Boeing 747-400

[Domo]

I love the things, but srsly? They're like twice the size of my house! How do they take off and fly?!

 

[bcla]

Considering their volume, they're actually pretty light. I remember in a materials science class, the prof was telling us that the average airliner had a cross-section that to scale would be similar to an aluminum beverage can. Newer planes use even lighter materials like carbon fiber.

That, long runways, and four powerful engines.

A 747-8 is even bigger. Or an A380.

 

[Albort]

psssssh, u guys clearly never seen the AN-225

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

psssssh, u guys clearly never seen the AN-225

Ingenious. A flying garbage scow.

 

[JaxDad]

I love the things, but srsly? They're like twice the size of my house! How do they take off and fly?!

The Bernoulli Principle.

 

[xlxo]

Lots of Pixie Dust!

BTW... the 747 is no longer the largest... check out the 787 Dreamliner! If you are near Seattle, you can get a tour of the factory at Paine Field.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner

 

[bcla]

Lots of Pixie Dust!

BTW... the 747 is no longer the largest... check out the 787 Dreamliner! If you are near Seattle, you can get a tour of the factory at Paine Field.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner

The 747-8 is the largest aircraft that Boeing has ever built. The 777-300 is also bigger than the 787-10. The 747-400 discussed is still bigger than the 787-10.

Boeing didn't try to make the 787 the biggest. It was supposed to be a breakthrough in efficiency, using lighter materials and more efficient engines.

 

[McNs]

I'll miss the 747 once gone, which it pretty much is in my part of the world. I managed one flight in the bubble which was awesome!

 

[bcla]

I'll miss the 747 once gone, which it pretty much is in my part of the world. I managed one flight in the bubble which was awesome!

It's not going to be gone for a while, but for the most part twin-engines are more efficient.

 

[Albort]

I'll miss the 747 once gone, which it pretty much is in my part of the world. I managed one flight in the bubble which was awesome!

New Zealand? Qantas Airlines still got some. they getting the new 747-8 too! you still got a lot of chance! :]

 

[DeniseJH]

Apparently in the US the 747's are going to be used for cargo only in a short time. Like a year or two. I will always regret that I never got to fly on one. I remember distinctly the day in 69 when they rolled out the first one - and I was only 5. The 400's are gorgeous!

 

[DeniseJH]

Also, got to see that Antonov land here in Syracuse once...unbelievable! Saw an A 380 at JFK and there was no comparison! 777's are pretty impressive too - going to try to arrange to fly on one on our trip to Disneyland next January. United flies them to LAX out of Chicago, if I remember correctly (in the very early stages of planning). Got to experience 757's and a 767 by shopping around! (I love airports and Boeing aircraft!)

 

[Klayfish]

Lots of Pixie Dust!

I can't believe you're the only person who has posted the right answer so far. Du'h....it's

 

[bcla]

Also, got to see that Antonov land here in Syracuse once...unbelievable! Saw an A 380 at JFK and there was no comparison! 777's are pretty impressive too - going to try to arrange to fly on one on our trip to Disneyland next January. United flies them to LAX out of Chicago, if I remember correctly (in the very early stages of planning). Got to experience 757's and a 767 by shopping around! (I love airports and Boeing aircraft!)

Last time I flew back into San Francisco Airport I saw a British Airways A380 taxiing to the runway. That thing was a beast. They need special jetways to handle them. I don't know if anyone even makes stairs that will work with the upper level of an A380. They're also so big and tough to maneuver on the ground that they need a tug to move them to and from the gate.

 

[DeniseJH]

Last time I flew back into San Francisco Airport I saw a British Airways A380 taxiing to the runway. That thing was a beast. They need special jetways to handle them. I don't know if anyone even makes stairs that will work with the upper level of an A380. They're also so big and tough to maneuver on the ground that they need a tug to move them to and from the gate.

Yeah, I know it was said that the taxi-ways, etc. had to be reinforced to handle the weight. It was taxiing when we saw it, so no idea about jetways. Just to lower level probably. They are awesome, but soooo ugly!

 

[DeniseJH]

Wow, just googled to make sure I knew what I was talking about, and it said that the taxiways, etc. needed to be changed for width, not weight. I swear weight was the issue I read about when the A380's were first coming out.

 

[Albort]

Wow, just googled to make sure I knew what I was talking about, and it said that the taxiways, etc. needed to be changed for width, not weight. I swear weight was the issue I read about when the A380's were first coming out.

source? i remember airbus had to keep the length of the wings shorter than they wanted so that it would fit in most airports. The only plane i know that has a longer than usual wingtip is the 777X which is still in development but its got folded up wings like the F18s on an aircraft carrier.

A380 are big that they often hit other planes, most of them are being escorted by cars just incase...

A380s are on their way out though haha. Point to point is dominating over the hub network.

 

[bcla]

Yeah, I know it was said that the taxi-ways, etc. had to be reinforced to handle the weight. It was taxiing when we saw it, so no idea about jetways. Just to lower level probably. They are awesome, but soooo ugly!

A full setup utilizes three doors.

JFK is supposed to be ready with a full setup at several gates.

 

[DeniseJH]

Oh cool, didn't know they had that arrangement. Nice 747-400 in the background!

 

[DeniseJH]

Albort - google took me to science.howthingswork.com

And it wasn't so much about the actual length of the wing per se, but that the engines would hang over.