More power / Fewer emissions
Premiere of Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental
As the hangar doors open and spectators push inquisitively forward to glimpse the huge nose of an aircraft slowly emerging into view - that‘s when years of planning and work on the evolution of the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental reach fruition – a highlight in the life of a new plane. The “new jumbo” is celebrating its premiere in Seattle on 13 February.
The elegant aircraft is 5.6 metres longer than its predecessor, the Boeing 747-400, and roughly a metre longer than the Airbus A340-600 – to date, the world‘s lengthiest passenger plane. No less impressive are its specifications: The B747-8 International can transport a payload weighing 22 tonnes more than that of the B747-400 over a range of more than 14,000 kilometres. Compared with earlier models, it reduces emissions by about 20 per cent. Its fuel burn is 13 per cent lower than comparable aircraft currently in operation.
Ideas from Lufthansa
The new aircraft owes much to inspiration from Lufthansa – it fits ideally in the Lufthansa fleet. Seating around 380 passengers, the Intercontinental slots in perfectly between the Airbus A380 (536 seats) and the A340-600 (306 seats). Right from the drawing board, Lufthansa know-how was influential in the styling of the aircraft. The ultra-modern cockpit is based on the same technology as that of the Boeing 747-400 and the Boeing 787. Which means, for example, that existing flight simulators can be utilised and that re-training takes less time.
At the same time, the innovations are many and varied. The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental comes with newly developed wings with a state-of-the-art profile and raked wingtips instead of winglets. Its aerodynamics are accordingly a vast improvement and they significantly reduce fuel consumption.
Newly designed as well are the aircraft‘s GEnx-2B67 powerplants from General Electric. The B747-8I engines are not only quieter in operation than earlier generations, they burn less fuel and generate fewer emissions.
Lufthansa has placed firm orders for twenty 20 Boeing 747-8 Intercontinentals and has options on a further twenty.
747-8 vs. 747-400
747-8 | 747-400 | |
Length | 76,3 m | 70,7 m |
Wingspan | 68,7 m | 64,4 m |
Height | 19,4 m | 19,4 m |
Wing Area | 554 m² | 525 m² |
Fuel capacity | 242 000 l | 216 000 l |
Cruising speed | Mach 0,85 | Mach 0,85 |
Maximum start weight | 442 tons | 395 tons |
As of: February 2011
More information
History with a Future
50 years Boeing jet aircraft for Lufthansa
www.boeing.de www.newairplane.com
The Lufthansa Fleet
Large, modern and environmentally compatible
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Pilots call it the queen of the skies, passengers know it as the Jumbo Jet: the Boeing 747 is one of the world‘s most successful long-range aircraft. The last 747-400 left the Boeing production halls in Everett in 2005. But the legend will live on, as a further development under the name Boeing 747-8 International. more ...