The Boeing 747 has played a historic role in the aviation industry for many years, but newer aircraft like the A380 and B787 are now taking over. The A380 uses the benefits of a large aircraft to carry a large number of passengers, while the B787 emphasizes fast flight and fuel efficiency. Both aircraft are leading the fleet generation shift with different strategies.
Currently, the most common and best-known civilian airplane in airports is the Boeing 747. The Boeing 747 made its maiden flight on February 8, 1969, and remains the most used commercial airplane in the world. The B747 has been the front line of the airplane industry since its inception in 1969, with variations in size and use, from the 747-100 and 747-200 to the 747-400, which was introduced in 1988 and is still in service today. The Boeing 747 has remained at the center of the aviation industry for so long because it has eliminated the flaws of conventional aircraft design by introducing finite element design. Instead of designing the fuselage and wings as a whole, the finite element design method divides them like a checkerboard and calculates the forces acting on each part separately. This method greatly improved the durability and stability of the airplane, which is why the Boeing 747 has remained a mainstay of the aviation industry for so long.
In fact, technological advancements in aircraft design really began to take off after World War II. During this time, the global demand for airplanes skyrocketed, and large aircraft were needed not only for commercial flights but also for military purposes. The Boeing 747 was a revolutionary aircraft born out of this context. Its massive size and ability to fly long distances was a game-changer for the aviation industry at the time, but size alone doesn’t explain its success. The Boeing 747 was not just a large aircraft, but one that maximized safety, durability, and fuel efficiency, making it the most common aircraft in airports around the world for decades.
But as time went on, the Boeing 747 was gradually being prepared for retirement. A new generation of airplanes is emerging to replace it after more than 40 years of service, most notably Airbus’ A380 and Boeing’s 787.
The Airbus A380 is the world’s largest civilian airplane, designed to carry a large number of passengers at once, especially at large airports. Despite its large size, it is recognized for its efficient and reliable flight. Korean Air has plans to introduce a total of 10 A380s by 2014, and on September 7, 2011, the airline took delivery of its fourth A380, and currently has four A380s in service. The A380 is larger than a Boeing 747, with a double-decker fuselage that can seat up to 800 passengers. It is 73 meters long and 79.9 meters wide, roughly the size of a soccer field. The A380 has a maximum takeoff weight of 569 tons, which is the equivalent of about 110 elephants. Not only that, but the A380 is designed to be so massive that it can carry an entire train car. The airplane also comes with a hefty price tag, with one A380 costing around $410 billion.
While the A380 may be less fuel-efficient than traditional aircraft, it can be a better choice economically because it can carry more passengers at once. For example, a 1,160-kilometer flight from Seoul to Tokyo would cost about 24 million won in fuel, but the ability to carry more passengers gives it a cost-effectiveness advantage.
However, the A380 does have its drawbacks. Its large maximum takeoff weight increases the load on the runway during takeoff and landing, which has caused major airports around the world to renovate their runways. In addition, the large number of passengers at once means that boarding and immigration procedures take longer. Another disadvantage is that hundreds of passengers boarding and deplaning at the same time at one gate can cause bottlenecks.
To solve these problems, Boeing developed the B787 (Dreamliner). The B787 is an efficient airplane that can fly non-stop over long distances while carrying fewer passengers. In a reversal of strategy from the A380, the B787 focuses on shorter flight times rather than in-flight service. Boeing estimates that the B787 will fly about 14% faster than the A380.
While Airbus and Boeing have different strategies, they ultimately share a common goal of maximizing profits for airlines. Airbus has developed the A380 to serve larger airports and carry more people at once, while Boeing has introduced the B787 to connect various airports and reduce flight times. While these two airlines are approaching the aircraft generation change in different ways, the end result is the same: maximizing efficiency and economy.
In conclusion, the future of the aviation industry is changing rapidly. Airbus quickly commercialized the A380 with a unified mechanical design system, and Boeing remains competitive in the market with the B787 and B747-8 with the latest engines. The competition and innovation between these two airlines will continue to be an important factor in aircraft generational change.
