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| Boeing 747 |
Boeing 747, also known as the Jumbo Jet, is the second largest passenger plane today, after the A380 aircraft to operate at the end of October 2007.
This four-engine aircraft, manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, uses two deck configuration where the upper deck is used for business class. 3-class configuration (first class, business class and economy class) can accommodate 400 passengers and 1-class configuration (only economy class only) can accommodate 600 passengers.
747 can fly at high speeds (typically 0.85 Mach or 909 kilometers per hour) and capable of flying between continents (with a maximum distance of 13,570 km to 15,000 km). In 1989, Qantas fly nonstop from London to Sydney, the flight distance is as far as 18,000 km and at the finish within 20 hours and 9 minutes. But the flight did not carry passengers or cargo (aircraft empty). In May 2004, 747 in 1382, with various configurations, has been repaired or improved, making 747 one of Boeing's most successful product.
History Boing 747
Boeing 747 air industry was born at the time of the 60's era of rapidly advancing. The era of commercial aircraft at the time, dijuarai by a Boeing 707 that has made a revolution in air travel distance and realize the concept of "Global Cities". At that time, Boeing was also reviewing a large aircraft to win the contract from the U.S. Army but lost to the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. Pan Am, Boeing loyal client at the time, asked Boeing to make a large passenger aircraft, 2 times the size of the Boeing 707. Then, in 1966, Boeing issued a one-line configuration guide on passenger aircraft that will be named the Boeing 747. Pan Am ordered 25 for the series 747-100. At first, the design of this plane is a plane full of two-level or 'double decker' but because of a problem when an emergency evacuation of the aircraft, this idea was changed to a wide-bodied aircraft.
At that time, the Boeing 747 is expected to be superseded by supersonic transport. So Boeing 747 Boeing recreate that can be converted into cargo aircraft, just in case if the demand for passenger versions will drop one day and the only cargo version that survived. And the cockpit of the plane was moved to the upper deck for the muzzle plane can be made to be opened into one cargo door. At first the upper deck is used for first class and the lobby / bar but this time the deck is usually used as extra seating. With estimated sales of 400 units only, the 747 is able to withstand the criticism and in 1993 as many as 1000 aircraft successfully created.
Assembly 747 is a complicated process. This is because Boeing does not have wards plane large enough to accommodate the planes. So, this company was forced to make a single factory in Everett, Washington, where the plant became the largest plant ever built. Pratt and Whitney also at that time to wake a large turbofan engine, JT9D, for the Boeing 747. So, for safety and the ability to fly, made with 4 Boeing 747 hydraulic system for emergencies, a separate control surfaces, various kinds of 'stuctural redundancy' and 'flaps' which allow complex 747 is used on regular basis.
At first, many airline companies are skeptical about the Boeing 747. At that time, competitor Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed, were making wide-bodied aircraft with three engines called 'trijet', which is smaller than 747. In fact, most airlines feel that 747 is too large for long-haul flights and with that they invest in projects 'trijet'. There are also doubts about the ability of 747 to operate with airport infrastructure at the time.
Another issue raised by companies is the use of aviation fuel. This is because the use of aircraft fuel 'trijet' lower than the four-jet aircraft and airlines certainly more likely to choose low-cost fuel. These issues have plagued Boeing in 1970.
However, Boeing has promised to deliver 747 to Pan Am, in a period of approximately four years, Boeing needs to build and test the plane. Within this short period, the development process to make those involved in this project work in a very stressful situation and they are referred to as 'The Incredibles'. Higher costs for aircraft development and infrastructure building in Everett is a gamble for Boeing and the success of this company depends on the success of 747. Boeing is almost gone bankrupt in 1970. However, Boeing won this gamble and eventually monopolize the transport of wide-bodied Boeing for 35 years. The arrival of the Airbus A380 Boeing broke the record.
British Airways Boeing 747-400
Role: Wide-body, long-range jet airliner, National origin : United States, Manufacturer : Boeing Commercial Airplanes, First flight : February 9, 1969, Introduced : January 22, 1970 with Pan Am, Status : Active, Primary users : British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, United Airlines, Produced : 1969–present, Number built : 1,418 as of September 2010, Unit cost : 747-100: US$24 million (1967), 747-200: US$39 million (1976), 747-300: US$83 million (1982), 747-400: US$228–260 million (2007), 747-8I: US$317.5 million, 747-8F: US$319.3 million, Variants : Boeing 747SP, Boeing VC-25, Boeing E-4, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 747-8, Boeing 747 LCF