Aviation News

2010-02-08

Boeing’s Biggest Bird Takes to the Skies

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Boeing 501 Heavy, N747EX. Photo by Jeremy Lindgren

Boeing 501 Heavy (reg N747EX) lifts off for the first time. (Photo by Jeremy Lindgren)

The largest commercial aircraft ever built in the United States, the Boeing 747-8, took off on its maiden flight Monday afternoon, marking an important step forward for the manufacturer’s iconic—but aging—747 family of airliners. After lifting off from Boeing’s factory at Paine Field in Everett, Wash., Boeing Flight 501 Heavy flew loops around northwestern Washington for a few hours of tests before returning to Everett.

Powered by four of General Electric’s new high-tech GenX engines and fitted with a redesigned wing, the new 747-8 promises to fly further while burning less fuel and carrying more payload than earlier 747 models. (A different version of the GenX is also offered for the new Boeing 787, which completed its own maiden test flight this past December.) In addition to the the Freighter version which flew Monday, Boeing is also building a passenger version dubbed the 747-8 Intercontinental, which is expected to begin flight tests in the next few months.

Able to lift a maximum of 975,000lbs, the 747-8 is the most muscular American-built aircraft ever assembled, out-lifting even the gargantuan Lockheed C-5 Galaxy military transport—only the Russian-built Antonov An-225 Mriya and Europe’s Airbus A380 can carry more. When the passenger version of the 747-8 enters service, it will be the longest airliner in the skies, beating the pencil-esque Airbus A340-600 by about 3 feet.

After its introduction 40 years ago, the Boeing 747 was for decades the state-of-the-art of carrying large payloads of passengers and/or freight long distances. As airlines have sought to update their fleets in recent years, however, the 747 had fallen out of favor among airlines for all but the most specialized of missions, due mainly to the appeal of more efficient large dual-engined jets, including Boeing’s own 777 aircraft. Competition also emerged from Europe’s Airbus consortium, which designed and built its own entrant to the Very Large Aircraft (VLA) market, the double-decker Airbus A380.

The last major update of the 747 took place over 20 years ago, when Boeing introduced the 747-400 series. While the -400 was an outstanding success with over 450 passenger and cargo aircraft sold, orders dried up by the late 2000s, and the last 747-400 rolled off the assembly line in December 2009.

Expected to begin deliveries in late 2010, Boeing has received orders for 108 new 747-8 aircraft. Cargolux, a Luxemborg-based freight hauler, will receive the first 747-8F, while Germany’s national airline, Lufthansa, will fly the first 747-8I airliner.

Boeing

Boeing 501 Heavy (reg N747EX). (Photo by Jeremy Lindgren)

One of the test pilots waves to the crowd before boarding.

One of the test pilots waves to the crowd before boarding. (Photo by Jeremy Lindgren)

Smoky startup.

Smoky startup. (Photo by Jeremy Lindgren)

Taxiing to the active runway.

Taxiing to the active runway. (Photo by Jeremy Lindgren)

T38 chase plane follows the big Boeing down the runway during its takeoff roll.

T-33 chase plane follows the big Boeing down the runway during its takeoff roll. (Photo by Jeremy Lindgren)

A peek inside Boeing's massive assembly building, where two more 747-8s are under construction.

A peek inside Boeing’s massive assembly building, where two more 747-8s are under construction. (Photo by Jeremy Lindgren)



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  • Jay

    Sure seems weird for a new B-747 to not have winglets on it.

    • Jeremy

      The new 747-8 wing with its 'raked wingtip' is so efficient that it doesn't need winglets. Just like the 777 from day 1!

      Jer
      777 Pilot

    • Mingo

      How do you know there are no winglets? You can't see the tips of the wings in any of the pictures in this article…

  • Jay

    Sure seems weird for a new B-747 to not have winglets on it.

    • Jeremy

      The new 747-8 wing with its 'raked wingtip' is so efficient that it doesn't need winglets. Just like the 777 from day 1!

      Jer
      777 Pilot

    • Mingo

      How do you know there are no winglets? You can't see the tips of the wings in any of the pictures in this article…

  • Richard Volosyn

    With the stretched 747 soon to be in service with Lufthansa, Airbus won"t have bragging rights that their A340-600 is the longest passenger transport flying. Richnhistory

  • Richard Volosyn

    With the stretched 747 soon to be in service with Lufthansa, Airbus won"t have bragging rights that their A340-600 is the longest passenger transport flying. Richnhistory

  • K_K

    Amazing! Go big BA!

  • K_K

    Amazing! Go big BA!

  • George Costanza

    It has raked wingtips as opposed to winglets, which are actually better for airflow for this wing than the winglets you are used to seeing on the 747-400.

  • George Costanza

    It has raked wingtips as opposed to winglets, which are actually better for airflow for this wing than the winglets you are used to seeing on the 747-400.

  • Burt

    FYI, the chase plane is a T-33, not a T-38.

  • Burt

    FYI, the chase plane is a T-33, not a T-38.

  • freddie

    that's an awesome plane, I came to America in a 747, by PAN-AM Airline back in 1971, May 4th. And its fineally getting a new due, its been long waiting for it to happen, and to read and see it fly for the first time its an awesome sight and an awesome aircraft. WAY TO GO BOING

  • freddie

    that's an awesome plane, I came to America in a 747, by PAN-AM Airline back in 1971, May 4th. And its fineally getting a new due, its been long waiting for it to happen, and to read and see it fly for the first time its an awesome sight and an awesome aircraft. WAY TO GO BOING

  • Joseph Lundrigan

    Wow…..this has to be tops for today, and for awhile…congratulations
    to all concerned……

  • Joseph Lundrigan

    Wow…..this has to be tops for today, and for awhile…congratulations
    to all concerned……

  • Hmmmm isn’t this what taking flight is OIL ABOUT????

  • good work, will once again soon, great site congratulation

  • comparing the 747-8 version of boeing and the 380 airbus is like comparing a well rounded beauty queen with a fat lady. it is just like comparing kim kardashian with opra 

  • This is
    cool! And so interested! Are u have more posts like this? Please tell me,
    thanks