Wirraway
30th Sep 2004, 15:57
Fri "The Australian"
Advanced 747 on way from Boeing
Geoffrey Thomas
October 01, 2004
BOEING plans a radical interior makeover of its 747 that will include sky-suites in the overhead ceiling space, much larger windows and a sweeping staircase to the upper deck.
Adding punch to the aircraft's performance, Boeing will fit the radical 7E7 engines and stretch the aircraft by 3.6m to increase passenger capacity to 450 from the current typical international configuration of 416.
The new version, known as the 747 Advanced, will have increased range, enabling it to fly from Sydney to Chicago or from Dallas-Fort Worth to Sydney.
The 747ADV is in many ways a meld of three different aircraft. It takes some of the new technology from the 7E7 and combines this with many of the proved systems from the 777 to update the classic 747 design, considered by many to be one of the best aircraft ever built.
Boeing's pitch to airlines is that the A380 is too big for many routes such as Brisbane-Los Angeles and for off-peak times to destinations such as Hong Kong.
The new 747 model with 450 seats would fit neatly between the A380 with 550 seats and the 777-300ER and the A340-600 with about 350 seats.
Asia-Pacific airlines are the major target for the new variant, with Cathay Pacific and possibly Qantas as launch customers.
Cathay Pacific, like Japan Airlines and British Airways, has so far resisted the move to the A380 even though it operates two 747-400s a night to London from Hong Kong.
Cathay, rather than buy A380s, recently signed up for eight used 747-400s from Singapore Airlines and South African Airways.
Qantas has also been searching for used 747-400s but was unable to acquire aircraft at a price to support the business plan. In fact, the market for 747s has become very tight -- Boeing Trading only has one used 747 available.
Qantas is now looking at other options and is being courted by Boeing with new aircraft offerings.
From the passenger perspective, the 747ADV will seem like a new aircraft with a 777-styled interior, up to 40 sky-suites and a business centre in the crown of the ceiling.
The sky-suites may be used by premium economy class passengers, as most airlines already offer lie-flat beds for business and first class passengers.
Access to the upper deck has been moved to the far side of the cabin as you enter and is up a sweeping staircase with windows in the ceiling giving a spacious skylight effect.
Boeing may also include 7E7-style windows -- which are almost twice the size of 747 windows -- to the 747ADV, to give an even greater sense of spaciousness.
The latest generation 7E7 engines will make the 747ADV the quietest aircraft in its class. It will meet all new and proposed airport noise restrictions -- a major benefit when operating into noise-sensitive airports such as Sydney.
Boeing is also tweaking the aerodynamics of the wing to make the 747ADV slightly faster than the 747, already the world's fastest large-capacity commercial aircraft.
It is expected that the 747ADV will be committed to production early next year with the first flight scheduled for 2009 and entry into service a year later.
==========================================
Advanced 747 on way from Boeing
Geoffrey Thomas
October 01, 2004
BOEING plans a radical interior makeover of its 747 that will include sky-suites in the overhead ceiling space, much larger windows and a sweeping staircase to the upper deck.
Adding punch to the aircraft's performance, Boeing will fit the radical 7E7 engines and stretch the aircraft by 3.6m to increase passenger capacity to 450 from the current typical international configuration of 416.
The new version, known as the 747 Advanced, will have increased range, enabling it to fly from Sydney to Chicago or from Dallas-Fort Worth to Sydney.
The 747ADV is in many ways a meld of three different aircraft. It takes some of the new technology from the 7E7 and combines this with many of the proved systems from the 777 to update the classic 747 design, considered by many to be one of the best aircraft ever built.
Boeing's pitch to airlines is that the A380 is too big for many routes such as Brisbane-Los Angeles and for off-peak times to destinations such as Hong Kong.
The new 747 model with 450 seats would fit neatly between the A380 with 550 seats and the 777-300ER and the A340-600 with about 350 seats.
Asia-Pacific airlines are the major target for the new variant, with Cathay Pacific and possibly Qantas as launch customers.
Cathay Pacific, like Japan Airlines and British Airways, has so far resisted the move to the A380 even though it operates two 747-400s a night to London from Hong Kong.
Cathay, rather than buy A380s, recently signed up for eight used 747-400s from Singapore Airlines and South African Airways.
Qantas has also been searching for used 747-400s but was unable to acquire aircraft at a price to support the business plan. In fact, the market for 747s has become very tight -- Boeing Trading only has one used 747 available.
Qantas is now looking at other options and is being courted by Boeing with new aircraft offerings.
From the passenger perspective, the 747ADV will seem like a new aircraft with a 777-styled interior, up to 40 sky-suites and a business centre in the crown of the ceiling.
The sky-suites may be used by premium economy class passengers, as most airlines already offer lie-flat beds for business and first class passengers.
Access to the upper deck has been moved to the far side of the cabin as you enter and is up a sweeping staircase with windows in the ceiling giving a spacious skylight effect.
Boeing may also include 7E7-style windows -- which are almost twice the size of 747 windows -- to the 747ADV, to give an even greater sense of spaciousness.
The latest generation 7E7 engines will make the 747ADV the quietest aircraft in its class. It will meet all new and proposed airport noise restrictions -- a major benefit when operating into noise-sensitive airports such as Sydney.
Boeing is also tweaking the aerodynamics of the wing to make the 747ADV slightly faster than the 747, already the world's fastest large-capacity commercial aircraft.
It is expected that the 747ADV will be committed to production early next year with the first flight scheduled for 2009 and entry into service a year later.
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