rkkwan

While the 747 is a 40-year old plane, there are very things common between a -100 and the upcoming 747-8. Understand that Boeing has significantly upgraded the series over the years.

Winglets were added to the -400, and the whole wing is brand new on the -8.

Electronics and controls were totally revamped with the -400.

Upperdeck was lengthened with the -300, and the whole fuselage lengthened with the -8.

Interiors upgraded with the most recent -400s delivered to China Airlines and Qantas; and the -8 will have new entry-way and lighting.

And of course, engines have been upgraded continuously. Noise level and fuel burn have been cut over the years, while range has been increased.

---

Having said that, the 747 as well as the 380 are basically planes of the 20th Century. The use of composite material of the 787 and A350 make them so much more efficient that set them totally apart from the aluminum planes.

LT

Sorry, rkkwan, but it's not. Concorde was a money loser from the day it rolled out. The british and french govts. subsidized it throughout its lifetime, and between the Gonesse crash, the subsequent lengthy grounding of the fleet, rising maintenance and fuel costs and stagnant passenger loads, it just wasn't worth the money to keep it going:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...973906,00.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/trans...ord_10-24.html

Don't get me wrong -- I was VERY sad to see Concorde's era end. I hope someday soon we'll see its successor.

rkkwan

Er... The first article is from 1991. So, BA and AF can be making money after that. And I don't think the British and French governments were allowed to subsidize these private airlines then anyways.

The second article is correct. After 9/11, after the Paris crash, the flights were no longer profitable, so BA and AF stopped flying them.

I don't see where in the articles contradict what I said earlier.