747-400 Officially Out of Production

[rgamurot 1]

I couldn't believe it either.http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Boein...n_194711-1.htmlAt least we still have the 744ER and 747-8 to look forward to.Ryan GamurotLucky to live Hawai'ihttp://www.virtualpilots.org/signatures/vpa296.png

[744pilot 0]

Yeh, I heard that. But is it realy true?!Look at the official boeing site and y'll see nothing about this.

[markadeane 274]

Although it might seem hard to believe, it isn't really all that amazing . The aircraft is a late 80's product that will shortly be superceded by a new 747 model, there are other existing products in the Boeing line that can fit the requirements, and orders for the 744 PAX had dried up. I'm sure a few nostalgic tears were shed when the -200/-300 series production wound up too, but at that time the -400 was the future. Now we have come full circle: the -8 is the future of the 747 line, so the Whale's reign is a long way from being over!For me, the passing of the 757/767 lines is a bit more sad, as the replacement for those aircraft bears little resemblance to it's predecessor, so (777 similarity notwithstanding) it is an iconic design that will increasingly disappear from our skies. At least the 747's replacement is still a 747 to look at. :-)

[744pilot 0]

That's true. But still, I wait for an official announcment of boeing.

[Guest jskibo]

It's official. It was in our interal news clips at work (Boeing) last week.

[744pilot 0]

In that case, it's realy sad. And an remarkable, early, stop of the 744 production. I expected that boeing would atleast add another 5 years to the production of the 744.

[rgamurot 1]

I'm suddenly confused. Is it only the 744 or the 744ER as well? The ER is pretty new. I would imagine that still has a long time to go.Ryan GamurotLucky to live Hawai'ihttp://www.virtualpilots.org/signatures/vpa296.png

[Guest jskibo]

Found the external newsclip: (Can't post the internal one)SEATTLE - The Boeing Co. is ending production of the passenger version of its venerable 747-400 jumbo jet, and is no longer taking orders for either the passenger or cargo models of what has been one of its most successful aircraft.Boeing spokesman Tim Bader said Friday that no new orders will be taken for 747-400 passenger jets or freighters, as the company transitions to its new-generation 747-8. Bader said Boeing expects the first 747-8 freighter to enter service in 2009, followed a year later by the first passenger 747-8.On Thursday, Boeing posted new orders from unidentified customers for 46 airplanes worth about $9 billion at list prices, and indicated on its Web site that the last four passenger versions of the 747-400 had been removed from its order books.Bader declined to identify the company that ordered those four planes.The last of the more than 450 747-400 passenger planes was delivered in April 2005, and the last order was placed by China Airlines in November 2002. The 747-400, which entered service in 1989, was the best-selling version of the 747, the first version of which was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in 1969.Boeing still has orders for 36 747-400 freighters, 18 each for the regular model and an extended-range version, while developing the bigger and more fuel-efficient 747-8 freighter and 747-8 Intercontinental passenger jet.Six of the new orders posted Thursday, all from an unidentified customer or customers, were for the 747-8 freighter, bringing the total for that model to 60.Since the 747 program was launched in the 1960s, Boeing has taken more than 1,500 orders for all models of the jet.Other orders announced Thursday from unidentified customers were for six 777-300ERs and 15 787-9s. Also posted were previously announced orders for two 777s from Philippine Airlines, five 787s from Continental Airlines, and six 737s and six 787s from ALAFCO Aviation Lease and Finance Co. of Kuwait.That gives Boeing 112 net orders for the year.Boeing previously logged orders for 24 747-8 Intercontinentals, including 20 from the German carrier Lufthansa. The Intercontinental is designed for about 50 more passengers than the 416-seat 747-400 and will have a new wing and engines.The 747-400 remains the largest jetliner in passenger service but will lose that status after Singapore Airlines takes delivery of its first 555-passenger Airbus A380 late this year.