By Bryan Corliss
Herald Writer
Workers will begin major assembly of the Boeing Co.’s latest 747 model on Monday.
Airline passengers may have a hard time telling the new 747-400ER from the 747-400 series jet Boeing has built since 1989, said Kurt Kraft, who manages the program. The only external difference is that the wheels will be an inch larger.
But the beefed-up 747-400ER will be capable of carrying more fuel, giving it either 500 miles more range or greater passenger- or cargo-hauling ability, said Bill Droppelman, who leads the marketing effort for Boeing’s 747 program.
In addition, the plane will have a number of incremental improvements to the cockpit and passenger cabin, he said. “This is kind of our breakthrough airplane for some of these processes and techniques.”
The first plane is being built for Qantas, which ordered six of the longer-range jets in November 2000. Delivery begins late this year.
Boeing also will start building a freighter version of the 747-400ER this year to fill a five-plane order from International Lease Finance Corp. Air France also has ordered two.
Two other planes have been sold to an unidentified customer, Droppelman said, adding, “We have a number of other airlines looking at the plane. We think it’s a significant market, (but) not an overwhelming market.”
The new planes have additional fuel tanks in the tail and belly. That allows the passenger versions to fly about 5.5 percent farther and the freighters 7 percent farther. The passenger version will have a range of just under 8,900 miles. The freighter’s range will be just over 9,000 miles.
Or airlines could use the added capability to haul more cargo or passengers, Droppelman said – up to 11 tons more in the freighter version.
To handle the added weight of the extra fuel, the planes will have stronger bodies, landing gear and wings. They’ll also have updated flight decks featuring liquid crystal instrument displays and a quieter cockpit.
The passenger versions will have cabin design features copied from Boeing’s award-winning 777 jets. The goal is to develop a “signature Boeing interior,” Droppelman said, particularly among the long-haul jets.
The first plane for Qantas is scheduled to roll out of the Everett factory in June, take its first flight in July and be delivered in October. Work will start on the first freighter in May, with rollout and first flights set for September, and delivery in November.
Boeing plans to continue improving the 747 over 2003 and 2004, with plans for reducing noise, making the new interiors standard on all models and adding a new cargo-handling system.
And it hasn’t thrown out plans for the 747X, the next-generation jumbo jet that was pushed aside last year to speed development of the new Sonic Cruiser.
“We’re investing significantly in that airplane,” Droppelman said. The question is whether there is enough interest in the new plane to justify bringing it to market, he said.
You can call Herald Writer Bryan Corliss at 425-339-3454
or send e-mail to corliss@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
