Boeing 747-8

The Boeing 747-8 is the latest and largest variant of the 747 family available in two models, the 747-8F Freighter and the passenger 747-8I Intercontinental. The Freighter variants maiden flight took place on February 8, 2010, with the first delivery in October 2011 to Cargolux, the Intercontinentals first flight followed on March 20, 2011, entering service in June 2012 with Lufthansa. The United States Air Force has selected 747-8 (VC-25B) to replace the aging VC-25A presidential transport.

The 747-8 varies from the -400 with a 5.6 m (18 ft) fuselage stretch, a new wing that is thicker, deeper, wider with raked wingtips and higher fuel capacity. Along with the more efficient General Electric GEnx turbofan of the 787 Dreamliner, maximum take-off weight (MTOW) has increased to 447,6956 kg (987,000 lb). The Freighter version has a shorter upper deck, the Intercontinental longer.

Airframe construction is mainly of aluminium alloy with some composite materials. The fuselage is a semi-monocoque structure with an upper deck forward of the wing, containing the glass cockpit and passenger space. The low mounted wings and conventional tail unit are of cantilever design with sweep back. The retractable undercarriage is a tricycle type. Flight crew consists of two pilots and the passenger cabin seats up to 467 passengers in a typical three-class layout, maximum.

It uses four General Electric GEnx high-bypass turbofan engines; pylon mounted two under each wing. The 747-8 has a cruise speed of 914 km/h (568 mph), a range of 14,320 km (8,898 mi) and a service ceiling of 13,100 m (43,100 ft).