Boeing 747-400

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Boeing 747-400
Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-400 "Tinker Belle" taxiing to the take off point at London Heathrow Airport.
Type Airliner
Manufacturer Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Maiden flight 1988-04-29
Status In service
Produced Passenger version: 1988-2005
Freighter version: 1988-current
Developed from Boeing 747
Variants Boeing 747-8
Boeing YAL-1

The Boeing 747-400 is the latest passenger model of the Boeing 747 in service and will remain the largest commercial airliner in service until the introduction of the Airbus A380 in 2007. The 400 series is the best selling and the most advanced model of the 747 family. The 747-400 is being replaced by the Boeing 747-8, expected to enter service in 2009.

The 747-400 was announced by Boeing in October 1985, was rolled out in January 1988 and first flew on April 29, 1988. Certification was received on January 10, 1989 with PW4000 engines, May 18, 1989 with CF6-80C2s and June 8, 1989 with RB211-524Gs. The first 747-400 was delivered to Northwest Airlines on January 26, 1989, with service entry on February 9. [1] Production of the passenger version of the 747-400 officially ceased on March 15, 2007 with the last four on order cancelled by Philippine Airlines (which switched to the 777-300ER). The last delivery actually happened in April 2005, going to China Airlines.

Contents

[edit] Variants

A British Airways Boeing 747-400. British Airways is the largest operator of the -400, having acquired 57.
A British Airways Boeing 747-400. British Airways is the largest operator of the -400, having acquired 57.
An ANA Boeing 747-400 (JA8962), decorated with images of different Pokémon.
An ANA Boeing 747-400 (JA8962), decorated with images of different Pokémon.
Air Canada Boeing 747-400 Combi. Air Canada has retired its 747 fleet
Air Canada Boeing 747-400 Combi. Air Canada has retired its 747 fleet
Malaysia Airlines Kargo Boeing 747-400F
Malaysia Airlines Kargo Boeing 747-400F

[edit] 747-400

Compared to the 747-300 the 747-400 has 6 ft (2 m) wing tip extensions and 6 ft (2 m) winglets, an all-new glass cockpit which dispensed with the need for a flight engineer, tail fuel tanks, revised engines, an all-new interior, revised fuselage/wing fairings and newer in-flight entertainment to the basic design of the -300 series. Like the 747-300, the passenger version of the 747-400 included the stretched upper deck (SUD) as a standard feature. The SUD was almost twice as long as the standard upper deck; it had previously been offered as a retrofit and first appeared on two Japanese 747-100 SR models.[1] While the wingspan was increased, the overall weight of the wings was decreased due to the use of composites and aluminium alloys.

The Boeing Signature Interior was later made available on the 747-400, either as interior refitting on existing 747-400s or as a "fresh-from-installation" option on newer 747-400s. One example, China Airlines's two newest Boeing 747-400s, (tail number B-1821x), were newly built with Boeing Signature Interior. One of the newest Boeing 747-400s (B-18210), has a combined Boeing/China Airlines livery painted in 787 Dreamliner colors.

Production of the 747-400 passenger version officially over on March 15, 2007.[2] The last to order was China Airlines in November 2002, and the last passenger version 747-400 constructed in 2005. However, thirty six 747-400 freighter aircraft are yet to be delivered.[2]

[edit] 747-400F

The 747-400F (Freighter) is an all freight version which uses the fuselage design of the 747-200F. The aircraft's first flight was on May 4, 1993 and it entered service with Cargolux Airlines on November 17, 1993. Major customers include Atlas Air, Cargolux, China Airlines, Korean Air, Nippon Cargo Airlines, Polar Air Cargo, and Singapore Airlines. The -400F can be easily distinguished from the passenger -400 by its shorter upper-deck hump.

The United States Air Force has purchased seven 747-400Fs to act as "Airborne Laser" carriers, designated YAL-1A. The aircraft are heavily modified to carry a nose mounted turret and Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL) equipment.

Boeing has orders for eighteen 747-400F aircraft yet to be completed.[2]

[edit] 747-400M

The 747-400M (a passenger/freight or "Combi" variant) first flew on June 30, 1989 and entered service with KLM on September 12, 1989. The -400M has a large cargo door fitted to the rear of the fuselage.

[edit] 747-400D

The 747-400D (Domestic) is a high density seating model developed for short-haul domestic Japanese flights. Capable of seating a maximum of 568 passengers in a 3-class configuration or 660 passengers in a single-class configuration, the aircraft is the highest-capacity passenger aircraft in the world, even when the Airbus A380 officially enters service. The -400D lacks the wing tip extensions and winglets included on other variants, allowing for increased number of takeoffs and landings by lowering wing stresses; the benefits of winglets would be minimal on short routes. The -400D may be converted to the long range version when needed.

The 747-400 Domestic first flew on March 18, 1991 and entered service with Japan Airlines on October 22, 1991.

[edit] 747-400ER

The 747-400ER (Extended range) was launched on November 28, 2000 following an order by Qantas for 6 aircraft. This was ultimately the only order for the passenger version. The -400ER can fly an additional 805 km or carry 6,800 kg more freight. Qantas received the first -400ER on October 31, 2002. This model features a 777-style interior, also known as the Boeing Signature Interior.

The 747-400ER includes the option of 1 or 2 additional 3240 US gallon body fuel tanks in the forward cargo hold. Manufactured by Marshall Aerospace, these tanks utilize innovative metal to metal honeycomb bonded technology to achieve an incredibly high dry weight to fuel volume ratio. Similar technology has been used in the development by Marshall of body fuel tanks for the 777-200LR and P-8A Poseidon MMA aircraft.

[edit] 747-400ERF

The 747-400ERF is the freight version of the -400ER, launched on April 30, 2001. The -400ERF was delivered to Air France (via ILFC) on October 17, 2002. The 747-400ERF has a maximum payload of 248,600 pounds (112,760 kg) and can carry 22,000 pounds (9,980 kg) more than other 747-400 freighters on long-range flights at maximum takeoff weight. It has a maximum range of 9,200 km, about 525 km farther than other 747-400 freighters, and has a strengthened fuselage, landing gear and parts of its wing, along with new, larger tires.

Boeing has eighteen 747-400ERF aircraft yet to be delivered.[2] The new 747-8 Freighter will have more payload capacity but less range than the 747-400ERF.

[edit] 747-400BCF

The 747-400BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter), formerly known as the 747-400SF (Special Freighter), is a conversion program for standard 747-400s. The project was launched in 2004. The first Boeing 747-400BCF was redelivered to Cathay Pacific Cargo and entered service on December 19, 2005.

[edit] 747 Large Cargo Freighter

Main article: Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter
Large Cargo Freighter
Large Cargo Freighter

Boeing announced in October 2003 that due to the length of time of marine shipping, air transport will be the primary method of transporting parts for the Boeing 787. Pre-owned passenger 747-400 aircraft are to be converted into an outsize, "Large Cargo Freighter" configuration, in order to ferry sub-assemblies to Everett, Washington for final assembly.[3] The LCF has a bulging fuselage similar to that of the Super Guppy or Airbus Beluga cargo planes used for transporting wings and fuselage sections. The conversion, designed by Boeing's Moscow office,[4] is to be carried out in Taiwan by a subsidiary of the Evergreen Group.[5] Boeing has purchased three former China Airlines aircraft which are currently being modified.

Compared to marine shipping, delivery times for the parts built in Japan will be reduced from around 45 days to four hours with the 747 LCF.[3] The Large Cargo Freighter can hold three times the volume of a 747-400F freighter.[6][7][4] Evergreen International Airlines, which is unrelated to the Evergreen Group, will be the operator of the LCF fleet.[3][8]

The LCF is not a Boeing production model and will not be sold to any customers or see any airliner operation. It will be for Boeing's exclusive use.

[edit] Current operators

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[edit] Passenger

(sorted by number of 747 in fleet, then by name of operator)

[edit] Cargo

(sorted by number of 747 in fleet, then by name of operator)

[edit] Other use

(sorted by number of 747 in fleet, then by name of operator)

[edit] Specifications

Measurement 747-400 747-400ER
Cockpit Crew Two
Seating capacity 416 (3-class)
Length 231 ft 10 in (70.6 m)
Wingspan 211 ft 5 in (64.4 m)
Height 63 ft 8 in (19.4 m)
Weight empty 178,756 kg
(393,263 lb)		 164,382 kg
(361,640 lb)
Maximum take-off weight 396,890 kg
(875,000 lb)		 412,775 kg
(910,000 lb)
Cruising speed Mach 0.85
(910 km/h)		 Mach 0.855
(913 km/h)
Maximum speed Mach 0.92
(1093 km/h)
Takeoff run at MTOW (3,018 m) (3,090 m)
Range fully loaded 7,260 nm
(13,450 km)		 7,670 nm
(14,205 km)
Max. fuel capacity 57,285 US gal (216,840 L) 63,705 US gal (241,140 L)
Fuel cap./range fully loaded (16.1 L/km) (17.0 L/km)
Engine models (x 4) PW 4062
GE CF6-80C2B5F
RR RB211-524H		 PW 4062
GE CF6-80C2B5F
Engine thrust (x 4) 63,300 lbf PW
62,100 lbf GE
59,500 lbf RR		 63,300 lbf PW
62,100 lbf GE

Sources: [2], [3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ About the 747 Family, Boeing, retrieved 12 June, 2006
  2. ^ a b c d 747-400 passenger is no more., Seattlepi.com 17 March, 2007
  3. ^ a b c "Ugly in the Air: Boeing's New Plane Gets Gawks, Stares." Lunsford, J. L. The Wall Street Journal. January 8, 2007.
  4. ^ a b "Boeing's 747 Large Cargo Freighter Development on Plan." Boeing Commercial Airplanes press release. February 22, 2005.
  5. ^ "Boeing Selects EGAT for 747 Large Cargo Freighter Modifications." Boeing Commercial Airplanes press release. February 18, 2005.
  6. ^ "Boeing 7E7 Will Use Air Transport for Component Delivery." Boeing Commercial Airplanes press release. October 13, 2003.
  7. ^ Boeing's 747 Large Cargo Freighter Development on Plan, Boeing, 22 February, 2005, retrieved 12 June, 2006
  8. ^ "Evergreen International Airlines, Inc. to Operate Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighters." Boeing Commercial Airplanes press release. December 15, 2005.

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Boeing airliners

Piston-engined: 40A · 80 · 221 · 247 · 307 · 314 · 377

Jet-engined: 367-80 · 707/720 · 717 · 727 · 737 (BBJ) · 747 (SP/-400/LCF) · 757 · 767 · 777

In development/proposed: 747-8 · 787 (orders) · Y1 · Y3

Not developed: 2707 · 7J7 · NLA · Sonic Cruiser

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Production: Airbus A380-800 · Antonov An-124 Ruslan · Antonov An-225 Mriya · Boeing 747 (SP/-400/LCF) · Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

Proposed: Beriev Be-2500 · Boeing 747-8 · Boeing Pelican

Concepts/prototypes: Boeing NLA · Bristol Brabazon · Convair XC-99 · Hughes H-4 (Spruce Goose) · McDonnell Douglas MD-12

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