Boeing is practically a household name and any aircraft fanatic will have volumes of information about the aircraft that have come off the Boeing production line two of which in my opinion revolutionised passenger air travel as we know it, the Boeing 707 and its numerous variants, which was the first long haul passenger airliner to be used by the regular airlines on scheduled flights to the four corners of the globe, about which terrifying fiction stories were written by authors such as Arthur Hailey and last but not least which formed the subject of elaborate and exotic advertisements for the cigarette brand Peter Stuyvesant and the Boeing 747 and its variants, affectionately known as the ‘Jumbo Jet’ alluding to its extended upper deck. I am certain that there is no seasoned traveller out there who has not had a flight on a 747 during their travels.
The Boeing 747 was and possibly still is, by no stretch of the imagination, the safest flying machine of its kind. Although the older variants have been retired from service the new generation 747’s with their glass cockpits will give any competitor a run for their money.
First of these is the Boeing 747-400 which is a formidable plane and the best selling model in the 747 family. It is presently run by operators such as KLM, Qantas, Air New Zealand and Virgin on their long haul overseas flights, there are a total of 641 of these aircraft in service today with various carriers around the world. The 747-400 freighter version is also extensively used as it can carry twice as much cargo, double the distance of any of its competitors and has the lowest operating cost per ton mile in the industry. There are more than 300 of these in use today.
The next generation, the Boeing 747 8, which is the longest aircraft ever built by Boeing, has been developed to take over from the 747-400’s, the first of which is due to enter service this year, in fact the 747 8 first flew from Paine Field on the 8th of February this year on a flight that lasted just three and a half hours. Chief pilot Mark Feuerstein said “it handles just like the 747-400”. A total of 108 Boeing 747-8s are on order, 32 of which are due to enter passenger service and the balance is designated for freighter duties. It is powered by General Electric GEnx – 2B67 engines delivering an awesome 65, 000 pounds of thrust.
As a testament to the 747, commenting at the flight of the 747 8 Captain Carlos Limon, President of IFALPA, the International Airline Pilots Federation said
”The 747 is an icon of our age… It is a testament to the original design that after 40 years of service it has managed to take that design concept and using current technology and materials has created an aircraft that flies further, carrying a payload 30 tonnes greater and at a lower cost when compared to the first freighter version.”
Other Boeing aircraft that have had the same or similar impact on the industry are the 737 family which has continued to grow as a short to medium haul passenger liner designated as a single aisle narrow body airliner which many believe is the proverbial ’bread and butter’ of Boeing. The latest version of which is the 737 800/900.
The Boeing 787 series, with its unique vertical stabiliser and rudder assembly is the world’s first composite material wide body jet.
It has been plagued by numerous setbacks but eventually has completed its first airworthiness tests in December and has conducted 15 flights. The aircraft was taken to an altitude of 30, 000 ft (9, 144 meters) and reached a speed of Mach 0.65.
Scott Fancher, VP and General Manager of the 787 programme said…
"This is an important step forward and we are very pleased with the results we have achieved so far. The airplane has been performing as we expected” and Boeing has stated that it is, the companies, most fuel- efficient airliner."
This is far from a pipe dream and I hope to see the 787 in our skies in the near future.
The above is a small indication that the Boeing Company is far from over, as some critics believe, and even though it is not at present leading the market in sales its new aircraft programmes are making Boeing a formidable force with which to be reckoned.
Have a safe flying day
Costa Vranas
This article was compiled and submitted by resident aviation news editor Costra Vranas.
