Boeing 747-8

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Boeing 747-8
Lufthansa is the launch customer for the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental.
Type	Wide-body jet airliner
Manufacturer	Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Maiden flight	Scheduled Q4 2008[1]
Status	Under development
Number built	0 as of 2006
Unit cost	$250-265 million (747-8I)[2] $265-275 million (747-8F)
Developed from	Boeing 747-400

The Boeing 747-8 is the latest variant of the Boeing 747, officially announced on November 14, 2005 to fill the gap between the 747-400ER and the Airbus A380. Prior to the formal 2005 announcement, it was known publicly as the 747 Advanced.

Contents 1 Background 2 Variants 2.1 747-8 Freighter 2.2 747-8 Intercontinental 3 Orders and deliveries 4 Specifications 5 Trivia 6 References 7 External links 8 Related content

[edit] Background

The 747-8 will use same engine and cockpit technology as the 787. Boeing named the new airliner "747-8" because of the technology it will share with that aircraft. Before the official launch of the 747-8, Boeing had plans to develop other variants of existing 747 models under the names 747X (Experimental) and 747-400XQLR (Experimental Quiet Long-Range). These designations were dropped in favor of the 747 Advanced program, which evolved into the 747-8.

Boeing claims that the new design will be quieter, more economical and more environmentally friendly than previous versions of the 747. As a derivative of the already common 747-400, the 747-8 has the economic benefit of similar training and interchangeable parts.

British Airways announced on November 3, 2006 that they have asked Boeing and Airbus for bids to provide replacements for 34 long-haul airliners and additional aircraft for fleet expansion. BA is reportedly considering all variants of long haul aircraft from both companies, including the 747-8. General Electric and Rolls Royce have also been invited to provide bids for engines and engineering services. Analysts at UBS expect the aircraft order will be placed with one manufacturer to simplify maintenance. The lack of a Rolls Royce engine for the 747-8 may also have an impact on the order. BA are traditionally very supportive of Rolls Royce and are one of the largest RR customers.^[3][4][5]

Because of the mounting delays of Airbus' A380, some airlines are believed to be considering cancelling or scaling down their orders of the A380 in favor of the Boeing 747-8.^[6]

[edit] Variants

The 747-8 is a development of the venerable Boeing 747 which takes advantage of improvements in technology and aerodynamics. The two variants of the 747-8 were launched in 2005, and as of 2006 will both feature a fuselage stretch of 18.3 ft ( 5.6 m) over the 747-400, bringing the total length to 250 ft 2½ in (76.4 m). The 747-8 Freighter will enter service in 2009, while the passenger 747-8 Intercontinental will be introduced in 2010.

[edit] 747-8 Freighter

The 747 has proven to be a very popular freighter, carrying roughly half of the world's air freight.^[7] In an effort to maintain this dominant position, Boeing has designed a freight variant of the 747-8, dubbed 747-8 Freighter or 747-8F. The 747-8F will be the initial model to see entry into service (EIS). As on the 747-400F, the upper deck is shorter than passenger models; the 18 ft 3½ in (5.6 m) stretch is just before and just aft of the wing. This will make the 747-8F the world's longest commercial airliner, surpassing the Airbus A340-600. With a 970,000 lb (440 tonne) maximum take-off weight, it will have a total payload capability of 308,000 lb (140 tonnes) and a range of 4,475 nm (8,275 km, 5,140 mi).^[8] Four extra pallet spaces will be created on the main deck, with two extra containers and two extra pallets on the lower deck.

The 747-8 will have more payload capacity but less range than the current 747-400ERF. When Boeing launched the ERF, all of the 35,000 lb increase in MTOW over the 747-400F (875,000 lb to 910,000 lb) allowed airlines to takeoff with more fuel, burn it during flight, and land at the same weight as the regular 747-400F. This increased the range of the 747-400ERF compared to the 747-400F. Cargo carriers such as Cargolux often move machinery or indivisible loads that require a plane with a higher payload and landing capability. As with all planes, range is given with maximum payload not fuel. The 747-8's 60,000 lb MTOW increase (970,000 lb) has been directed exclusively to its Zero-Fuel weight or payload capacity. If taking off at maximum payload, the 747-8 takes off with its tanks roughly half empty. On trips where the payload is not at maximum, the plane can therefore take on more fuel and extend its range.

Cargolux announced on July 27, 2005 its desire to buy a minimum of ten 747-8 Freighters, for delivery in 2009, with options for 10 more. The 747-8 was formally launched on November 14, 2005 by Cargolux and Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA), which ordered eight 747-8Fs. NCA currently operates 11 747 freighters, 8 -200s & 3 -400s with ten 747-400Fs currently on order.^[9] On 8 October 2006 Emirates Airline announced a deal to purchase ten 747-8Fs, with an option for ten more.^[10]

[edit] 747-8 Intercontinental

The passenger version (dubbed 747-8 Intercontinental or 747-8I) will be capable of carrying up to 467 passengers in a 3-class configuration over 8,000 nautical miles (14,816 km) at 0.86 Mach. The 747-8I will carry 51 more passengers and two more freight pallets than the B747-400. Despite initial plans for a shorter stretch than the freighter model, the two variants will be the same length, increasing passenger capacity and allowing easier modification of the 747-8I to freighter use.[1] New engine technology and aerodynamic modifications extend range to 8,000 nautical miles (14,815 km), allowing non-stop flights such as Hong Kong – New York or Sydney – Dallas/Fort Worth. However, firm configuration is only expected for next year.

For the time being, the General Electric GEnx, which is one of the two powerplant choices currently offered for the 787, will be the only engine available for the 747-8. However, similar to the GEnx variant offered on the Airbus A350, the 747 variant will be adapted to provide bleed-air for conventional aircraft systems and feature a smaller diameter to fit on the 747 wing.

Some carbon fiber reinforced plastic will be utilized in the 747-8's airframe to reduce weight; however structural changes will mostly be evolutionary rather than revolutionary with respect to the 747-400. The 747-8 will feature an enhanced wing with improved aerodynamics. It will have single-slotted outboard flaps and double-slotted inboard flaps. Raked wingtips, similar to the ones currently on the 777-200LR and 777-300ER models and the 787-8 and 787-9 design, will replace the winglets on the 747-400. These structures help reduce the wingtip vortices at the lateral edges of the wings, decreasing wake turbulence and drag and thereby increasing fuel efficiency.

For the 747-8, Boeing has proposed some changes to the interior layout of the aircraft. Most noticeable will be the stairway to the upper deck. On present 747-300 and -400 models, the stairway is straight, narrow, and runs from the galley area located at door 2 (the second door from the front of the aircraft), to the back of the upper deck, on the left hand side. The 747-8 model proposes a sweeping curved stairway which will open onto the door 2 entry lobby, and rise up to the right hand side of the back of the upper deck. The window line will be extended to where the stairway reaches the upper deck, and a further set of windows may be placed overhead.

Further down the aircraft, it has been proposed to put "SkySuites" in the "crown" area (the space above the passenger cabin, currently used for air conditioning ducts and wiring). The wiring and ducts will be moved to the side to create space for these facilities — consequently they will not have windows. The SkySuites will be small individual compartments with sliding doors or curtains, and which may feature beds, seating, and entertainment or business equipment. A common lounge area would also likely be provided. Boeing has also proposed smaller, more modest "SkyBunks." Access to the crown area would be via a separate stairway at the rear of the aircraft. Passengers using the SkySuites, which will be sold at a premium price, will sit in regular economy class seats for take off and landing, and move to the crown area during flight.

The main cabin will use a 777-style interior (also known as the Boeing Signature Interior), which was also used for the 747-400ER. The windows will also be of similar size to the type used on the 777 and the 767-400ER, which are 16% larger than on the current 747-400s. The 747-8 will feature a new solid state light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system. It will be possible to create various moods in the cabin, from sunrise to sunset, making travel a more comfortable and relaxing experience. At the same time, LED technology offers additional advantages regarding lower maintenance costs and longer intervals between unscheduled repairs.

Lufthansa launched the 747-8I on December 6, 2006, becoming the first airline to order the variant.[2] Though solitary VIP orders had been placed, Lufthansa will receive the first 747-Is off the production line. Other airlines such as Japan Airlines (as the operators of the largest 747-400 fleet), British Airways, Northwest Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, China Airlines and Cathay Pacific are viewed as other potential 747-8 operators, given their historical links with Boeing and the fact that none of them have purchased the Airbus A380 as of yet. British Airways CEO Willie Walsh has said he is glad the airline has not ordered the A380,^[11] while former CEO Rod Eddington has stated that his preferred 747-400 replacement program consisted of 747-8s and 777-300ERs.^[12]

[edit] Orders and deliveries

This plane has not yet entered service. The following orders have been taken.

Date	Airline	EIS	Type
			747‑8I	747‑8F	Options
November 14, 2005	Cargolux [3]	2009		10	10
	Nippon Cargo Airlines [4]	2009		8	6
May 30, 2006	Boeing Business Jet [5]	2010	1
July 18, 2006	Emirates SkyCargo [6]	2010		10
September 12, 2006	Atlas Air [7]	2010		12	14
September 29, 2006	Boeing Business Jet [8]	2010	2
October 3, 2006	Guggenheim Aviation Partners [9]	2009		4	2
November, 2006	Boeing Business Jet	2010	1
November 20, 2006	Korean Air Lines [10]			5
November 30, 2006	Unidentified customer			5
December 6, 2006	Lufthansa [11][12]	2010	20		20
Sub-totals			24	54	52
Totals			78

Entries shaded in pink have been announced, but have not yet signed a firm contract.

^*There is speculation on who the first BBJ customer is. Three articles [13] [14] [15] suggest or state that it is the Qatar Government. It has also been suggested that the unidentified customer may be Saudi Arabian Airlines, but the article quoted [16] does not seem to confirm this. Planes purchased through the Boeing Business Jet division are delivered in "green" condition meaning there are no interiors and external livery paint is not applied.

[edit] Specifications

Measurement	747-8I	747-8F
Cockpit crew	Two
Seating capacity	467 (3-class)	N/A
Length	76.4 m (250 ft 8 in)
Wingspan	68.5 m (224 ft 9 in)
Height	19.4 m (63 ft 6 in)
Cabin width	6.1 m (20 ft)
Zero fuel weight	276,691 kg (610,000 lb)	318,422 kg (702,000 lb)
Maximum take-off weight	439,985 kg (970,000 lb)
Cruising speed	.855 Mach	.845 Mach
Range fully loaded	14,815 km (8,000 nm)	8,275 km (4,475 nm)
Cargo capacity	149.8 m³	833.3 m³
Service ceiling	13,100 m (43,000 ft)
4× Engines	GEnx-2B67
4× Thrust	296 kN (66,500 lbf)

[edit] Trivia

• Plans to extend the length of the 747 were first discussed in 1972; it took 33 years before Boeing committed to a longer version.
• Plans to shorten the 747 were first discussed in 1973, and it took one year before a commitment to the 747SP was made.
• With a 970,000 lb (439,985 kg) maximum take-off weight, the 747-8 is the heaviest aircraft ever offered by Boeing, commercial or military.
• The 747-8 is lower than the 747-400 by just 2 inches.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Boeing 747-8 on Boeing.com
• Boeing 747-8 | The Shape of the Future
• Boeing 747-8 airport planning guide

[edit] Related content

Related development

• Boeing 747
• Boeing 747-400

Comparable aircraft

• Airbus A340
• Airbus A380

 

Related lists

• List of airliners

See also