Boeing 747-400. Photo. Video. Interior layout. Specifications. Reviews.
The four-engine Boeing 747-400 is a wide-body, long-haul, passenger aircraft built on a double-deck by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. This airliner, although designed on the basis of previous models of this family, is structurally a new aircraft. The new airliner has become much more spacious than the previous versions of the Boeing 747 family. Thanks to the new engines, the noise level of the serial Boeing 747-400 is half that of the 747-300, and the fuel efficiency has increased by 25 percent.
Boeing 747-400 photo
In early 1984, Boeing Commercial Airplanes began work on a new aircraft as the latest modification, the 747-300, did not raise sales as the company wanted. And to top it all, there was a problem in the form of the development of competing airliners such as the McDonnell Douglas MD-11, Airbus A330 and Airbus A340, which could later take a share of the market from Boeing. And in September of the same year, at the Farnborough Aviation Show, the creation of a new airliner, the Boeing 747 Advanced Series 300, was announced. Officially, the program was launched on October 22, 1985. The first customer for the new airliner was Northwest Airlines, an American airline, with an initial order for 10 aircraft. Later, the list of major customers was expanded by such airlines as Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, United Airlines, French Air France and German Lufthansa. The main customers also acted as consultants in the design of the new airliner. After the approval of the project, the aircraft received the designation Boeing 747-400.
On the new aircraft, the wings were lengthened, the span of which was now 64.44 meters, which is 4.8 meters more than that of the 747-300. Now the wings of the Boeing 747-400 are equipped with wingtips, the so-called winglets. When building the wing of the aircraft, composite materials were used, this had a positive effect on the weight of the structure. To increase the flight range, an additional fuel tank was installed on the aircraft.
The power plant of the Boeing 747-400 was based on the new economical Pratt & Whitney PW-4056 turbojet engines with a thrust of 252.4 kN. Subsequent models also featured General Electric CF6-80-C2B1Fs, CF6-80-C2B1F1s and RollsRoyce RB-211-524G engines with a thrust of 258.0 kN.
On the Boeing 747-400, new digital avionics were installed, consisting of six multifunction displays and new avionics. This solution reduced the crew to two people.
The upper deck has also been lengthened, now it is twice as long as on the original versions of the Boeing 747 family airliners.
Boeing 747-400, in three classes, can accommodate 416 passenger seats. In the configuration of the economy and business cabin, 524 passengers can be accommodated. And in the maximum, economy class, the passenger capacity is 660 people.
The final assembly of the aircraft was carried out at the Boeing plant in Everett. On January 26, 1988, when the plane rolled out of the assembly hangar, the company already had more than 100 orders for this plane.
On April 29, 1988, a Boeing 747-400 took off. The first test flight lasted over two hours. The tests involved four Boeing 747-400 aircraft, with different engines. And on January 10, 1989, the airliner received its first FAA flight certificate. On January 26 of the same year, the Boeing 747-400 was handed over to the first customer, Northwest Airlines. The first flight on this aircraft was made in the direction "Minneapolis - Phoenix" on February 9, 1989.
Boeing 747-400 photo salon
Further work on the Boeing 747-400 led to the creation of such modifications as:
Boeing 747-400 F, a cargo version of the aircraft that first flew on May 4, 1993. This version is equipped with a nose cone that rises up to provide access to the cargo hold.
Boeing 747-400 M Combi, combined, cargo-passenger version of the aircraft. The first flight took place on June 30, 1989. This version is equipped with a cargo hatch at the rear of the fuselage.
Boeing 747-400 ER, extended range airliner. This aircraft was put into operation on October 31, 2002.
Boeing 747-400 D, a version specially designed for Japanese airlines for regional and local flights. The first flight of this version took place on March 18, 1991.
Boeing 747-400 ERF, extended range air cargo version. The first aircraft of this version was delivered on October 17, 2002 to the French airline "Air France".
In addition to civilian and cargo options, aircraft based on the Boeing 747-400 were also produced for military needs.
The Boeing 747-400 became the best-selling aircraft of the entire 747 family. During the period of its production from 1988 to 2009, 694 units of this version of the airliner were produced. Of these, the basic passenger version 747-400, 442 aircraft were produced and delivered.
Boeing 747-400 aircraft specifications:
Years of production: from 1988 to 2009
Length: 70.67 m.
Height: 19.41 m.
Wingspan: 64.44 m
Interior width: 6.1 m.
Empty weight: 180985 kg.
Maximum takeoff weight: 362,875 kg.
Wing area: 541.2 sqm
Cruising speed: 907 km / h.
Maximum speed: 939 km / h.
Ceiling: 13750 m.
Flight range: 13,430 km.
Engines: 4 x Pratt & Whitney turbojet engine PW-4056 (252.4 kN), PW-4060s (266.9 kN), PW-4062s (275.8 kN), General Electric CF6-80-C2B1Fs (252.4 kN) ), CF6-80-C2B1F1s (273.6 kN), Rolls-Royce RB-211-524G (258.0 kN).
Crew: 2 people
Seats: 660 Economy Class
Boeing 747-400. Gallery.
