Plane Nation

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) — The Boeing Company has released the first engineering drawings for its new 747-8 airplane, launched in November 2005 by
Cargolux Airlines and Nippon Cargo Airlines.The two drawings released were for the body landing gear and the underwing engine fittings, the airplane manufacturer
said from Everett, Wednesday.”It is really exciting to see the new 747-8 Intercontinental and Freighter family of airplanes become a reality with these first drawing
releases,” said Corky Townsend, chief project engineer, 747-8 Program.”The design of the airplane continues on schedule to allow us to deliver the first 747-8 in
late 2009. We believe the new 747 is the right size for

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Airbus, the world”s leading commercial aircraft
maker, has no plans to change the design of its mid-sized A350 plane
despite criticism from key lessors, Marketing Vice President Colin Stuart
said on Monday. U.S. based aircraft leasing firm ILFC warned last week
that Airbus ran the risk of getting badly beaten by U.S. rival Boeing Co.”s
787 Dreamliner, an all-new plane which the A350 is being devised to
compete with. But Stuart said there were no plans to change the A350,
which is based on the design of the older A330, but incorporates a
composite wing and uses the more fuel efficient engines being developed