In 1984, production of the Boeing 747 was slowing and Boeing announced the development of the 747-300 Advanced (-300A) as a minimum change derivative to improve the performance of the 747-300, but it was clearly apparent that airlines wanted something more than what they saw as a warmed over 747-300. This led to the 747-400 the following year with launch orders from Northwest Airlines. Seven early customers- British Airways, Cathay Pacific, KLM, Lufthansa, Northwest, QANTAS, and Singapore Airlines- formed a consultant group to advise Boeing on what the market wanted from a new 747 variant. One of the remarkable feats of the 747-400 program was a longer span wing that carried more fuel than that of the 747 Classics yet weighed LESS. Despite an over six-foot wingspan extension with a canted winglet on each side, the use of advanced alloys resulted in the 747-400’s wing weighing an astounding >5000 lbs less than that of the Classics while still retaining the same basic airfoil that could use some of the same production jigs as were used on the older wings. In addition to aerodynamic refinements in the rest of the airframe, the new wing more than anything else made 747-400 the new Jumbo Jet that airlines wanted, breathing new life into 747 line. #Avgeek #aviation #aircraft #planeporn #KDFW #DFW #airport #igTexas #planespotting #airlines #Boeing #747 #ChinaAirlines #ChinaAirlinesCargo #DFWavgeek #instagramaviation #splendid_transport #instaaviation #aviationlovers #aviationphotography #flight #Avgeekery #AvgeekSchoolofKnowledge (at Dallas/Fort Worth Intl Airport (DFW)) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs4Z6wdlW3c/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qua3nsm1ddk4
