How many crew in a 747 cockpit these days?

As someone who worked on the structural design of both the 767 and 777 (on industry-assist from Grumman -- I worked at Boeing but not for Boeing), these positive remarks make me feel good. Naturally I try to fly both types as often as I can, which is not too hard in the case of the 767 but not so with the 777, as most of the ones leaving ATL are headed overseas. (A friend of mine just spent 15 hours flying one to Hong Kong from DTW; I'll get his impressions of the airplane when he returns to work.)

As it happens, most of my Delta departures lately have been on 757s or MD-88s. I find it curious that the exit rows on 757s are reserved for their best customers, but not so on the MD-88s. And I still find it puzzling that the seat row numbers on the MD-88s do not match up on either side of the aisle!

 

I still think that Boeing should have put the 757 nose on the third-generation 737. Since the bodies are the same diameter, I think that it would have fit with little modification needed, and it would have confirmed to the public that this was not the same old 737, which it certainly looks like to the uninitiated eye.

 

After having seen the photos of Adelson's fleet...I feel poor! Indeed, REALLY poor.

Was looking at a Lear 45 or 60. Oh, the warped ways depression can creep in...

CW

 

Is MFD info a switch or a dial? I am not accounting for anything, just stated a fact the amount of switch and dial reduction. I was involved in human factors studies (as a pilot and an evaluater) and spent 100's of hours in 747 classic and -400 simulators doing these studies between the comparative birds. The workload reduction was very apparent and so was the reduction of task saturaton and fatigue levels.

Your correct in pointing out that Mr. Adelson is not the only operator of the SP.

Active service
The following organizations operate the remaining airworthy 747SP airframes as of 2009

VIP Government of Yemen (1)
VIP Government of Qatar (1)
VIP Government of Saudi Arabia (2)
VIP Government of Bahrain (1)
VIP Government of Oman (1)
NASA SOFIA Astronomical Observatory (1)
Las Vegas Sands (2)
Iran Air (in passenger operation) (4)
Saudia (VIP/ Government use) (1)
Pratt & Whitney Flight Test (2)
Fry's Electronics, sometimes with specific livery for tours of Ballet San Jose (1)
Syrianair (2)
Televangelist Ernest Angley (1)

Wow, the Lord pays good these days!

Cheers

 

By "dial" I thought you meant a round (or vertical) gauge, but perhaps instead you meant a knob?

 

I have always thought that modification would work but it would also entail re-certification of the airplane. new aero considerations, new displays and new systems that go with it. It would be good to get rid of all the square cornered windshield panels that reflect the ancient glass technology of the 50's. Good to get rid of the noise and drag, too. Still a good idea.
Switches

 

I enjoy your posts and just thought I'd chime in. I'm currently flying the 777 (-200, -300, -300ER) and am enjoying it! After flying the 747-400 for a few years I still marvel at the efficiency of the -300ER. One thing that takes some getting used to is how "slippery" this bird is, on the -400 you could often fly your entire descent to landing without using speed brake (ATC not withstanding) but on the 777 you will have to use speed brake at some point every time. Fit and finish seems light years ahead of the -400 (and I've flown some newly delivered ones too.)

 

I checked with my " sources" at the 737 kite works about the 757 nose on the 737 and I was partly correct. This has been studied to death and the findings were not easy to accommodate. Problems rippled through the entire fuselage and out to the wings, airflow and flutter, and as I mentioned, a lot of systems to rework. We are some years behind the 737 PD people.
Switches

 

Well, maybe if they ever do a "fourth-generation" 737, they'll reconsider. Actually, I hope that they finally ditch the single-aisle concept permanently and go to a 2-2-2 configuration in coach!

 

I'd love it if they ditched the seats altogether, and went with something akin to vertically stacked cubicles. That way I could actually stretch out and relax, and maybe catch up on some sleep.

 

Not sure about the engines, but the cockpit is almost exact to the 747-400 with a few small changes. Probably done that way to lessen training from the 400 to the -8. I was in Seattle a few weeks ago and got a chance to sit in the 787 and 747-8 sims. The 787 was really cool, a lot of gee-wiz stuff. After sitting in that, the 747-8 felt like a very old comfortable shoe ( I currently fly the 747-400). It would be nice if it had the 787 cockpit, but I still love it (the 400/-8) for what it is. I have had the pleasure to fly the 727, 757/767 and now the 747-400 and have loved each Boeing product, they make one heck-uva good airplane !!