Boeing 747 'Queen of the Skies'
Boeing 747-400 and 747-8
Boeing 747-400
The Boeing 747-400 is a radically improved version of the 'Queen of the Skies' of 'Jumbo Jet'. During the 1980s Boeing needed to revamp the 747 because of the emergence of smaller but more efficient competitors like the Airbus A340 and the McDonnell Douglas MD-11.
Changes compared with earlier 747-versions include increased wingspan plus winglets, improved engines, a two-crew digital cockpit, a new cabin interior, higher weights and extra range. The fuselage dimensions are the same as the 747-300's, including the stretched upper deck. Boeing offered its customers a choice of three engine types: the Pratt & Whitney PW4056, the Rolls-Royce RB211-524G and the General Electric CF6-80C2.
Boeing announced the go-ahead for the development of the 747-400 in May 1985 and the first flight took place on 29 April 1988. FAA certification for the first airframe/engine combination with PW4000 engines was granted in January 1989 and delivery to launch customer Northwest Airlines took place in the same month. Northwest's first commercial flight took place on 9 February 1989.
Boeing developed several variants, including the 747-400D for the domestic market in Japan which lacks winglets, the 747-400M (Combi), the 747-400F (Freighter) which has the short upper deck of the earliest 747-versions, the 747-400ER with extended range and the 747-400ERF (Extended Range Freighter). Of all Boeing 747-400 variants 694 have been sold. The last aircraft, a 747-400ERF, was delivered in November 2009. In 2018 around 350 747s are still operational with airlines.
- Dreamlifter -
A very special version is the Boeing 747LCF (Large Cargo Freighter) or 'Dreamlifter', a modified 747-400 specially developed for the transport of large outsize subassemblies of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, like fuselage sections and wings. The modifications include a much wider and higher fuselage offering three times the volume of a standard 747-400F and a swing tail section allowing easy loading of big items. The Dreamlifter first flew on 9 September 2006 and was certificated by the FAA on 2 June 2007. Boeing has four Dreamlifters in service, which are operated by Atlas Air. (Photo: Boeing)
747-8I and 747-8F
The newest version of the Jumbo Jet is the Boeing 747-8, with a slightly stretched fuselage, much improved engines (General Electric GEnx, the same as on the 787 Dreamliner) and many other innovations. Much of the new technology is derived from the 787 programme, and that is the reason that Boeing chose the designation '747-8' instead of '747-500' or '747-5'. The 747-8 is the longest passenger aircraft in service, even longer than the Airbus A380, which is much heavier and has two decks over the full length of the fuselage.
Boeing developed two versions: the 747-8F freighter, which first flew on 8 February 2010, and the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger aircraft, which took off for its maiden flight on 20 March 2011. Cargolux became the first user of the freighter and Lufthansa took delivery of the first intercontinental aircraft.
So far, the 747-8 is not a commercial success. Until Spring 2018 Boeing has sold only 150 aircraft, of which 103 are freighters and 8 Government/VIP aircraft. Two aircraft ordered by the now defunct Russian airline Transaero will be modified to become the new US presidential aircraft 'Air Force One' (VC-25), replacing two ageing 747-200Bs in this role.
Earlier versions of the 747 are described here.
Boeing 747-400ER Specifications
Wingspan: 64.44 m (211 ft 5 in). Length: 70.67 m (231 ft 10 in). Height: 19.41 m (63 ft 8 in). Empty weight: 183,840 kg (405,300 lb). Max. take-off weight: 412,780 kg (910,000 lb). Passengers: 416-524. Range: 14,205 km (7,670 nm). Cruise speed: 910 km/u (491 kts). Engines: four GE CF6-80C2B (276.23 kN - 62,100 lb) or P&W PW4062 (281.57 kN - 63,000 lb) or Rolls-Royce RB211-524H (264.67 kN - 59,500 lb).
Boeing 747-400ERF Specifications
Wingspan: 64.44 m (211 ft 5 in). Length: 70.67 m (231 ft 10 in). Height: 19.41 m (63 ft 8 in).
Max. take-off weight: 412,775 kg (910,000 lb).
Cargo capacity: 112,760 kg (248,600 lb). Range: 14,205 km (7,670 nm). Cruise speed: 901 km/u (486 kts).
Engines: four General Electric CF6-80C2B (276.23 kN - 62,100 lb) or Pratt & Whitney PW4062 (281.57 kN - 63,000 lb).
Boeing 747-8F Specifications
Wingspan: 68.5 m (211 ft 5 in). Length: 76.25 m (250 ft 2 in). Height: 19.41 m (63 ft 6 in).
Empty weight: 214,503 kg (472,900 lb). Max. take-off weight: 442,253 kg (975,000 lb).
Cargo capacity: 857,700 cu m (30,288 cu ft). Range: 8,310 km (4,390 nm). Cruise speed: 901 km/h (486 kts).
Engines: four General Electric GEnx-2B67 (296 kN - 66,500 lb).
Boeing 747-8I Specifications
Wingspan: 68.5 m (211 ft 5 in). Length: 76.25 m (250 ft 2 in). Height: 19.41 m (63 ft 6 in).
Empty weight: 214,503 kg (472,900 lb). Max. take-off weight:
442,253 kg (975,000 lb).
Accommodation: 467-605 passengers. Range: 15,000 km (8,000 nm). Cruise speed: 913 km/h (493 kts).
Engines: four General Electric GEnx-2B67 (296 kN - 66,500 lb).