Lufthansa (Frankfurt) and Boeing (Chicago) will start pre-delivery testing of the new Boeing 747-830 (D-ABYE) at Lufthansa’s main operations base at Frankfurt Airport from December 6 to December 9 .

According to Boeing, “Lufthansa will conduct a number of tests to help ensure a smooth integration of the newest member of the 747 family into Lufthansa operations. Lufthansa maintenance and engineering personnel will rehearse ground-handling processes for the 747-8 Intercontinental within the airline’s facilities and on its ramps at the airport. In addition, the crews will check how their ground-support equipment accommodates the airplane. These checks will help Lufthansa ensure a smooth entry into service for crews and passengers in early 2012.”

The airplane is scheduled to arrive at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in the late afternoon (Central European Time-CET) on December 6 after an approximately 9-hour flight from Seattle (Boeing Field) . Three Lufthansa pilots will join two Boeing pilots on the flight crew for the flight. The airplane will depart in the early afternoon CET on December 9 . Lufthansa will release photographs of the airplane’s visit to Frankfurt , at its website http://presse.lufthansa.com/de/mediathek/bildarchiv.html.

The airplane that will visit, known to Boeing as RC021, is one of three airplanes that have served in the 747-8 Intercontinental flight test fleet. 747-830 D-ABYE (msn 37826) was specifically used to test interior systems such as heating and air conditioning, cabin lighting and systems and galleys.

D-ABYE is painted white with a gray belly and a blue tail fin – a basecoat of the Lufthansa livery without decals – and will be the fifth 747-8 Intercontinental to join Lufthansa’s fleet when it is delivered in the third quarter of 2012. The first 747-830 Intercontinental (D-ABYA, msn 37827) destined for Lufthansa is completing construction at Boeing’s facility in Everett, Washington.

Copyright Photo: Boeing.

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