History Of Boeing 747 Interior

The history of the Boeing 747 Interior begins with the 747-100 model in 1966. The original design had a full length double deck fuselage with rows of eight-across seating and two aisles on the lower deck and seven-across seating with two aisles on the upper deck. Concern over evacuation routes and limited cargo carrying capability caused this design to be scrapped in 1966 in favor of a wider single deck design. The new configuration became six upper deck windows (three per side) to accommodate upstairs lounge areas. Later, airlines began to use the upper deck for premium passenger seating instead of lounge space. Boeing than opened a ten-window upper deck option. The cockpit was placed on a shortened upper deck so that a freight loading door could be included in the nose cone; this design feature produced the 747's distinctive bulge. In the early models it was not clear what to do with the small space in the pod behind the cockpit, and this became specified as the "lounge" area with no permanent seating.

In 1971 the 747-200 model entered service. Passenger freighter and combination passenger-freighter versions were produced.  The 747-200 series was needed by airlines to operate over long international route sectors. Several variants of the 747-200 were produced. The 200B was the basic passenger version with increased fuel capacity and more powerful engines. The 200F was the freighter version. It could be fitted with or without a cargo door. The 747-200C is the Convertible version that can be converted between a passenger and a freight version. The seats are removable and the model has a nose cargo door. Finally, the 200-M version has a side cargo door on the main deck and can carry freight in the rear section of the main deck. This model is able to carry 238 passengers in a 3-class configuration if cargo is carried on the main deck.

In 1980, Boeing launched the 747-300 model based on studies to increase seating capacity. By 1983, the 300 model included a stretched upper deck, increased cruise speed and increased seating capacity. The seated area behind the flight deck was 23 feet longer than the earlier version. The 300 model also included two new emergency exit doors and an optional flight-crew rest area. Also a straight stairway to the upper deck instead of a spiral staircase was a major difference between the 300 and previous models interiors.

By 1985, development of the longer range 747-400 was begun. This larger, and more powerful longer- ranged 747 also had the extended upper deck as well as six -foot drag -reducing winglets on each wing tip. It could also accommodate 416 to 524 passengers. This new version had a new glass cockpit which allowed for a cockpit crew of three instead of two. Also the use of electronics reduced the number of dials, gauges and knobs from 971 to 365.  The 747-400 has the largest passenger interior volume of any commercial airliner which is equivalent to more than three houses each measuring 1500 square feet. Production problems prevented this model to not be ready until 1989.

Boeing announced the 747-8 model would be launching in 2005. This model would use the same technology as the 787. Plans were developed for this new model to be quieter, more economical and more environmentally friendly. The 747-8 would surpass the Airbus A340-600 as the world's longest airliner. The passenger airplane has 51 additional seats to accommodate 467 passengers in a typical three-class configuration, and it also offers 26 percent more cargo volume.