SEATTLE, Jan. 18, 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today unveiled a life-size sales display of the interior for the new 747-8 Intercontinental. The two-story display showcases the dramatic interior architecture of the 747-8.
The 747-8 applies interior features from the 787 Dreamliner that includes a new curved, upswept architecture giving passengers a greater feeling of space and comfort, while adding more room for personal belongings. The interior architecture is accentuated by new lighting technology that creates a perception of airy brightness and provides smooth lighting transitions to offer a more restful environment.
In addition, the 747-8 integrates features from the 777, including windows that equal those on the 777 (15.3 inches/38.8 centimeters tall and 10.76 inches/27.3 centimeters wide), and are larger than those on the 747-400.
"The 747 family's unique interior and structural design have provided passengers with memorable flying experiences for decades," said Dan Mooney, vice president, 747/747-8 Program. "By incorporating 787-style interior features, the new 747-8 Intercontinental will provide a significantly enhanced passenger experience. Passengers will know they are on a brand new airplane the moment they step on board the 747-8, and will experience a whole new way to fly."
Door two, where passengers normally enter a 747, represents the most noticeable change from the 747-400. The welcoming entryway features a dramatic sweeping staircase leading to the upper deck.
"The new entryway will greatly enhance the passenger appeal and create a strong first impression," said Doug Ackerman, engineering interior team leader for the 747-8. "However, the entryway provides more than just aesthetic appeal. It also was designed to facilitate improved passenger flow during boarding and deplaning."
The 1,750-square-foot (533-square-meter) sales display, located at the Boeing Customer Experience Center in Renton, Wash., focuses on the airplane's door-two entryway, staircase and upper deck. It also highlights the business-class section forward of the entryway and economy class aft of the entryway.
Additional Information
747-8 Family: The 747-8 is a family of passenger and freighter airplanes. The 747-8 Intercontinental passenger airplane is the only jetliner in the 400- to 500-seat market. Stretched 5.6 m (18.3 ft) from the 747-400 to provide 467 seats in a typical three-class configuration, the Intercontinental offers the lowest seat-mile cost of any passenger airplane. It provides operators a 14,815-km (8,000-nmi) range, 28 percent greater cargo volume and 10 percent lower seat-mile costs compared to the 747-400. The 747-8 Freighter will fly 8,275 km (4,475 nmi) with a maximum structural payload capacity of 140 metric tonnes (154 tons). It offers 16 percent more revenue cargo volume than the 747-400F with slightly greater range. The 747-8 Freighter upholds its predecessor's legendary efficiency, with equivalent trip costs and 15 percent lower ton-mile costs than the 747-400F. The 747-8 Freighter will enjoy the lowest ton-mile costs of any freighter, giving operators unmatched profit potential. The first 747-8 Freighter will be delivered to launch customer Cargolux in late 2009. The first 747-8 Intercontinental will be delivered in 2010. Since its launch in November, 2005, nine customers have ordered 78 747-8 Intercontinentals and freighters.