747ADV Officially launched!

Mordoch · Post by **Mordoch** » 15 Nov 2005, 08:46

The Boeing Company today officially launched the new Boeing 747-8 program, which includes the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger airplane and the 747-8 Freighter airplane.

Cargolux, based in Luxembourg, has ordered 10 747-8 Freighters and will take delivery of the first 747-8F in third-quarter 2009. It also holds purchase rights for 10 additional airplanes. Cargolux currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of 13 747-400 freighters.

Nippon Cargo Airlines, based in Japan, has ordered eight 747-8 Freighters and will receive its first airplane in fourth-quarter 2009. The airline also acquired options for six additional airplanes. Nippon Cargo currently operates 13 747 freighters and has six more 747-400Fs on order.

Firm orders from the two launch customers are valued at approximately $5 billion at list prices.

Read more here: https://www.aviation24.be/article10547.html

Congratulations to Boeing!

chornedsnorkack · Post by **chornedsnorkack** » 15 Nov 2005, 09:58

The 747 has been weirdly shrunk, see

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/747fam ... sheet.html

Seating:
450 passengers in a three-class configuration

Range:
14,815 km (8,000 nmi) (Intercontinental)
8,275 km (4,475 nmi) (Freighter)

Configuration:
Twin aisle

Cross-section:
5.7 m (226 inches)

Wing span:
68.5 m (224 ft 9 in)

Length:
74.2 m (243 ft 6 in) (Intercontinental)
75.3 m (250 ft 2 in) (Freighter)

Height:
19.4 m (63 ft 6 in)

Thrust:
66,500 pounds (GEnx-2B67)

Cruise speed:
Mach 0.85

Maximum Takeoff Weight:
435,456 kg (960,000 pounds)

Note how the cross-section is much smaller than for versions 100-400!

Post by **luchtzak** » 15 Nov 2005, 12:40

Here are a few images:

Picture courtesy Boeing

earthman · Post by **earthman** » 15 Nov 2005, 12:58

What's up with those wings curving upward like that? First the 787, now the new 747?

lastrow · Post by **lastrow** » 15 Nov 2005, 13:30

the reduction of cabin width sounds very interesting indeed. could this be because (if this is not a mistake) to optimse the overall air drag - to get closer to the A330/340?

earthman · Post by **earthman** » 15 Nov 2005, 13:58

Nobody is going to change the fuselage, I'm willing to bet it's an error. Obviously somebody wrote 226 inches instead of 256, and then converted it to metric. And then they wrote it so it looks as if the metric measurement is the original one. Let's see how well Boeing is able to convert metric to inches and back when they build the thing...

bits44 · Post by **bits44** » 15 Nov 2005, 14:02

There has been no reduction in cabin width, the only additions are length, and composite upgrades to the the wings, and other control surfaces. And though not yet announced there are two carriers expected to place large orders for PAX versions.

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/200 ... 1114h.html

KT

chornedsnorkack · Post by **chornedsnorkack** » 15 Nov 2005, 14:08

earthman wrote:Nobody is going to change the fuselage, I'm willing to bet it's an error. Obviously somebody wrote 226 inches instead of 256, and then converted it to metric. And then they wrote it so it looks as if the metric measurement is the original one. Let's see how well Boeing is able to convert metric to inches and back when they build the thing...

It is not obvious that the issue was just with confusing 2 and 5. Compare

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/7e7/facts.html

Range:
8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km)

Configuration:
Twin aisle

Cross Section:
226 inches (574 centimeters)

Wing Span:
197 feet (60 meters)

So, let´s see how well Boeing 747-800 flies with the wrong fuselage installed...

lastrow · Post by **lastrow** » 15 Nov 2005, 17:30

I see. That is a good explanation. Actually I was also sceptical and wondered about the reason/feasibility for making the fuselage smaller. Now it seems clear: they're going to take the advanced 787 fuselage for the new version - good point, chornedsnorkack!

Ovostar · Post by **Ovostar** » 15 Nov 2005, 17:43

The final plane will never be like that, with these so curved wings, it's just for advertising

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 15 Nov 2005, 18:08

earthman wrote:What's up with those wings curving upward like that? First the 787, now the new 747?

Well the final wings will probably not be exactly as drawn in those pictures but they will try to make them look like them. In fact I see a trend at Boeing now and that is to use the raked wingtip design rather then the more conventional design. Are they more satisfied with the results of the raked type ? Probably but I would be very pleased if someone could provide us some figures comparing both systems.

By looking at this new design it also seems that the raked wingtips will be much more integrated in the wing. Or in other words, the wing and the raked wingtip will form one body as a whole. This will inevitably give us a more efficient wing.

Now if the wing will really be bent upwards like that we will see

It's also nice to see that Boeing is adopting the tooth shape at the rear end of the bypass cowling and the inner cowling.

Always great to see all the new technologies being applied on new designs

Let's hope it'll be successful and hopefully we'll see the Queen of the skies for many more years in the air.

As far as the diameter of the fuselage is concerned it would surprise me if they indeed want to reduce it. This would mean that Boing would need to do some major changes on the fuselage as well. This costs a lot !! and would mean an entirely new plane. But time will tell if this was a mistake or not.

Chris

bits44 · Post by **bits44** » 15 Nov 2005, 20:17

The final plane will never be like that, with these so curved wings, it's just for advertising

I think you will find that the wings on the 747-8 will flex exactly as illustrated in the pictures, just as the 787 wings will. Its a trait of composite wing technology, a bit unnerving but exactly as the engineers intended.

KT

grunf · Post by **grunf** » 15 Nov 2005, 22:05

No changes in fuselage except the two plugs. It would be to costly. Some changes to the wing with composite tech transfer from 787 and other programs.

Also a lot of systems are supposed to be new (cargo, seat tracks for new 16G seats etc).

So plenty of changes not that obvious. But definitely no change in cross section.

Knight255 · Post by **Knight255** » 16 Nov 2005, 00:12

a bit unerving

That's an understatement!!!! If I have to look up out the window to see the wing....I would be a wee bit distressed. 8O I know they flex now, but in those pictures, that is amazing. :wow:

Ovostar · Post by **Ovostar** » 16 Nov 2005, 01:24

Yeah, the pictures are absolutely AMAZING!!!!! but as a lot a said earlier, i ams sure that the final plane will have very differents wings than the citures....

ANyway, That boeing launches the 747-8 IS very good news for me, a HUUUUGE 747 FAN!

Why is it called 747-8 and not 747-800 ?

bits44 · Post by **bits44** » 16 Nov 2005, 05:50

Why is it called 747-8 and not 747-800

I've heard from friends at Boeing that it was called the 747-8 because it will share many technologies from the 7"8"7 and its range will be "8" thousand miles, and "8" is a very lucky number in the Far East.

that's just what I've heard.

lastrow · Post by **lastrow** » 16 Nov 2005, 09:30

I am sure that the "8" has also been chosen to indicate the competition with the A380. So, we are in the 8-era of aircrafts!

Post by **sn26567** » 16 Nov 2005, 09:37

bits44 wrote:There has been no reduction in cabin width, the only additions are length, and composite upgrades to the the wings, and other control surfaces.

Indeed, the length is increased by 3.60 m. This will increase the capacity from 416 to 450 seats. Still a long way to go before they reach the capacity of the A380.

CX · Post by CX » 16 Nov 2005, 09:50

No way the wings will turn out like that... if any of you have played the strategy game Empire Earth before, the Titan Bomber you get in Nano Age doesn't have flexed wings that flexes that much! I guess it's just advertising against Airbus' more 'realistic' CGIs of the A350, making the A350 looks like something from 10years ago...

earthman · Post by **earthman** » 16 Nov 2005, 09:55

Maybe it will be flapping it's wings like a bird to fly, and that's what causes the curvature?

Aviation24.be

747ADV Officially launched!

747ADV Officially launched!

Cross-section

Changing the fuselage...