It's about time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2002/02/08/f= inancial1425EST0176.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, February 8, 2002 (AP) Boeing to begin production on new 747-400ER (02-08) 11:25 PST EVERETT, Wash. (AP) -- Boeing Co. will begin production Monday of a new version of its 747 jumbo jet that can fly farther or carry more passengers than previous models. The 747-400ER has additional fuel tanks and other improvements that could give the plane about 500 miles more range, said Bill Droppelman, head of marketing for Boeing's 747 program. With the auxiliary fuel tanks, the plane could fly from Los Angeles to Melbourne, Australia, Droppelman said. An airline also could use the expanded capabilities to carry more passengers or up to 11 more tons of cargo, Droppelman said. The first 747-400ER is being built for Australia's Qantas Airways, which has ordered six of the new planes. Boeing expects to begin delivering the airplanes toward the end of this year. Droppelman said Boeing also has sold two more airplanes to an unidentifi= ed customer. "We have a number of other airlines looking at the plane," he said. "We think it's a significant market, (but) not an overwhelming market." On the Web: www.boeing.com =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2002 AP