Boeing ups it game!

[EHM-1703 Philip]

Well the as you have all probably seen the next generation 747 has been announced with the 800 series slated for 2009 delivery! (I think that's an ambitious delivery date but well have to wait and see) For those of you that haven't seen the site yet, here's the link:

http://747.newairplane.com/

In short, they're claiming a 6% better seat mile cost than the A380 with a trip cost saving of 22% over the Airbus. Of course the launch customers are both Cargo companies so it will be interesting to see which PAX carrier will be the first to order! (Who do you think will be the first?)

Other benefits of the 747-800 will be the GEnx engine commonality with the 787 as well as the Flight deck. (Looks like 777 to me!) The major benefit is the fact that it can land at all major airports without any upgrades necessary!

Which way will Euroharmony go???

[EHM-1539 Pierre]

A virtual airline can choose both :p
But honestly, all those post 747-400 liners have cockpits so empty that I won't like flying it.

Someday there will be just an on/off switch in the cockpit, and a fuse box for the switch.

[EHM-1703 Philip]

LOL, Well at least the A380 will have a PC in the cockpit for the pilots to run FS9 on and pretend to fly!

[EHM-1001 Robert]

Well, we have two choices.

1. Make a Class8, and buy extralarge airplanes, like An-225 cargo and A-380 pax, but we should limit the destinations to these aircrafts.

2. Buy this new 747, which we can simply lower the operating costs, and keep the current route network. Also we do not need to pay extra charge for the modified doubledecker gates on those few airports.

You may know, I am a Boeing fan, although I am European. It is not only because I like more their aircrafts, and I think their strategy to look into the future is also better. I think that the B7E7, or the Sonic Cruiser will be more popular and successfull than the A380

[EHM-1703 Philip]

I must admit Robert, Give me an A320 over a 737 or an A330 over the 767 but I'd rather fly a 747 than an A340! As for 380, well she's ugly, but you gotta love that cockpit! I think the 380 is just too big!!!! My vote at the moment goes to the 747-800, makes better business sense!

[EHM-1001 Robert]

Well, I also like better the A330 than the B767, but I like the B737 better than the A320.

Generally, I like the A380, but I could not think of a situation, when this plane will carry 900 people in all-tourist class configuration, rather 400-500 pax in full luxury. And I think, if this is the case, then I think, a simple 747 Jumbo is much better ! Also, I do not see the reason for flying continuosly so long distances. It is known, that flying and sitting more than 10 hours continously is unhealthy, and very frustrating, and very hard even to the mind.

That is why I think, small and fast airplanes brings the future, making a flexible, and well organized network, rather than point-2-point flying on these large whales. If the Concorde had not had those many difficulties, I am sure it could still be a successfull plane, and I think a modern Concorde, like the Sonic Cruiser will be a very successfull plane. Combined with the 7E7, and kept the superb and modernized 747 as 747-8, I think Boeing still holds an unbeatable combination of fleet for the future jet era.

Next to it, what Airbus does? It is making an enormous variety of aircrafts in passenger capacity, but nothing else. They have every kind of aircrafts from 80-800 passenger variants, but basically, these are totally the same airplanes in technology, also there are too many choices to build up a fleet smartly, therefore many variants are unnecessary in reality.

[EHM-0744 Alex]

Maybe i'm the only one here that sees Boeing's 747-800 as a life raft against the A380, Boeing needs to make something, anything, to keep up even in a short notice.

[EHM-1703 Philip]

I agree Alex, I think this is a knee jerk reaction from Boeing, you can tell because the launch was nowhere near as big as the 787. Using the 747 has great benefits though, but 4 years from concept to delivery of a plane this size is really ambitious and I really can't see them keeping it on time. They are planning new wings, basically the 787 but just bigger with 787 engines, a section in the fueselage but they are talking about saving weight, this cant just be in the wing sections so I am sure this will cause some design headaches! I will look on with interest as this developes.

[EHM-1539 Pierre]

Hey guys, there won't be any super sonic liner. Those, like the concorde, could fly supersonic only above the ocean. Boeing canceled that project already.
Future will be played in upper parts of the sky, but I will be a grandpa at that time :>

For Boeing coming up with the 747-8...
Well, still one year ago they were like :
"Nooo, BIG mistake, massive transport is not the future, Airbus is late one train.. The future is commuting... Hubs will die."
Hahaha, and now they are rushing to do their "massive transporter" :8

[EHM-1001 Robert]

Well, if I remember well, the sonic cruiser would not go beyond M1.0, it would travel only M0.95, so about 100 kts faster than the current fastest big jets.

Also, I do not see what is the problem improving the 747-800. They should first test the 7E7, and see how they can add those technologies to the 747. Why to design a brand new plane, if a good base is already exist?

ATC professionals says, that the current system is overloaded, and a much more automated, and less regulated point-2-point fliying era comes, which would help a lot to Airbus. But lets see, what the future brings.