NJDavid
Jun 15, 99, 8:31 am
A Boeing press release for the Paris Airshow
BOEING 747 CELEBRATES 30-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF PARIS DEBUT
The 'Queen of the Skies' Revolutionizes Travel - Then, Now and in the Future
Thirty years ago, the Boeing
747-100 made its historic debut at the Paris Air Show, giving the aviation
world a glimpse of the future of international air travel. Today, its
successor -- the modern-technology, state-of-the-art 747-400 -- makes history
every day as the most recognized and prestigious airplane in the world, the
flagship of any fleet. Its combination of size and range is unmatched, giving
it the lowest cost per seat of any airplane -- making it a favorite of
airlines and passengers.
"The 747 invented long-range comfort, and we're continuously evolving the
airplane to serve markets of the future," said Randy Baseler,
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group vice president - Marketing. "While today's
747 might look like the first 747 that arrived in Paris 30 years ago, the
resemblance ends there. It is an entirely different airplane, with improved
aerodynamics, digital avionics, a new flight deck, the latest in-flight
entertainment systems and 3,000 miles more range -- a 57 percent increase."
Of the 1,100 747s in the world fleet today, more than 40 percent are
747-400s, which this year celebrates 10 years of service. Compared to the
original 747, the 747-400 has significantly increased its range, passenger
capacity, takeoff weight, engine thrust and dispatch reliability. And the
747 remains the world's fastest subsonic commercial jetliner, allowing
passengers on long flights to arrive at their destinations nearly an hour
sooner than passengers flying on competitors' airplanes, Baseler said.
Not only has the airplane been continually modernized, so have the
techniques used to build it. Over the past four years, Boeing has digitized
original engineering drawings for the huge fuselage and installed new tooling
to improve manufacturing quality and reduce production costs. In 1999, Boeing
will support the fast-growing cargo business by delivering
10 747-400 Freighters, the most ever in a single year. The 747-400 Freighter
can carry twice as much cargo twice as far as its nearest competitor.
The 747 clearly is an airplane with an impressive pedigree. With every
flight, it makes history. But what about the future? "There is a limited
market for airplanes in the 747-and-larger category," Baseler said. "That's
why the future in this market is to continue improving the 747's range,
payload and passenger capacity. When the market will support an airplane
bigger than the 747-400, Boeing will be ready to respond."
BOEING 747 CELEBRATES 30-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF PARIS DEBUT
The 'Queen of the Skies' Revolutionizes Travel - Then, Now and in the Future
Thirty years ago, the Boeing
747-100 made its historic debut at the Paris Air Show, giving the aviation
world a glimpse of the future of international air travel. Today, its
successor -- the modern-technology, state-of-the-art 747-400 -- makes history
every day as the most recognized and prestigious airplane in the world, the
flagship of any fleet. Its combination of size and range is unmatched, giving
it the lowest cost per seat of any airplane -- making it a favorite of
airlines and passengers.
"The 747 invented long-range comfort, and we're continuously evolving the
airplane to serve markets of the future," said Randy Baseler,
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group vice president - Marketing. "While today's
747 might look like the first 747 that arrived in Paris 30 years ago, the
resemblance ends there. It is an entirely different airplane, with improved
aerodynamics, digital avionics, a new flight deck, the latest in-flight
entertainment systems and 3,000 miles more range -- a 57 percent increase."
Of the 1,100 747s in the world fleet today, more than 40 percent are
747-400s, which this year celebrates 10 years of service. Compared to the
original 747, the 747-400 has significantly increased its range, passenger
capacity, takeoff weight, engine thrust and dispatch reliability. And the
747 remains the world's fastest subsonic commercial jetliner, allowing
passengers on long flights to arrive at their destinations nearly an hour
sooner than passengers flying on competitors' airplanes, Baseler said.
Not only has the airplane been continually modernized, so have the
techniques used to build it. Over the past four years, Boeing has digitized
original engineering drawings for the huge fuselage and installed new tooling
to improve manufacturing quality and reduce production costs. In 1999, Boeing
will support the fast-growing cargo business by delivering
10 747-400 Freighters, the most ever in a single year. The 747-400 Freighter
can carry twice as much cargo twice as far as its nearest competitor.
The 747 clearly is an airplane with an impressive pedigree. With every
flight, it makes history. But what about the future? "There is a limited
market for airplanes in the 747-and-larger category," Baseler said. "That's
why the future in this market is to continue improving the 747's range,
payload and passenger capacity. When the market will support an airplane
bigger than the 747-400, Boeing will be ready to respond."