Boeing 747

Virgin Galactic introduces the newest addition to its fleet of vehicles as part of a technical update on its LauncherOne small satellite launch service. The 747-400 commercial jet aircraft, previously operated by Virgin Atlantic under the nickname ‘Cosmic Girl,’ will provide a dedicated launch platform for the LauncherOne orbital vehicle.

LauncherOne works differently from the rockets used by other companies like SpaceX or Blue Origin. Instead of taking off from solid ground, the satellite launcher is released mid-flight, greatly reducing the amount of fuel necessary to get small payloads into orbit. But up until today, Virgin Galactic's plans for LauncherOne always included it being taken to those high altitudes by WhiteKnightTwo, the massive plane that the company plans to one day use to carry its space tourism ship (SpaceShipTwo) into the stratosphere.

Forty-five years ago, she made history, ushering in the era of the jumbo jet and changing the face of commercial flight. A giant of the skies, it made our world smaller and mesmerized the people of the Pacific Northwest, us included.

When the 747 dubbed The City of Everett (RA001) took her inaugural flight on February 9, 1969, it was an enormous day for both of us. And just as we are tremendously proud to be a part of the Boeing 747’s legacy—as chief engineer and co-pilot on the first flight—we’re equally proud to be a part of her renewal at The Museum of Flight. 

Since accessioning the first 747, the Museum and its dedicated team have been faithfully caring for the aircraft, but Seattle’s damp climate takes a toll, and The City of Everett is showing signs of wear. That’s why, this summer, the Museum will embark on an ambitious project—a complete external restoration to return her to first flight conditions.

More here….

(Source: Museum of Flight)

Boeing delivered the first 747-8 with performance-improved GEnx-2B engines as part of the airplane's Performance Improvement Package (PIP.) A Cathay Pacific Airways 747-8 Freighter was the first 747 to deliver with the PIP engines.

The engine is the first of the package's three improvements to enter service. The two other components, Flight Management Computer (FMC) software upgrades and reactivation of the horizontal tank fuel system on the 747-8 Intercontinental, are expected to enter service later this month and in early 2014, respectively.   The new GEnx-2B  engine improves the airplane's efficiency by 1.8 percent.  All three PIP components can be retrofitted on the 747-8. The tail fuel reactivation is applicable only for the 747-8 Intercontinental and the FMC upgrades can also be made to 747-400s.

 Boeing moved the first 747-8 Freighter out of the paint hangar in Everett, Wash., Tuesday night sporting a special “light” livery.

Painted white with blue accents, the 747-8 Freighter unveiled a new twist on the Boeing Commercial Airplanes livery. It features an oversized “8” on the background of the tail as well as “747-8” on the belly.

The light livery, which saves time and expense compared to the full Boeing livery, will remain on the airplane until the flight-test program is completed. After flight test, it will be refurbished and delivered to a customer.

The first freighter will begin preparing for the necessary tests leading up to first flight in early 2010.

Air New Zealand's first Boeing 747-400 will soon make one final flight to a wrecker's yard as further capacity cuts loom in the face of a continued fall in demand for global air travel.

The 19-year-old jumbo, named The Bay of Islands, was grounded and put up for sale after completing Air New Zealand's historic biofuel test flight in December.

In order for an aircraft to gain any lift whatsoever, there must be a difference in pressure between the top and bottom of the wing. Below the wing you have high pressure air, above the wing you have low pressure air. This is how lift is accomplished by the wing. The high pressure air is heavier than the low pressure, so the plane has no choice but to remain aloft. (which is why flying is unbelievably safe)

At the end of the wing, there is a turbulent mixture of the high and low pressure air. This mixing point, roughly at the location of the winglets, causes drag and can cause an aircraft to become inefficient. The winglets assist in eliminating some of this drag, therefore adding range and in some cases, quite a bit of exterior style to an aircraft. (my opinion)

Every aircraft is designed differently, so winglets are efficient only on certain models. Aerodynamic variation in aircraft design can be either helped or hurt by winglets. The particular model in this question, the 747-400, usually comes with them, BUT, some airlines have opted to not have them installed on their new planes (Boeing 747-400D - Domestic).  Japan Airlines did this because they use the new plane for shorter high capacity hauls versus flying across the Pacific.