Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental wide-body jet airliner successfully completed its first test flight this week with a package of performan...
This package is designed to improve the fuel efficiency of the jetliner.
With Boeing Flight Test and Evaluation Capt. Kirk Viningand Chief Pilot Capt. Mark Feuerstein at the controls, the airplane took off from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, on May 21 at 1:30 p.m. local time and landed at Boeing Field in Seattle approximately four hours later.
The airplane Performance Improvement Package (PIP) includes improvements to the GEnx-2B engines and Flight Management Computer (FMC) software.
These new improvements will give operators an airplane that is an additional 1.8 percent more efficient.
The test program will also validate the design changes and demonstrate the operation of the horizontal tank fuel system on the passenger version of the 747-8, which was deferred from the initial deliveries.
The new configuration will first deliver in early 2014 and be available for retrofit. Entry into service of the new engines and FMC software will take place in late 2013.
The 747-8 is the fourth-generation Boeing 747 version, with lengthened fuselage , redesigned wings, and improved efficiency. The 747-8 is the largest 747 version, the largest commercial aircraft built in the United States, and the longest passenger aircraft in the world.
The 747-8 is offered in two main variants: the 747-8 Intercontinental (747-8I) for passengers and the 747-8 Freighter (747-8F) for cargo.
In April Boeing announced that it will adjust the production rate for the 747-8 program from two airplanes to 1.75 airplanes per month because of lower market demand for large passenger and freighter airplanes.
To date, there are 110 orders for passenger and cargo versions of the 747-8, 46 of which have been delivered.
