At the same time, combined sales of the 747-100, −200, −300, and 747SP models (collectively referred to as the 747 "Classics") exceeded 700, but new orders slowed precipitously. In 1982, Boeing introduced a two-crew glass cockpit, new engines, and advanced materials on its 757 and 767 twinjets. At the same time, 747s were becoming more costly to operate due to a number of factors, notably conventional flight control systems, three-person flight crews, and fuel costs. Besides increased capacity, the 747-300 did not offer any increase in range, nor did it include improvements in flight deck technology or construction materials. The SUD was almost twice as long as the original 747 upper deck. This was made possible by making a stretched upper deck (SUD), previously an option on the 747-200, a standard feature. In 1980, Boeing announced the 747-300, its latest 747 variant featuring greater passenger capacity. As the world's first wide-body jetliner, the 747 had revolutionized air travel, and cemented its manufacturer's dominance in the passenger aircraft market. In the late 2010s, older 747-400 passenger aircraft were being phased out by airlines in favor of long-range, wide-body twinjet aircraft, such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350.ĭevelopment Background The 747-400 kept the 747 general configuration, with the 747-300 stretched upper deck and additional wingletsįollowing its introduction in 1969, the Boeing 747 became a major success with airlines and the flying public. It has been superseded by the stretched and improved Boeing 747-8, introduced in October 2011. Its closest competitors were the smaller McDonnell Douglas MD-11 trijet and Airbus A340 quadjet. With 694 delivered over the course of 20 years from 1989 to 2009, it was the best-selling 747 variant. The Dreamlifter is an outsize cargo conversion designed to move Dreamliner components. Several 747-400 aircraft have undergone freighter conversion or other modifications to serve as transports of heads of state, YAL-1 laser testbed, engine testbed or the Spirit of Mojave air launcher. With an increased MTOW of 910,000 lb (410 t), the extended range version entered service in October 2002 as the -400ERF freighter and the -400ER passenger version the following month. The -400F cargo variant, without the stretched upper deck, was first delivered in May 1993. The -400D Domestic for the Japanese market, without winglets, entered service on October 22, 1991. The first -400M combi was rolled out in June 1989. It typically accommodates 416 passengers in a three- class layout over a 7,285 nmi (13,492 km 8,383 mi) range with its 875,000-pound (397 t) maximum takeoff weight (MTOW). Its two-crew glass cockpit dispenses with the need for a flight engineer. The 747-400 offers a choice of improved turbofans: the Pratt & Whitney PW4000, General Electric CF6-80C2 or Rolls-Royce RB211-524G/H. It retains the 747 airframe, including the 747-300 stretched upper deck, with 6-foot (1.8 m) winglets. Type certification was received on January 9, 1989, and it entered service with NWA on February 9, 1989. The first 747-400 was rolled out on January 26, 1988, and made its maiden flight on April 29, 1988. Northwest Airlines became the first customer with an order for 10 aircraft on October 22, 1985. The "Advanced Series 300" was announced at the September 1984 Farnborough Airshow, targeting a 10% cost reduction with more efficient engines and 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km 1,200 mi) of additional range. The Boeing 747-400 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, an advanced variant of the initial Boeing 747.
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