Boeing is revealing first details of dramatic interior changes to the 747 Advanced which, together with 7E7 engine technology, could provide the foundation for the launch of the first long-awaited stretch of the model, in around two years time.
The studies form key parts of the 747 Advanced project which is aimed at boosting seating to 450 and increasing range to 8,000nm (15,000km). This aims it squarely at what Boeing sees as a "200 seat gap" in the market between the competing Airbus A340-600 and A380-800, and provides today's 747 operators with a platform for future growth.
Although Boeing maintains that it has no interest in competing directly with the Airbus behemoth, having abandoned an earlier stretch study in 1997 dubbed the 747-600X, it admits that the emergence of the A380 is opening up a potential market opportunity.
"A lot of customers are not interested in moving up to the A380, and there are still a lot of people in a 'wait and see' mode," says Boeing product marketing director Brad Till. "We fundamentally see a much smaller market for an aircraft larger than the 747, and we don't see a business case for that makes sense for an all-new aircraft.
"But we think using the 7E7 technology provides a good approach. The market certainly is interested in a 400-450 seat aircraft, but we've got to make sure it makes sense. We think this does."
Although Boeing originally announced details of its initial 747 Advanced plans in 2003, the interior design plans represent a fresh initiative.
The new interior studies build on the innovative upper lobe crew rest designs created in recent years for the 777 and 747-400. Boeing is now extending these to create a series of 'Sky Suites' for passengers which could run for virtually the entire length of the stretched 747's main fuselage aft of the 'hump'.
Accommodation
Using previously unused space in the 'attic' area above the main deck cabin ceiling, the suites provide so much new accommodation space that it has shocked the study team. "We have amazed ourselves at what we've been able to do with the space," says Boeing interior configuration lead Richard Johnson.
By moving ducting and wiring aside, Boeing has created a series of suites connected by a passageway with a 1.88m (74in) tall stand-up space, reducing to 1.82m under frames. With individual, curtained off bunk spaces on either side of the passageway, the 'Pullman' railway coach-like atmosphere of the Sky Suites is reinforced with the creation of meeting rooms and rest areas.
Built over the 'monuments' or galleys on the main deck, the meeting room zones are wider and provide flat floor over a cross-section similar to that of the average regional jet.
Space is potentially available for 20-40 upper berths, depending on the size of the bunk cubicles and the number of meeting or business room suites. The favoured size appears to be 1.5m wide, though 1m and 2m wide units have been designed, says Johnson who adds various artificial lighting concepts are also being evaluated.
The spaces would be sold for premium prices to passengers who would occupy economy seats on the main deck by Door 4 for take-off and landing.
Further forward, Boeing has also conceived an entirely new upper deck stairway and entryway by Door 2 which creates a previously unknown feeling of spaciousness in the 747.
In place of the current fore and aft stairway on the port inner side of the main deck, the Advanced design incorporates an open atrium area with a wide, sweeping stairway on the starboard inner side. For the first time on the 747, the upper deck floor is opened up to the crown to enhance the 'openness' of the stairway area, with extra windows added to the upper deck window belt as well as additional 'skylight' windows added to the crown of the aircraft itself.
The passenger version of the Advanced would be stretched by inserting two plugs - a 2.03m stretch in the forward double-deck section and a 1.53m plug by the trailing edge of the wing. The stretched freighter would also have the same aft stretch, but would incorporate a slightly longer 3.56m stretch in the forward fuselage just aft of the hump.
These changes would take the overall length of the 747 Advanced Freighter to 75.8m against the 70.6m of the current model - making it the largest of the proposed derivative models should it get the go-ahead, possibly as early as 2006.
Added to the improved economics of the 7E7 engines, Boeing is confident the innovative Sky Suites concept, revised interior and other flight deck and aerodynamic modifications planned for the Advanced will make the new 747 an attractive option to carriers still needing growth but not ready to step up to the A380.
If the plan sells, airlines could be offering 'Sky Suites' from around 2010 onwards.
GUY NORRIS
Source: Flight Daily News
