of 1.3 million pounds. The first bird is also a 'combi' configuration in which one side is configured to carry passengers and the other strictly for freight and those passengers too cheap to pay the extra $25 to check a bag. The airframe features dual, fully functional cockpits, and allows crew duty restrictions to be side-stepped by simply switching flying chores from one cockpit to the other when a crew's rest time comes due.

FMI: www.boeing-B747-38.com