Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental Airliner, USA

Boeing's new 747-8 family of aircraft includes the 747-8 intercontinental in passenger and VIP variants and the 747-8 freighter aircraft.

The aircraft uses many of the technologies developed for the 787 Dreamliner, including the engines, interior configuration, flight deck technologies and instrumentation and wing configuration. These provide significant increases in passenger and freighter capabilities, improved fuel efficiency, reduced noise and emissions and improved operating economics.

BOEING 747-8 PROGRAMME

Boeing launched the 747-8 programme in November 2005. Wind tunnel tests and load tests were started in 2006. Final assembly of the first 747-8, the freighter variant, is due to begin by the end of 2008 with roll-out in early 2009. The first flight of the freighter variant is scheduled for mid-2009, with entry into service in late 2009. The 747-8 Intercontinental is scheduled to enter service in 2010.

By December 2007, orders had been placed for 25 747-8 intercontinental passenger aircraft including 20 (plus 20 options) for Lufthansa and five from Boeing Business Jet for conversion to the 747-8 VIP variant.

The 747-8 VIP variant of the 747-8 intercontinental passenger aircraft was first announced in October 2006, although a contract was placed months earlier by the launch customer, the government of Qatar, in May 2006.

By December 2007, orders had been placed for 73 freighters for: launch customer Cargolux based in Luxembourg (13 aircraft), Cathay Pacific (ten), Emirates Skycargo (ten), Nippon Cargo Airlines (14), Atlas Air (12), Korean Air (five), Guggenheim (four) and Volga-Dnepr (five).

The forward production plans involve ramping down to completion and final production of the 747-400 series and the simultaneous ramping up of 747-8 production. Delivery of the final 747-400 is due in early 2009.

PERFORMANCE

The aircraft will be able to operate from about 200 airports worldwide for hub-to-hub and hub-to-point operations.

The 14,815km (8,000nm) range allows direct connection between nearly every major city pair airports in the world, for example New York and Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Mumbai, London and Singapore.

The aircraft uses the same pilot type ratings as the 747, many existing 747 spares, services and the majority of the ground support equipment.

Boeing reports the seat-mile cost of the 747-8 intercontinental is 10% lower and 15% more fuel efficient compared to the 747-400, with nearly equivalent trip costs.

Both versions of the 747-8 meet the stage 4 standard and the QC2 standard noise requirements.

CONSTRUCTION

The passenger and freighter versions have identical external dimensions and will be of aluminium rather than composite construction. The cabins have engine bleed-air temperature conditioning.

The aircraft has an upgraded flight deck and an improved wing design with raked wingtips, spoilers, ailerons, double-slotted inboard flaps and single-slotted outboard flaps. The wingspan is 68.66m.

747-8 FLIGHT DECK

The 747-8 aircraft has conventional rather than fly-by-wire controls.

Rockwell Collins is providing the entire, new avionics suite which includes: DU-7001 LCD displays upgraded electronic checklist with cursor control panel, navigation performance scales and vertical situation displays; autopilot and navigation systems with GPS landing system; WXR-2100 MultiScan hazard detection system; communication, navigation, surveillance, maintenance, emergency and data management systems.

VIP AIRCRAFT

The 747-8 VIP aircraft, announced in 2006 is customised to accommodate typically eight to 100 passengers. The cabin (length 63.25m, width 6.12m and height 2.39m) can be configured in executive or luxurious rooms and suites.

With eight passengers the range is 17,600km and with 100 passengers the range is 17,150km.

INTERCONTINENTAL PASSENGER AIRCRAFT

The intercontinental passenger aircraft accommodates 467 passengers in a typical three-class configuration.

The 747-8 intercontinental uses interior features from the 787 Dreamliner, including the curved, upswept architecture and new lighting technology. The passenger entrance has a staircase to the upper deck. The new windows are larger than those on the 747-400 (38cm high x 27.3cm wide).

The total cargo capacity of the intercontinental is 161.5m³ which can accommodate seven pallets and 16 LD-1 containers plus additional bulk storage of 19.2m³.

The maximum fuel capacity of the 747-8 intercontinental is 243,120l (64,225gal).and the maximum range is 14,815km (8,000nm).

FREIGHTER

The freighter aircraft was launched in November 2005, with orders for 18 aircraft.

The freighter has a total cargo capacity of 854.3m³. The main deck volume capacity is 688.8m³ accommodating 34 2.4m x 3.2m pallets of which 27 are 3m-high pallets.

The lower hold volume capacity is 165.7m³ accommodating 12 2.4m x 3.2m pallets, two LD-1 containers and 14.7m³ bulk storage

The maximum fuel capacity of the 747-8 freighter is 230,625l (60,925gal).

The freighter aircraft has a range of 8,275km and has a 16% higher cargo volume than the 747-400. The maximum structural payload capacity is 140t.

ENGINES

The aircraft has four engines mounted under the wings. The engine selected for the aircraft is the GEnx-2B67, the General Electric next-generation engine. The design of the 747-8 aircraft engine is slightly modified variant of the GEnx engine developed for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The engine provides 66,500lb of thrust.

The engine has composite front fan blades of diameter 105in, a high-pressure ratio compressor, and a twin-annular pre-swirler combustor to achieve lower emissions. The combuster design provides efficient mixing of the fuel prior to ignition which yields lower nitrogen oxide levels and improved life.

The dual turbine configuration comprises a high-pressure first turbine and a second counter-rotating low-pressure turbine which provides improved fuel burn characteristics.

Middle River Aircraft Systems (MRAS) is developing and producing the thrust-reverser system, Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. the engine struts and nacelles.