BOEING ASSEMBLES FIRST 747-8 INTERCONTINENTAL FORWARD FUSELAGE

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- Boeing achieved another significant
milestone for the first 747-8 Intercontinental Sunday night with the assembly of
the airplane's forward fuselage.

The 89-foot, 2-inch (27.2 metres) fuselage section, featuring the airplane's
signature upper deck, was moved from the assembly tool for sealing and testing
before beginning systems installation, it said in a statement.

The 747-8 features a stretched fuselage compared to that of the 747-400. It
is 18 feet, 4 inches (5.6 metres) longer than its predecessor.

Much of the stretch -- 13 feet, 4 inches (4.1 metres) -- are located in the
forward fuselage, it said.

The remaining additional 5 feet (1.5 metres) are located aft of the wing.
The 747-8's stretched fuselage provides for 51 additional seats to accommodate
467 passengers in a typical three-class configuration and 26 per cent more cargo
volume, it added.

The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental is the new, high-capacity 747 that offers
the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large passenger airplane,
while providing enhanced environmental performance.
-- BERNAMA


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