Boeing gets ready to unveil fourth-generation 747 version jetliner

Washington, Feb 13(ANI): Boeing on Sunday will officially unveil its highly-touted 747-8 Intercontinental, a wide-body commercial jet airliner that is being heralded as the next generation of the aviation giant's iconic jumbo jet.

The plane, described in some quarters as the most fuel-efficient in the world, will replace the 747-400 as Boeing's flagship aircraft.

"The 747-8 Intercontinental is the only jetliner in the 400 to 500-seat market, stretched [18.3 ft] from the 747-400 to provide 467 seats in a three-class configuration and a [8,000 nautical mile] range. Using 787-technology engines, the airplane will be quieter, produce lower emissions, and achieve better fuel economy than any competing jetliner," CBS News quoted Boeing, as saying in a statement.

"The 747 Intercontinental will provide nearly equivalent trip costs and 13 percent lower seat-mile costs than the 747-400, plus 26 percent greater cargo volume. The 747-8 is more than 10 percent lighter per seat than the [Airbus] A380 and will consume 11 percent less fuel per passenger than the 555-seat airplane."

"That translates into a trip-cost reduction of 21 percent and a seat-mile cost reduction of more than 6 percent, compared to the A380," it added.

The prototype 747-8 Intercontinental is scheduled to be revealed in Washington during a rollout ceremony. (ANI)