747-200 vs. 747-300
Aug 28, 2000, 11:35 am
#1
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747-200 vs. 747-300
I have viewed some photos of a KLM 747 on a website called "airliners.net" (afficionados are familiar with this site, I'm sure) It's a great website, but the photos state that a particular model of a KLM 747 is a -200. However, it has a stretched upper deck. Is this not a 747-300?? I also bought a book over the weekend and the same thing is stated, only in the book it says the plane is a, "747-200, with a stretched upper deck". Can someone please help clearify this?? 
Aug 28, 2000, 1:33 pm
#2
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Its almost the identical plane, with the stretched upper deck (therefore a shorter range). To see the comparisons of the 3 versions of the old 747s, here you go. Only 81 of these were delivered.
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/747/facts.html
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/747/facts.html
Aug 28, 2000, 3:09 pm
#3
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Perhaps the photo of the 747 on airliners.net simply stated the incorrect series. The person posting the picture must input that information themselves. Once I did correct a airliners.net poster about something that wasn't right, either with the photo or the description.
As for your book, perhaps they were simply saying that the 747-300 is basically the same airplane as the 747-200, with one exception: that the upper section is extended. No drastic difference between the two otherwise, so I think this is what the book was trying to get across. Certainly some -200s were converted to -300s. KLM had a few made over, so to speak. It wasn't until the -400 that the plane was basically revamped from top to bottom.
As for your book, perhaps they were simply saying that the 747-300 is basically the same airplane as the 747-200, with one exception: that the upper section is extended. No drastic difference between the two otherwise, so I think this is what the book was trying to get across. Certainly some -200s were converted to -300s. KLM had a few made over, so to speak. It wasn't until the -400 that the plane was basically revamped from top to bottom.
Aug 28, 2000, 4:14 pm
#4
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The planes in question are actually 747-200s. Back in the 80s, when the 747-300s were introduced, KLM had a few of their 747-200s custom-remodified to have a stretched upper-deck. Therefore, although these planes look like 747-300s, they're actually 747-200s. KLM has both 747-300s and 747-200 stretched upper-decks in their fleet, and I believe they're the only carrier in the world with stretched-upper deck 747-200s.
Aug 29, 2000, 4:22 am
#5
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I don't remember where I saw this, but I think that the "stretched upper deck" modification of the 747-200 was only ever requested by KLM. Soon after, the 747-300 appeared, likely rendering the special upper deck mod not cost effective.
FewMiles..
FewMiles..
Aug 29, 2000, 5:50 am
#6
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KLM's 747-200s that were converted to the stretched upper deck were originally designated by Boeing as 747-206B EUD (Extended Upper Deck), later deliveries were of the -306 series.
Japan Air Lines has a few of their SR (short range) 747-100s converted to the stretch upper deck as well.
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AlphaSigOU
Causa latet vis est notissima - the cause is hidden, the results are well-known.
Japan Air Lines has a few of their SR (short range) 747-100s converted to the stretch upper deck as well.
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AlphaSigOU
Causa latet vis est notissima - the cause is hidden, the results are well-known.
Aug 29, 2000, 3:47 pm
#7
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Originally posted by FewMiles:
I don't remember where I saw this, but I think that the "stretched upper deck" modification of the 747-200 was only ever requested by KLM.
I don't remember where I saw this, but I think that the "stretched upper deck" modification of the 747-200 was only ever requested by KLM.
Sep 2, 2000, 4:26 am
#10
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SYD, Are you sure?? Maybe it was just a marketing gimmick that they were doing, but I do remember Qantas referring to the jet as "EUD" at the time - I can't see why they would do this on the 743 as they are all "EUD"... This is also the period when they were flying Combi's.