Shape of the future

There's a great expression that applies very well to events this week: "The future is now."
Or better yet, the shape of the future is a beautiful, iconic airplane called the 747. With the fabulous endorsement from Lufthansa of the 747-8 Intercontinental, clearly passengers are going to be flying in this amazing machine for many years to come.

Lufthansa is the first airline to place an order for the 747-8 Intercontinental.
I, for one, never gave up on the 747. There was a time not too long ago when the media was writing the epitaph for the Queen of the Skies. Some have even been quoted this week as saying the 747 is on its "last legs." But does an airplane that has had 73 orders since its launch just over a year ago sound like it's on its last legs?
I'm reminded of what Joe Sutter told me earlier this year, when he pointed out that there have been lots of airplanes designed after the 747, but none have been able to fly faster or adapt better over the years. As Joe put it: "It's been able to absorb technology in every area - structure, aerodynamics, power plant, cockpit systems. It's just as modern as any airplane flying out there because Boeing has continued to invest in the product, and the basic product was right, so the investment pays off."
And the fact is, with the breakthrough engines from the 787 Dreamliner, an aerodynamically advanced wing with newly designed raked wingtips, an upgraded flight deck, and a longer passenger cabin that's completely redesigned based on the 787 interior, this is going to be a great airplane, and will be the most efficient large airplane out there, on a per seat basis.
A few words about the Lufthansa order. You couldn't ask for a better launch customer for the passenger model of the 747-8. Beginning in 2010, they'll take delivery of 20 747-8 Intercontinentals.