The jumbo jet reborn

People love revenge stories, sort of.

Several years ago, Airbus was selling planes at historical new highs, while Boeing seemed to be in big trouble, with scarce orders. Airbus was getting all the news with it's new "full double decker", which was code named the A3XX at the time, while Boeing has it's own inner management problems, and struggled even with coming out with a new product draft. They scrambled to answer the A3XX with an enlarged 747, but it seemed that no one was interested.

Now times has changed and it's quite the other way around. Boeing has got traction with it's sells department and got lots of 777 orders, winning back the fame of the plane company to get the most orders from Airbus. Now it's Airbus that's the one with complex management problems. The much anticipated A380 (the official name of the A3XX) double decker seemed to have many testing problems and the release date was delayed again and again. While Boeing, with it's new alternative concept of fast, agile, fuel conserving and comforting interior design has gotten many orders for it's new 787 (previously dubbed 7E7) dream liner, which would also go into production soon.

The 787 (Photos from Boeing.com)

Now, taking the fuel efficient technology and the modern interior design from the 787 development, Boeing is introducing a renewal of the legendary jumbo jet: the 747-8. It uses the same ultra fuel efficient next-gen GE GenX engines, bird-like upward curving wings for better aerodynamics, and is slightly longer then the current 747-400. But for us passengers, the most significant change is the new interior design, with larger, comfortable seats, curved cabin designs for better looks and larger head space, and many other touches to make future flights a more pleasant experience. Of course, airlines may still change this and squeeze in as much seats as they could, as they do now. But at least this is a good start of focusing on the passenger. And as the seats may be changed, I guess at least the new compartments and cabin panals would be still there.

The new 747-8 intercontinental passenger jet is expected to be flying in 2010. Can't wait to get a ride on these new jets.

Links:
Boeing's new plane promotion site
Boeing releases new interior for 747-8
Businessweek | Boeing's reborn 747
More photos from BBC news
Wikipedia | 747-8

*Interesting note: A Google search of "747-8" gave me this: 747-8=739...