Boeing 747 dimensions. The most convenient places. Worst seats on decks

The first wide-body air transport in the history of world aviation is considered to be the Boeing 747. For almost forty years, not a single air transport has been able to exceed the capacity of the Boeing 747, and to date, not a single aircraft on the planet has been able to beat its size record.

American scientists began to work on the creation of the Boeing 747 in the late 60s of the last century. It was during this period that the number of air transportation increased and the air transport available at that time could not cope with the transportation of numerous passengers.

During the first developments, American engineers planned to create a Boeing 747 as a cargo-passenger transport. After all, many analysts argued that large-sized airliners would soon be forced out, and they would be replaced by more modern devices that have supersonic speed. Therefore, in the development of engineers, a procedure was envisaged for converting an airliner into a cargo type of aircraft. It is for this purpose that the cabin, in which the crew should be, was moved to the deck located in the upper part of the court. Such a transfer, as conceived by scientists, should simplify the event of changing the nose of the aircraft into a ramp for cargo air transport.

By the beginning of 1967, the engineers had completed work on the project and submitted for discussion a new layout of the aircraft, which was called the Boeing 747. The project under discussion was a two-deck air transport, but after a long debate it was decided to change the original configuration, as it carried some complications. After changing the layout, the airliner took the form of a "humped" aircraft, and the first order came from famous airline for 25 vehicles.

The customer not only ordered a large batch of aircraft, but also asked to make changes to its design and specifications Boeing 747, which is currently used by modern engineers. The changes affected the following:

  • wingspan values;
  • transfer of supports for the chassis;
  • increase takeoff weight.

The creation and development of an airliner required huge costs, so the developer company was forced to take cash loans from creditors. But despite this, the finished air liner was able to triple its costs, because it was waiting for an unprecedented success. It was this wide-body airliner that for several decades occupied the first positions in a similar world segment. And its first flight was carried out in early 1970.

Creation of the Boeing aircraft

Brief description of the Boeing 747

The jet wide-body airliner Boeing 747 is equipped with four powerful engines, has, as mentioned earlier, a special form of the upper crew deck. The technical characteristics of the Boeing 747 and operational data are much higher than those of previous models, therefore making this aircraft the most popular among its many analogues. The following improvements should be noted:

  1. Aerodynamic indicators.
  2. End surface aerodynamics, which reduced the induced drag.
  3. The cabin has updated avionics and a more comfortable cockpit for the crew.

The most noticeable improvement of this model was known by the wings. air transport. After the procedure, their height reached 6 feet, and the end aerodynamic surface began to bend upwards and protrude slightly outward. Thanks to these changes, it was possible to reduce fuel consumption and increase flight duration several times. Fuel consumption was reduced by about 3.5%. If we calculate the savings over the entire period of operation of the aircraft, a colossal amount comes out.

It is this type of air transport that is the fastest, because the speed of a Boeing 747 in flight can be up to 940 km/h.

Boeing 747 testing

Air transport specifications

As mentioned earlier, the capacity of the Boeing 747 is several times higher than previous models due to the special shape of the upper deck, which is made in a stretched form. Thanks to this configuration, up to 580 passengers can be accommodated in Economy Class, while 495 passengers can be accommodated in Business and Economy Class.

The pointer instruments located in the cockpit were replaced with modern ones. Thanks to this, management has become much easier, important information displayed on liquid crystal displays. The presence of a digital control system made it possible to reduce the number of pilots to 2 people.

The airliner is equipped with a straight ladder for climbing to the upper part of the deck, rather than the helical design that its predecessors had, which undoubtedly adds convenience to passengers and crew members.

According to the project, the salon was also modified. Thanks to them, each passenger received more free space, the shelves for things were increased several times. For the convenience of passengers, special multimedia systems were installed for watching video clips and exciting films.

Since it was decided to extend the upper deck, 2 additional exits were installed on its surface. For power plant involved double-circuit turbojet engines (4 pieces) and updated engines from well-known manufacturers. Eventually maximum speed passenger aircraft Boeing 747 equated to 940 km / h, and the takeoff weight was 350 tons.

Specifications Boeing 747:

  • 70.7 - the length of the airliner in meters;
  • 19.5 - aircraft height;
  • 60 m - span of one wing;
  • 6 m - the width of the passenger compartment;
  • 511 sq. m is the area of ​​one wing;
  • 940 km / h - maximum speed;
  • 12,500 km - the range of an airliner;
  • 175,000 kg - an unloaded aircraft weighs;
  • 13755 m - ceiling height in the cabin;
  • 910 km/h is the cruising speed of an air vehicle.

Economy class provides seats to accommodate 580 passengers. The aircraft crew consists of 3 people - 1 engineer and 2 airliner pilots. American engineers, in addition to passenger air transport, invented the passenger-and-freight Boeing, as well as a model that provided for a shorter flight range - the 747-300.

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For more than centennial history world aviation developed and built thousands of modifications of military and civil aircraft for various purposes. Among them there are planes that become masters of the sky for many years. Among these airliners is the world's most popular wide-body aircraft, the Boeing 747.

Boeing 747 aircraft

The history of the creation of the Boeing 747

February 9, 2019 This year marks exactly half a century since the very first double-decker Boeing 747-100 took to the air. The idea of ​​​​creating a Boeing 747 aircraft, the number of passengers of which would reach 500 people, belongs to the head of Boeing, William Ellen, and the boss of PanAm, Juan Tripp.

The project was based on cargo aircraft for the US Air Force, a tender for which Boeing lost a few years earlier to the winged giant Lockheed C-141. The talented engineer Joe Sutter headed the project design team. It was decided to design a passenger-and-freight aircraft with a cargo hatch under the cockpit.

This decision became a kind of insurance against losses in the competitive struggle that unfolded between the apologists for subsonic passenger aviation and those who actively promoted a new direction - jet civil aircraft.

The first contract between PanAm and Boeing for the supply of 25 Boeing 747-100 aircraft worth $5,525 million. was signed in the spring of 1966. The cost of building various modifications has been constantly increasing for fifty years, as developers use advanced technologies and unique materials to improve the flight performance of the liner:

  • Boeing 747-100 aircraft - $24 million;
  • 747-200 - $38 million;
  • 747-300 - $82 million;
  • 747-400 - $260 million;
  • 747-8 - $379 million

liners of the 747 series by 2016 released Boeing Corporation

By December 2016, Boeing Corporation produced 1,556 747-series aircraft in various modifications. 98% (1527 aircraft) are contracted and handed over to customers for operation.

Aircraft assembly is carried out at the world's largest aviation enterprise - the plant Boeing in Everett, Washington. The huge expenses spent on the development, commissioning, production and maintenance of aircraft were generously paid off by the profit from the sale of the Boeing 747 to dozens of countries around the world.


The excellent performance characteristics of the 747-series aircraft, high reliability and efficiency allowed them to immediately and for a long time take the lead among long-haul airbuses in terms of the number of passengers carried.

The use of transparent aircraft leasing schemes allows airlines to compensate for their high resale value.

It is noteworthy that in Russia, the Boeing 747 series was not operated by Aeroflot until 2015. Long-haul flights were carried out by Transaero.

Specifications Boeing 747

The layout of the Boeing 747 (B747) was designed as a low-wing design with a single vertical keel and swept wings. The Boeing 747 engine is a bypass turbofan (TRDD) attached to the wing using special pylons.

The performance characteristics of the aircraft are best considered by comparing the three most popular airliners - 747-100, 747-400ER and 747-8:

performance characteristics B 747-100 B 747-400ER B747-8
Characteristics of the aircraft 747 series
Length, m 70,6 70,6 76,3
Full width, m 6,5 6,5 6,5
Cabin width, m 6,1 6,1 6,1
Boeing 747 flight altitude, m 19,3 19,3 19,4
Wingspan, m 59,6 64,4 68,5
Wing area, m 2 511 541 554
Power plant in 747 4 turbofan

(thrust 22.6 t)

4 turbofan

(thrust 28.68 t)

4 turbofan

(thrust 30, 2 t)

Commercial specifications
Weight without load, t 162,4 180,8 214,5
Takeoff weight (maximum), t 340,2 412,8 442,2
Cargo capacity, m 3 170,6 158,6 275,6
Flight range with maximum payload, km 9800 14205 14815
Fuel tank capacity, l 183 380 241 140 242 470
Cruise speed, M 0,84 0,855 0,855
Maximum speed, km/h 955 988 988
Crew, people 3 3 3

Boeing 100 series began regular commercial flights only at the end of 1970 due to defects in the design of the Pratt & Whitney JT9D-3А turbofan bypass engine with a take-off thrust of 22,000 daN.

The cost of a two-year revision amounted to almost 200 million dollars. The JT9D-7A power plant went into the 747-100 series, and the JT9D-7R4G with a thrust of 224,700 daN went into the 747-200 series. In total, 8 types of turbofan engines were used in various modifications of the aircraft:

Boeing 747 modification
747-100 747-200/747-300 747-400 747-8
Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7A Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4G2 Pratt & Whitney PW4062
Rolls-Royce RB211-524D4 Rolls-Royce RB211-524H
General Electric CF6-50E2 General Electric CF6-80C2B1F General Electric GEnx

The range of components and parts used to assemble the Boeing 747 consists of more than 6 million items.

They are produced in 33 countries of the world.

Boeing 747 modifications

The double-decker Boeing 747 underwent major modifications several times from 1970 to 2006. Various technical and commercial characteristics of the machine have changed, but appearance the famous humpback is still easily recognizable.

  • 747-100. Since September 2, 1968, 167 aircraft of the basic model with a flight range of up to 7200 km have left the stocks of the plant in Everett since September 2, 1968. Produced until 1976. First of European airlines replenished its fleet with aircraft of the 100th modification of Lufthansa. During operation, the upper deck of the aircraft turned into a cabin for first-class passengers, designed for 60 seats.
  • 747-100SR (short range). Created under the "Short Range" program. On domestic airlines, with a length of up to 5 thousand km, a decrease in the amount of fuel in the tanks made it possible to bring the cabin capacity of the Boeing 747,400 to 550 passengers. Alterations have undergone several structural elements, the avionics of the liner and the satellite communications system. In the summer of 1973, the Boeing 747SR received ICAO certification. Released 29 units.
  • 747-100SP. The Special Performance modification was designed to compete with the Douglas DC-10 and Lockheed L-1011 on medium haul lines. It has a shorter fuselage compared to the base model. The maximum aircraft load has been reduced to 220 seats. With a flight range of up to 10200 km, it turned out to be very popular in the countries of the Pacific region. The series was limited to the construction of 45 machines.
  • 747-200. The installation of more powerful engines made it possible to increase the flight range to 10,800 km (747-200V). Built several varieties of this modification for the US Air Force. Passenger-and-freight models were produced with the marking C, F and M. With the start of the production of more advanced modifications, almost all were converted into "trucks".
  • 747-300. Produced since 1980 with M and SR markings. For the first time, the length of the upper deck was increased on it. A straight line is installed between the upper and lower floors of the aircraft instead of a spiral staircase. Flight range - up to 12400 km.
  • 747-400. Commits regular flights since 1989. For the first time in the design of the wings, a new aerodynamic element was used - vertical wingtips. With the installation of new avionics, the need for the presence of a flight engineer in the crew has disappeared.

The economy of the 400 is a quarter better than that of the 747-300, and the noise level is half as much. The number of passengers in the Boeing 747-400D in Japan has reached 594 people. The 400ER modification liner can cover a distance of 14205 km.

  • 747-LCF Dreamlifter. Wings for the ultra-modern Boeing 787 airliner are produced at factories in Japan. For their delivery to Everett, 747-400s were converted into a cargo version - LCF. Thanks to the use of this aircraft, the delivery time for Dreamliner planes from Japan to the USA is reduced from one month to one day.
  • 747-8. The most modern modification of the Boeing 747, whose performance characteristics are unique, has been in operation since 2010. The fuselage of the transporter 747-400 was lengthened by 5.5 meters.

It is much more economical than older modifications due to the use of the GEnx power plant developed by General Electric specialists. The Boeing 747-8 order book is more than 120 aircraft. Actively used as a VIP-liner.


Passenger capacity Boeing 747-400 and other modifications

In the cabin passenger modification 747-400 three types of seats can be installed - business class, first class and economy class. The seats of the most affordable price category are located in the compartments of the first floor. Video viewing systems are available.

Seats for first and business class passengers are located under the pilot's cabin or on the top floor. The main conditions for the location of places of these categories are maximum comfort, the proximity of the personnel compartment and the convenience of evacuation routes. The layouts differ in the number of passengers:

Interior layout plans can be very different. First of all, it depends on the density of passenger traffic and the level of profitability of transportation. Here are the two most popular schemes:

  • Under the maximum load. Over 90% of the seats are in economy class, which makes it possible to maximize the capacity of the Boeing 747 aircraft.

  • For transportation a large number first class passengers. In this scheme, some of the seats can be equipped as a business class.

Cabin layout and capacity Boeing 747-400 with three classes

For 50 years of active operation, the liner has not become obsolete at all. Thanks to its unique double-deck design and high operational capabilities, the passenger aviation star continues to fly around the world, performing its functions flawlessly. Even the wide-body giant of the 21st century, the Airbus A-380, can envy its fantastic popularity among passengers.

Before the European giant A-380 appeared on the market, the Boeing 747 was considered the largest aircraft in the world, the cabin capacity of which, or rather, 2 passenger decks, was more than 500 people. Like other aircraft of the company, this liner has undergone several modifications, but its main differences have not changed. The aircraft contained 2 decks, original nose, 4 engines, and the most large capacity passengers.

The aircraft became the first wide-body airliner, which was planned only for cargo transportation. It began to be developed a year after the launch of the 737 version, as a result of which a fundamentally new aircraft did not work out. However, this was not required. The whole world followed the development supersonic liners, so the Boeing 747 had every chance to stay. Especially for the cargo version, the cockpit was located on the second floor. It was originally planned to leave the second deck for passengers, while the first floor was given entirely to the cargo compartment. The aircraft also received four engines for greater carrying capacity.

First flights

Despite financial difficulties, the first wide-body airliner took to the air in 1970. Since the liner was a passenger liner, the upper deck became a service one, and all passengers were accommodated according to the principle usual for other aircraft. The capacity of the Boeing 747 of the first samples was only 200 people, but when compared with the 737 model, released in the same year and taking on board 100 people, a twofold difference is obtained.

The active interest in the new airliner significantly undermined the position of the "concords" - European supersonic aircraft: many carriers revised their orders and the shares of the Boeing 747 began to grow rapidly. On the basis of the first aircraft, the production of several modifications began. The first of these was developed for a Japanese carrier, while the order was for short-range aircraft. The response to the order of the Japanese was the modification 747-100SR. This version received an improved fuselage, smaller tanks, which significantly increased the capacity of the aircraft. The Boeing 747-100SR was able to take on board 500 and then 550 people. Later, the development 747-300 will receive the same modification - a short-range aircraft.

Other modifications

Despite growing orders for passenger versions, Boeing did not leave the original plans for the release cargo aircraft. So the following modifications appeared: F - cargo version, M - combi, having the ability to take fewer passengers, but more luggage, B - improved chassis (for the first versions) and tanks (later). In addition, on the basis of 747-200, two classic "board number 1" was assembled to transport the US president.

Modification 200 served as a prototype for the next generation - 300s, the only difference of which was to be the presence of three engines instead of the standard four. But this decision was not continued - the Boeing 747-300 became a completely new airliner.

Boeing 747-300

One of the features of the new aircraft was a direct staircase to the second floor (previously a spiral was used), an enlarged upper deck, designed for an economy or business class, and at the same time the ability to vary the number of seats. The capacity of the Boeing 747-300 ranges from 400 (three-class operation) to 600 when only one service class is used.

The first Boeing 300 took off in 1980 and quickly became one of the most used. Until 2005 (the first takeoff of the A-380), this modification was considered best model long-distance main liner, but it also showed significant shortcomings.

Operational problems

Simultaneously with the increase in the number of passengers, problems in operation began. The largest Boeing 747, whose capacity was growing rapidly, no longer corresponded to the parameters of airports. In addition, four engines against three on competitor aircraft of the DC-10 type implied A with the onset of the 1970 crisis, many companies refused to work with the 747 model due to its unprofitability. If we recall that around the same time, the Boeing 767 and Airbus-300 (both with two engines) entered the market, almost immediately capturing the wide-body aircraft market, the 747th began to lose ground. And although the capacity of the Boeing 747 aircraft was still one of the largest, airlines began to first convert this version into a cargo version, and then simply sell it.

Long distance aircraft

And, perhaps, another aircraft would have gone down in history, but it was the growth in the number of passengers that allowed the Boeing 747 class aircraft to remain in service. The passenger capacity of this liner satisfied the demanding Great Britain and Japan, not to mention the fact that such an aircraft could be used on long-distance transcontinental flights or on busy lines.

The future of the 747

With the development of aviation, many carriers had a need for the possibility of long flights without refueling, in connection with which the developers again took up the Boeing 747. The passenger capacity in the new versions reached 800 people. The flight range met the standards of the previously released model 747-400. But very soon the projects of aircraft 747-500 and 747-600 went into the archive. The carriers wanted a new aircraft, not an upgrade of the old one. Nevertheless, the developers did not forget about the 747th: they finalized it, closed it, refined it again. This continued until 2005. Finally, after the release of the Boeing 787, the corporation announced the return of the 747 model. New car gets the code name "Boeing 747-8", or Advanced.

Carriers, remembering the dubious success of the first versions of the 747, initially ordered 109 cars - a third of them in passenger design. The rest were required in the cargo version. A total of 121 vehicles have been sold to date. The capacity of the Boeing 747-8 did not stun - 581 people when using 2 classes of service. When using three classes of service (with the addition of the first class), the number of seats is reduced to about 400.

Best Places

The article shows a typical layout of three classes in the aircraft of the Lufthansa airline (Germany). The liner has several first class seats - on the lower floor under the cockpits, 80 seats in business class and almost 300 seats in economy class. The total capacity of the Boeing 747-8 in this configuration is 386 seats.

There were no complaints about the first class - there is a lot of free space for passengers, they can comfortably accommodate, while each seat is behind its own screen. Next are the front exits, buffets and restrooms. The first row seats in the business class, although spacious, but rest against a partition, behind which there are toilets and a kitchen, which can create some inconvenience. Armchairs 9C and 9H are located in close proximity to the aisle and toilet rooms. Similar inconveniences can be expected by passengers of the 81st and 88th rows (second floor, first and last rows). Passengers in the tenth row will have to look at the partition in front of them for the entire flight, which, of course, is rather uncomfortable. The business class is located 6 people in a row, while they are separated by two aisles.

Economy class starts from rows 16 and 18. The sixteenth row has only 6 seats. Given that there are no passengers in front of them, there is enough free space for the inhabitants of this row and they do not risk finding themselves in the trap created by the reclined seat in front of the person sitting in front. The same applies to the middle section in the 18th row. The twentieth row is located next to the emergency exit - this explains the lack of windows. Passengers in the middle section in this row do not have the opportunity to take a horizontal position, since there is a wall of toilets at the back. The 21st-22nd rows repeat the arrangement of rows No. 16-18, except that there are only four places in the 21st row, not separated from the rest. There is also enough legroom, the only drawback: next to emergency exits. The middle section, namely the 32nd and 33rd rows, has rear walls, so you won’t be able to relax and lie down. All seats in the 34th row have a partition in front of them, which may cause little space. The 45th-47th rows are in the tail of the aircraft, so it can be crowded there. The 49th row can be called the most unsuccessful, since the shortcomings that were mentioned earlier are fully present in this sector.

Conclusion

The capacity of the Boeing 747 has been upgraded from version to version, but, according to carriers and direct users of this aircraft, although it requires a lot of fuel, it justifies itself on transcontinental flights. The airline can serve as a serious confirmation british airways, which bought during the American crisis the largest Boeing 747, the capacity of which was up to 500 people. The number of cars of this class in the company's fleet today is 57 units.

The four-engine Boeing 747-400 is a wide-body, long-haul, passenger aircraft built in a two-deck layout by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. This airliner, although designed on the basis of previous models of this family, is structurally a new aircraft. The new airliner has become much more spacious than previous versions of the Boeing 747 family. Thanks to the new engines, the noise level of the production Boeing 747-400 has become half that of the 747-300, and fuel efficiency has increased by 25 percent.

Boeing 747-400 photo

In early 1984, Boeing Commercial Airplanes began work on a new aircraft, due to the fact that the latest modification of the 747-300 did not raise sales as the company wanted. Yes, and to everything was added a problem in the form of developments of competing airliners, such as McDonnell Douglas MD-11, Airbus A330 and Airbus A340, which in the future could take part of the market from Boeing. And in September of the same year, at the Farnborough Air Show, the creation of a new airliner, the Boeing 747 Advanced Series 300, was announced. Officially, the program was launched on October 22, 1985. The first customer for new airliner became the American airline "Northwest Airlines", the initial order of which was for the supply of 10 aircraft. Later, the list of main customers expanded with such airlines as Cathay Pacific", Japan Airlines", Singapore Airlines", British Airways", "United Airlines", French "Air France" and German "Lufthansa". The main customers also acted as consultants in the design of the new airliner. After the approval of the project, the aircraft received the designation Boeing 747-400.

The wings were lengthened on the new aircraft, the span of which was now 64.44 meters, which is 4.8 meters more than the 747-300. Now boeing wings 747-400, began to be equipped with wingtips, the so-called winglets. During the construction of the aircraft wing, were applied composite materials, this had a positive effect on the weight of the structure. To increase the flight range, an additional fuel tank was installed on the aircraft.

The basis of the Boeing 747-400 power plant was the new economical Pratt & Whitney PW-4056 turbojet engines with a thrust of 252.4 kN. Later models also featured General Electric CF6-80-C2B1Fs, CF6-80-C2B1F1s engines and Rolls-Royce RB-211-524G engines with 258.0 kN thrust.

On the Boeing 747-400, new digital avionics was installed, consisting of six multifunctional displays and new on-board equipment. This decision allowed to reduce the crew to two people.

The upper deck has also been lengthened, now twice as long as on the original versions of the Boeing 747 family.

Boeing 747-400, in three classes, can accommodate 416 passenger seats. In the economy and business cabin configuration, 524 passengers can be accommodated. And in the maximum, economy class, the passenger capacity is 660 people.

The final assembly of the aircraft was carried out at the Boeing plant located in Everett. On January 26, 1988, when the aircraft rolled out of the assembly hangar, the company already had more than 100 orders for this aircraft.

And on April 29, 1988, a Boeing 747-400 took off. The first test flight lasted more than two hours. Four people participated in the tests Boeing aircraft 747-400, with different engines. And on January 10, 1989, the airliner received its first FAA flight certificate. On January 26 of the same year, the Boeing 747-400 was handed over to its first customer, Northwest Airlines. The first flight on this aircraft was made in the direction "Minneapolis - Phoenix", February 9, 1989.

Boeing 747-400 interior photo

Further work on the Boeing 747-400 led to the creation of such modifications as:

    Boeing 747-400 F, a cargo version of the aircraft that first flew on May 4, 1993. This version is equipped with a nose cone that lifts up to provide access to the cargo hold.

    Boeing 747-400 M Combi, combined, cargo-passenger version of the aircraft. The first flight on it was made on June 30, 1989. This version is equipped with a cargo hatch in the rear of the fuselage.

    Boeing 747-400 ER, an extended range airliner. This aircraft was put into operation on October 31, 2002.

    Boeing 747-400 D, a version designed specifically for Japanese airlines to operate on regional and local air routes. The first flight of this version took place on March 18, 1991.

    Boeing 747-400 ERF, version for air cargo increased range. The first aircraft of this version was handed over on October 17, 2002 to the French airline Air France.

In addition to civilian and cargo options, aircraft based on the Boeing 747-400 were also produced for military needs.

Boeing 747-400 became the best-selling aircraft of the entire 747 family. During the period of its production from 1988 to 2009, 694 units of this version of the air liner were produced. Of these, the basic passenger version 747-400, 442 aircraft were produced and delivered.

Technical characteristics of the Boeing 747-400 aircraft:

    Years of production: from 1988 to 2009

    Length: 70.67 m.

    Height: 19.41 m.

    Wingspan: 64.44 m.

    Cabin width: 6.1 m.

    Empty weight: 180985 kg.

    Maximum takeoff weight: 362875 kg.

    Wing area: 541.2 sq.m.

    Cruise speed: 907 km/h

    Maximum speed: 939 km/h

    Ceiling: 13750 m.

    Flight range: 13430 km.

    Engines: 4 x turbofan Pratt & Whitney PW-4056 (252.4 kN), PW-4060s (266.9 kN), PW-4062s (275.8 kN), General Electric CF6-80-C2B1Fs (252.4 kN ), CF6-80-C2B1F1s (273.6 kN), Rolls Royce RB-211-524G (258.0 kN).

    Crew: 2 people

    Quantity passenger seats: 660 seats in economy class

Boeing 747-400. Gallery.

In the 1970s, engineers Boeing airlines presented the world with an innovative development - the first wide body airliner 747 series. The model quickly gained popularity among carriers. In addition, these aircraft until 2005 were in the lead in the nomination of the largest aircraft. Consider the characteristics of the Boeing 747 in detail in order to understand why the invention so bribed the aviators.

The heyday of the aviation industry came in the sixties of the twentieth century. At this time, the leading designers of the United States set out to create large-sized vehicles for transporting 400-500 people. After all, the high demand for air tickets in those years caused a shortage of new generation aircraft. Engineers have developed a draft vessel based on the previous model - Boeing 737. Moreover, the first idea of ​​the aviators was the creation of a passenger-and-freight liner.

Such an extraordinary thinking of the developers explained the appearance of the first modifications of supersonic passenger airliners. Scientists assumed that this series would not be able to compete with high-speed aircraft in the near future, and provided a fallback. Such a decision determines the design and some technical characteristics of the Boeing 747 400.

Crew cabin here on upper deck, since the plans expected to allocate the lower sector for cargo transportation. And the indicators of the maximum take-off weight of the first sample of the board at 370 tons spoke about the potential of using such ships for cargo transportation.

The project was gradually finalized and modernized. By 1976, the aviators abandoned the idea to make the fuselage of the liner in two full-fledged decks and settled on the proposal modern look modifications with a "hump". Here, the upper compartment accommodates the cockpit and up to 50 boarding passenger seats. With regard to the potential for transporting people, Boeing capacity 747,400 is amazing. The aircraft lifts up to 660 passengers into the air, which was considered a world record before the advent of the Airbus A380.

Initially, 25 units of the 747 100 series were produced. Subsequently, the company periodically upgraded the invention, changing the wingspan and the design with the position of the landing gear. In addition, over the history of the production of ships of this class increased by 16% and amounted to 442 tons on the sides of 747-8. Today, this large-scale project is closed, but airlines use such equipment on transcontinental flights.

The first experimental flight of the new series took place in 1970 of the twentieth century. It is noteworthy that the largest fleet of these aircraft was on the balance sheet of Japan Airlines. However, today this carrier has completely abandoned such vessels.

An interesting fact in the history of the development of aircraft was the fuel crisis, as a result of which the use of such giants temporarily brought a loss. Even for the release of the planned number of the first models, the designers took loans, since the company did not have such a serious amount. True, over time, the costs paid off in full and exceeded the funds spent on development by three times.

Advantages of the vessel device

Now let's talk about the merits of the series. The appearance of such aircraft has become a new word in the field of aviation - after all, there were no wide-body models before Boeing. The board is equipped with four powerful jet engines, which has a positive effect on the flight range. The cruising speed of a Boeing 747 passenger aircraft in flight is 910–950 km/h.

In addition, the aircraft flies without refueling a distance of 14,205 kilometers. Moreover, these indicators are applicable to the loaded liner. The passenger capacity of the Boeing 747 is up to 660 people. In addition, the vessel accommodates luggage, two pilots, a flight engineer and stewardesses. No wonder the model is called "Jumbo Jet" or the king of heaven - before the advent of Airbus, this series of aircraft was in the lead in the nomination of passenger transportation.

The aircraft in terms of aerodynamic performance surpassed the previous series - 737. Here the wings were highly modernized - with a single wing height of 6 meters and a span of 60 meters, engineers achieved fuel savings of 3.5% and an increase in flight duration.

Boeing 747 - the first wide-body airliner, which remained the largest passenger aircraft for 35 years
The first flight of such a model was carried out in 1970.
Improved aerodynamic performance contributes to the development cruising speed sides at 910-950 km/h
Boeing 747 400 cockpit
The cabin of the aircraft for three classes of service involves the transportation of up to 416 people