Boeing 747-8

[Skip Miller]

Anybody noticed that Boeing launched the latest version of the 747, last November? The statistics are quite impressive and clearly have a dead bead on the Airbus 380.

From their website:
"Both the passenger and freighter versions of the 747-8 will allow operators to maximize their profitability. Seat-mile costs for the 747-8 Intercontinental are 8 percent lower than the 747-400, with comparable trip costs. The 747-8 Intercontinental is more than 13 percent lighter per seat than the A380, and as consumes 14 percent less fuel per passenger. That translates into a trip-cost reduction of 22 percent and a seat-mile cost reduction of more than 6 percent compared to the A380.

The 747-8 is the only large airplane that fits today's airport infrastructure, giving airlines the flexibility to fly to more destinations. The 747-8 will fly into the 210 airports worldwide served by the current 747 family, using the same pilot type ratings, services and most ground support equipment. With a range of 14,815-km (8,000-nmi), the 747-8 Intercontinental can connect nearly any major city pair in the world. "

Here is a link to a rendering of the new plane. The wings and engine nacelles have obviously been radically redesigned, if the rendering is true to the plane.

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/flash.html

-Skip

 

[AdamZ]

Glad to see Boeing to be competitive. Always like to see and American comany do well. Personally I hope they hand it to AirBus

 

[spiderweb]

That design is whack.

 

[TDKendall]

Should be interesting to see it fly. At least they're trying to fit their new aircraft to the existing infrastructure instead of building a plane that requires that most of today's airports be re-fitted to handle a larger aircraft.