With the 7e7 coming out....you would think that the 747-500/600 with a new economical design, composite/aluminum-alloy construction, redesigned cockpit, etc. would be in the works. It is a fantastic plane, but honestly it hasn't kept up with the times. It is the model-T of widebodies....but they never really worked on a major re-design.
It is a tried and true frame...it just needs to adjust a bit. Boeing is already tooled for it's production...just re-examine the big picture.
I am not an Airbus conspiracy theorist....but Boeing is resting a bit to hard on it's laurels. If they don't learn to evolve, they might just be the next Lockheed or Douglas of civil aviation. Embraer, Bombadier and Airbus are wanting a bite of their lunch.
While talking about it...isn't that Embraer 170 bad-***?
