History

The 747-400 is the latest, longest ranging and best

selling model of the 747 family.
Boeing launched the 747-400 in October 1985 and
the first development aircraft first flew on April 29
1988. US certification (with PW-4000s) was
awarded in January 1989.
The 747-400 externally resembles the -300, but it
is a significantly improved aircraft. Changes
include a new, two crew digital flightdeck with six
large CRT displays, an increased span wing with
winglets (the -400 was the first airliner to introduce
winglets), new engines, recontoured wing/fuselage
fairing, a new interior, lower basic but increased
max takeoff weights, and greater range.
Apart from the basic passenger 747-400 model, a
number of variants have been offered including the
winglet-less 747-400 Domestic optimised for
Japanese short haul domestic sectors, the 747-
400M Combi passenger/freight model, and the
747-400F Freighter (which combines the 747-
200F's fuselage with the -400's wing).
The latest model is the 747-400ER, which was
launched on November 28, 2000 when Qantas
placed an order for 6. The -400ER has the same
size as the -400, but has more range or payload
capability. The MTOW was increased by 15,870kg
(35,000lb) to 412,770kg (910,000lb), giving a
further range of 805km (435nm) or a 6800kg
(15,000lb) greater payload. The -400ER also
features a wholly new cabin interior with larger
luggage bins, and several flight deck
improvements.
The -400ER incorporates the strengthened wing,
body, and landing gear of the -400F, plus an
auxiliary fuel tank in the forward cargo hold, and
an optional second one. Operators who don't need
these can remove them both, gaining additional
cargo volume.
The first 747-400ER was rolled out in June 2002,
and flew for the first time on July 31, 2002, and
this was the 1308th 747 to fly.
A cargo version, the 747-400ERF, followed the
standard -400ER, and was launched April 30,
2001 on an order by leasing company ILFC for 5.
The first -400ERF is the 1315th 747 built. The
-ERF has the same MTOW as the -ER, and this
will give an extra range of 970km (525nm), or an
extra payload of 9980kg (22,000lb) at MTOW
compared with the standard -400F.
Shortly before delivery of the first -400ER, Boeing
had received orders for 15 ER/ERFs from 5
customers.
Various growth 747 models have been studied.
The 747-500X and -600X models were dropped in
January 1997. Boeing is currently proposing the
747-400XQLR (Quiet Longer Range) to 747-size
customers which will offer more range, more quiet,
and more features.
History
The 555 seat, double deck Airbus A380 is the
most ambitious civil aircraft program yet. When it
enters service in March 2006, the A380 will be the
world's largest airliner, easily eclipsing Boeing's
747.
Airbus first began studies on a very large 500 seat
airliner in the early 1990s. The European
manufacturer saw developing a competitor and
successor to the Boeing 747 as a strategic play to
end Boeing's dominance of the very large airliner
market and round out Airbus' product line-up.
Airbus began engineering development work on
such an aircraft, then designated the A3XX, in
June 1994. Airbus studied numerous design
configurations for the A3XX and gave serious
consideration to a single deck aircraft which would
have seated 12 abreast and twin vertical tails.
However Airbus settled upon a twin deck
configuration, largely because of the significantly
lighter structure required.
Key design aims include the ability to use existing
airport infrastructure with little modifications to the
airports, and direct operating costs per seat 15-
20% less than those for the 747-400. With 49%
more floor space and only 35% more seating than
the previous largest aircraft, Airbus is ensuring
wider seats and aisles for more passenger
comfort. Using the most advanced technologies,
the A380 is also designed to have 10-15% more
range, lower fuel burn and emissions, and less
noise.
The A380 features an advanced version of the
Airbus common two crew cockpit, with pull-out
keyboards for the pilots, extensive use of
composite materials such as GLARE (an
aluminium/glass fibre composite), and four 302 to
374kN (68,000 to 84,000lb) class Rolls-Royce
Trent 900 or Engine Alliance (General
Electric/Pratt & Whitney) GP7200 turbofans now
under development.
Several A380 models are planned: the basic
aircraft is the 555 seat A380-800 (launch customer
Emirates). The 590 ton MTOW 10,410km
(5620nm) A380-800F freighter will be able to carry
a 150 tonne payload and is due to enter service in
2008 (launch customer FedEx). Potential future
models will include the shortened, 480 seat A380-
700, and the stretched, 656 seat, A380-900.
On receipt of the required 50th launch order
commitment, the Airbus A3XX was renamed A380
and officially launched on December 19, 2000. In
early 2001 the general configuration design was
frozen, and metal cutting for the first A380
component occurred on January 23, 2002, at
Nantes in France. In 2002 more than 6000 people
were working on A380 development.
On January 18, 2005, the first Airbus A380 was
officially revealed in a lavish ceremony, attended
by 5000 invited guests including the French,
German, British and Spanish president and prime
ministers, representing the countries that invested
heavily in the 10-year, €10 billion+ ($13 billion+)
aircraft program, and the CEOs of the 14 A380
customers, who had placed firm orders for 149
aircraft by then.
The out of sequence A380 designation was
chosen as the "8" represents the cross-section of
the twin decks. The first flight is scheduled for
March 2005, and the entry into commercial
service, with Singapore Airlines, is scheduled for
March 2006.
Apart from the prime contractors in France,
Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain,
components for the A380 airframe are also
manufactured by industral partners in Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Italy, Japan,
South Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, Sweden,
Switzerland and the United States. A380 final
assembly is taking place in Toulouse, France, with
interior fitment in Hamburg, Germany. Major A380
assemblies are transported to Toulouse by ship,
barge and road.
On July 24, 2000, Emirates became the first
customer making a firm order commitment,
followed by Air France, International Lease
Finance Corporation (ILFC), Singapore Airlines,
Qantas and Virgin Atlantic. Together these
companies completed the 50 orders needed to
launch the programme.
Later, the following companies also ordered the
A380: FedEx (the launch customer for the A380-
800F freighter), Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Korean
Air, Malaysia Airlines, Etihad Airways, Thai
Airways and UPS.
Four prototypes will be used in a 2200 hours flight
test programme lasting 15 months.
Characterist Airbus A380 Boeing 747
ics
Role Airliner Wide Body Jet
Airliner
National Origin Multi National United States
Manufacturer Airbus Boeing
Commercial
Airplanes
First Flight 27 April 2005 9 February 1969
Introduced 25 October 2007 1970 with Pan
with Singapore Am
Airlines
Primary Users 1. Singapore 1. British
Airlines Airways
2. Emirates 2. Cathay
3. Qantas Pacific
4. Air France 3. Japan
Airlines
4. Korean Air
Number Built 39 as of January 1418 as of 20
2010 August 2009
Unit Cost US $317.2 – US $228 – 260
337.5 million million
Specifications

Measurement A380-800 Boeing 747

Cockpit crew Two Two

525 (3-class) 524 (2-class)

Seating capacity 644 (2-class) 416 (3-class)
853 (1-class)

Length 73 m (240 ft) 231 ft 10 in (70.6 m)

Wingspan 79.75 m (261.6 ft) 211 ft 5 in (64.4 m)

Height 24.1 m (79 ft) 63.67 ft (19.41 m)

Wheelbase 30.4 m (100 ft) 25.62 m

Wheelspan 14.34 m (47.0 ft) 14.4m

Wing area 845 m2 (9,100 sq ft) 5600 square feet (524.9 m 2 )

393,263 lb
Operating empty weight 276,800 kg (610,000 lb) (178,756 kg)

Maximum take-off weight 560,000 kg (1,200,000 lb) 875,000 lb (396,890 kg)

 248600 pounds (112760 kg)
Maximum payload 90,800 kg (200,000 lb)

Maximum cargo volume 176 m3 (6,200 cu ft) 6,025 cu ft (170.5 cu m)

Maximum operating Mach 0.89

Mach 0.85
speed (567 mph, 913 km/h, 493 kn)
at cruise altitude
(945 km/h, 587 mph, 510 knots)

Mach 0.96 Mach 0.92

Maximum speed (at cruise altitude: 1020 km/h, 634 mph, (614 mph, 988 km/h, 533 kn)
551 knots)

310,000 L 57,285 U.S. gal

Maximum fuel capacity (47,700 imp gal/216,840 L)
(81,890 US gal, 68,200 imp gal)

GP7270 (A380-861) PW 4062

Engines (4 x) Trent 970/B (A380-841) GE CF6-80C2B5F
Trent 972/B (A380-842) RR RB211-524G/H

PW 63,300 lbf (282 kN)

Thrust (4 x) 311 kN (70,000 lbf) - 355 kN (80,000 lbf) GE 62,100 lbf (276 kN)
RR 59,500/60,600 lbf (265/270 kN)

Sources: Airbus A380 specifications[82]