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.

FMI: www.boeing.com