EVERETT, Wash. (AP)--Boeing on Wednesday delivered its first 747-400ER, or Extended Range jet, to Australian carrier Qantas Airways.The jet, the first of six to be delivered to Qantas, is Boeing's first redesign of the 747 since 1993. With structural changes, an additional fuel tank and stronger fuselage and landing gear, the new jet can carry 15,000 more pounds of people or cargo and can fly about 410 nautical miles farther -7,760 miles - than existing 747-400s. The planes seat 416 people in a standard three-class configuration, and offer larger carryon compartments and roomier interiors. Qantas will use the plane on its Los Angeles-Melbourne route.But even with the six orders for the new passenger version of the jet, Chicago-based Boeing faces a tough market for selling its biggest and strongest 747. Not only are some of Boeing's biggest U.S. airlines customers bleeding billions of dollars in losses, but the commercial jet manufacturer is facing intense competitive pressure from European archrival Airbus.Even Qantas, despite having flown every version of the 747, is working with Airbus and will be its launch customer for Airbus' A380 -seen by analysts as the French manufacturer's larger answer to Boeing's 747.The 747-400 sells for between $185 million and $211 million, with freighters costing as much as $215 million, the highest-priced Boeing commercial planes currently in service. Boeing believes there's a market for 1,000 or more of planes of the 747-size or larger in the next 20 years.Boeing rolled out the first version of the 747 in September 1968 and the extensively redesigned 747-400 in 1988. An all-freight version of the 747-400 was produced in 1993Dow Jones Business News

They Forgot to mention that Mr John Travolta was there to be the one who recieved the keys and was acting PIC on the delivery flight.http://www.flightsimnetwork.com/dcforum/Us...9d503cc53ab.jpg

>>They Forgot to mention that Mr John Travolta was there to be >the one who recieved the keys and was acting PIC on the >delivery flight. >>>Yes and Ron Hubbard was in the cargo hold!Peace,crvm

"Yes and Ron Hubbard was in the cargo hold!"LOL... As John's "spiritual advisor/guide", Ron was probably installed in the Main Equipment Centre in place of the FMC :-)Judging by the pics aready on the net, it transitted through Sydney yesterday (local time). I was thinking of going into work to greet it, but the transit time was limited to just over an hour, so I doubt I would have been able to go anywhere near the aircraft because of press, officials and general assorted bigwigs.According to the new Boeing Maintenance Manual, the cockpit displays will now be LCD (there is a popular rumour that these are interchangeable with the CRT's, but being a different size (depthwise) and having different in-panel locking mechanisms this seems unlikely). The MCP has also gone LCD (display wise). There are dozens of PFD/ND display differences (e.g. the PLAN display is now like the 777's). The data displayed on the 3 traditional standby instruments has now been squeezed onto a single LCD mini-PFD. It comes with its own rechargeable power supply which should outlast the aircraft's batteries by two or three times.The new (removable) Aux Fuel Tank will allow the 747-400ER to go further/ carry more weight/passengers. Fwd Cargo space, however, has been sacrificed (because of the installation of the Aux tank in the rear of the Fwd Cargo). For safety, no fuel pumps will be installed in the Aux Tank.... The fuel will be transferred with air pressure... from the cabin! (Failing that, there is a backup electric blower). There are extra switches on the overhead panel to allow the transfer of fuel from the Aux tank to the Centre Wing Tank (transfer will be semi-automatic, like the HST fuel transfer process with flap and air-ground logic). Although the switches look identical to the other switches, the PRESS lights are no longer illuminated by fuel pump pressure, but by fuel quantity. VH-OEF will be flown to Avalon in Victoria for pre-service modifications before it starts regular services between Melbourne and LAX. (although it will not be limited to these stations). Looking forward to seeing it in Sydney sometime.Sorry if this message is off-topic, but I know there are a few 747-400 fans out there ;-)Cheers.Ian.

>LOL... As John's "spiritual advisor/guide", Ron was probably >installed in the Main Equipment Centre in place of the FMC >:-) >:-lol:-lol:-lol

I was out at YSSY for the arrival last night.John Travolta had nothing to do with the flight, the crew was 2 captains and 2 second officers.Here's some of the pics-http://www.rwy34.com/craig/oef_5.jpghttp://www.rwy34.com/craig/oef_4.jpghttp://www.rwy34.com/craig/oef_2.jpghttp://www.rwy34.com/craig/oef_3.jpg

Nice machine, but why is it that journalists generally can't get anything right about aviation, and states the obvious as revelations from above?A few quotes from the article:"Boeing Delivers First Of 6 Planes To Qantas" Nope, Boeing never delivered a single plane. Tons of aeroplanes or aircraft, but not a single plane."offer larger carryon compartments and roomier interiors" ? Taken straight out of the Boeing commercial, and poorly written too. I mean, can you actually carry the compartments on, and what are the interiors roomier than?"Not only are some of Boeing's biggest U.S. airlines customers bleeding billions of dollars in losses, but the commercial jet manufacturer is facing intense competitive pressure from European archrival Airbus." Quite, but then again Boeing never sold very many 744s in the US did they? United and Northwest they only pax carriers operating the model, with Polar the only operator of the F. The 744s biggest customers were always in Europe and the Far East."Even Qantas, despite having flown every version of the 747, is working with Airbus and will be its launch customer for Airbus' A380 -seen by analysts as the French manufacturer's larger answer to Boeing's 747." Well no shyte Sherlock, I'm not an aviation analyst but it's bleeding obvious to me that the A380 was conceived to beat the 744. And they forget to mention that Qantas also placed a rather big order for A330s to replace their 767s. Much as we love the 76, it's getting old and is no match for the A330, as witnessed by the almost complete lack of orders for the 767."Boeing believes there's a market for 1,000 or more of planes of the 747-size or larger in the next 20 years." Key words here are "or larger", meaning A380s. And again, there may be a market for a thousand planes, but it's not in avaition.Rant over, almost. JT is not rated as PIC on the 744 by Qantas he's "only" a First Officer. He's not even rated PIC on his 707!Now the rant is over. Congrats QF you've bought what will most likely be the last, or at best second last, version of the Whale. I belive Air France will be the next airline to take delivery of a 747-400ER, in the F version. Has any other airlines bought it?

Great shots, HP :-)The second one clearly shows the mid and inboard leading edge flap groups retracted during thrust reverse ops (made me look twice... I thought something had broken :-hah). Just wondering why the 767 doesn't have this function. Perhaps the 76's LE flaps are stronger than the 400's?BTW, did you get to see the cockpit? Cheers.Ian.

@ HPSOV :Aren

Hi,seems that in Australia even aircraft are driving on the left side of the road :-hahThanks for sharing information and pictures, wonderful "Queen".BRHans van Leusen PS: I don