Randy's Journal: Archives

11 February 2005

Advancing the "Queen of the Skies"

One of the big questions I hear on the street these days is: What's happening with the 747 program?

It's a fair question.

The 747 is an awesome flying machine. They don't call her the Queen of the Skies for nothing. And she is such a popular airplane, such an icon, that people are always asking what's happening with the original jumbo jet. I totally understand.

So, as you may have heard, yes, we have received interest from customers in an advanced version of the 747.

Indeed, the very large airplane segment has had a lot of attention in the news, too, recently, sparking an interest in what Boeing's plans are in this area. Obviously, the "reveal" of the A380 last month generated a good deal of this street talk.

Now, I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again: the A380 is a very big airplane filling a very small need. We see a global market for only about 270 passenger airplanes the size of A380 (500 seats or more).

And what about 747-size airplanes (400-500 seats)? This too, is a relatively small market of about 270 passenger airplanes.

Fortunately, we already have a really terrific airplane platform with the 416-seat 747-400.

So, starting with that platform, the 747 Advanced would incorporate new technologies, and with a stretch of about 11.7 feet (about 3.5 meters) in the passenger version, it meets the needs of our airline customers for a 450-seat airplane.

[The 747 Advanced Freighter would add 17.3 feet (5.3 meters) in length and 16% additional cargo volume.]

What's advanced about it? Well, the breakthrough technology of the 787 engines for one thing. Seating capacity of 450 passengers (the only jetliner in the 400-500 seat market) is another. Then there is a range of 8,000 nautical miles (14,816 km). Cruising speed of 0.86 Mach. A modified wing. An upgraded flight deck. And some very nice interior enhancements.

It's a 747 that's more fuel efficient, has lower operating costs, and that is more environmentally friendly than the A380. An airplane, incidentally, that meets future noise regulations -- specifically the QC2 noise standard at London Heathrow.

So, back to that question at hand. Is it going to happen?

Unfortunately, my crystal ball is offline today, but I can tell you this: We like the airplane. We have customers who like the airplane. And we're out talking with those customers right now.

The short answer then is, we expect to make a decision on the 747 Advanced by mid year or so. And to follow through on that, assuming the 747 Advanced program is launched sometime this year, that would allow for entry into service in 2009.

The market will decide the path of the 747. The fact is, we'll be building the 747 as long as we have customers who want to buy it. Last year we logged 10 new orders -- as many as the A380. It was a good year for the Queen of the Skies.

And here's to her having many more.