Fri, Sep 17, 2010
Aircraft Is The Passenger Variant Of The 747-8
Assembly of the first forward fuselage section of Boeing's 747-8
Intercontinental got underway Sunday night. The 89-foot, 2-inch
fuselage section, featuring the airplane's signature upper deck,
was moved from the assembly tool for sealing and testing before
beginning systems installation.
The 747-8 features a stretched fuselage compared to that of the
747-400. It is 18 feet, 4 inches longer than its predecessor. Much
of the stretch -- 13 feet, 4 inches -- is located in the forward
fuselage. The remaining additional 5 feet are located aft of the
wing. The 747-8's stretched fuselage provides for 51 additional
seats to accommodate 467 passengers in a typical three-class
configuration and 26 percent more cargo volume.
Boeing says the 747-8 Intercontinental is a new, high-capacity
747 that offers the lowest operating costs and best economics of
any large passenger airplane, while providing enhanced
environmental performance.
Construction on the airplane began in May in Everett, WA, when
its wing panels and spars were loaded into the assembly tools. The
spar is the internal support structure that runs through the full
length of the wing. Boeing says the 747-8 interior will incorporate
features from the 787 Dreamliner, including a new curved, upswept
architecture that gives passengers a greater sense of space and
comfort while adding more room for personal belongings. Lufthansa
is on the books as the launch customer for the passenger variant of
the airplane.
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