|
The 767
was developed alongside the 757 and is the narrowest widebody aircraft in
service. The 767 program was officially launched on July 14, 1978 when
United Airlines ordered 30 767-200's. The aircraft featured many new
advanced design features including high-lift leading edge slats and trailing
edge flaps to give superior take-off and landing performance. The cabin of
the 767 was designed to be similar to the 747, featuring a twin-aisle layout
but with a width only 1.24m (4ft 1in) wider than the 727. The 767-200 was
designed to carry up to 247 passengers in a single class layout (32in pitch
and 7 abreast) or a maximum of 290 passengers in an 8 abreast charter
airline layout. The last option required the addition of two additional
overwing exits, a feature seen on Britannia Airways aircraft. Construction
of the first 767, N767BA commenced on July 6, 1979 along with two other
aircraft for ground testing. The first 767 was rolled out at Boeing's
Everett facility on August 4, 1981 and the aircraft made its first flight on
September 26, 1981. United Airlines took delivery of their first aircraft in
August 1982 and put it into service the following month. A variant of the
767-200 was the 767-200ER (extended range). The -200ER featured a higher
gross weight and increased fuel capacity. The first 767-200ER was delivered
to El Al on March 26, 1984.
|
Boeing
767-300/-300ER/-300F
|
The first major variant
of the 767 to be launched was the 767-300 in February 1983. The 767-300
featured a fuselage stretch of 6.42m (21ft 1in) by means of two plugs;
3.07m (10ft 1in) fore of the wing and 3.35m (11ft) aft of the wing. The
767-300 was designed to carry a maximum of 351 passengers in a
single-class layout. Due to the increase in passenger numbers the aircraft
required strengthening of the undercarriage, wing and lower fuselage. The
first order for the 767-300 came on September 29, 1983 when Japan Airlines
(JAL) ordered three aircraft. The first flight of the 767-300 took place
on January 30, 1986. The first delivery to JAL took place on September 25,
1986. In January 1985 Boeing began developing the 767-300ER, an extended
range, higher gross weight version of the 767-300. The first customer for
the 767-300ER was American Airlines which ordered 15 aircraft on March 3,
1987. First delivery took place on February 19, 1988. The 767-300F was
another variant of the 767-300. The aircraft was launched on January 15,
1993 with an order for 30 aircraft from United Parcel Service (UPS). The
aircraft featured no passenger windows, strengthened floor and
undercarriage and a large cargo door on the port side of the forward
fuselage. The first delivery took place on October 12, 1995.
From 1996 onwards Boeing
began examining a further development of the 767. The new aircraft was officially
offered to airlines from January 1997 and featured a 10-15% increase in
seating capacity, typically seating 245 passengers in a three-class layout
or 303 passengers in a two-class layout. The fuselage was stretched by
6.43m (21ft 1in) and the wingspan was increased by 3.66m (14ft 6in) with
the addition of raked, highly-swept wingtip extensions. The passenger
cabin was also updated, featuring an interior based on the 777. Launch
orders came from Delta Airlines for 21 aircraft on March 20, 1997 and Continental
Airlines followed with an order for 26 aircraft on October 10, 1997. The
first aircraft was rolled out at Everett on August 26, 1999 and first flew
on October 9 the same year. First delivery took place was to Delta on
August 29, 2000 with Continental Airlines receiving their first aircraft
two days later. Another Variant of the 767-400 is the 767-400ERX. The
aircraft is to feature an increased range of 950km (590 miles) more than
the 767-400ER. Kenya Airways was the first airline to sign up for the new
variant, ordering three aircraft on September 12, 2000. Deliveries are
expected to commence from May 2004 onwards.
|
|
