Tag Archives: 747-8

Cargolux to introduce a new livery with the first Boeing 747-8F

Cargolux Airlines International (Luxembourg) is introducing a new livery with the delivery of the first new Boeing 747-8F. The cargo airline is the launch customer for the new type. The first Boeing 747-8 Freighter painted in Cargolux’s livery emerged from the Boeing paint hangar in Everett, WA on June 7. The cargo operator has a total of 13 Boeing 747-8 Freighters on order.

Boeing delivered the last Cargolux 747-400 Freighter with a unique transition paint scheme featuring fading stripes. The new livery on Cargolux’s 747-8 Freighter is an evolution from the current design and marks the start into a new era for the company.

“The design stands for continuity and commitment while confirming the fundamental principles that made Cargolux successful. The red, white and blue stripes symbolize the company’s roots in Luxembourg, its hub and home base,” said Ulrich Ogiermann, CEO of Cargolux. The new livery features a distinctive new red tail and an additional logo on the belly further promotes the brand.

Boeing will deliver the first 747-8 Freighter to Cargolux in the fourth quarter of this year.

Boeing begins assembly of the first 747-8 Intercontinental

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) has announced it has begun assembly of the first 747-8 Intercontinental at the factory in Everett, WA. Late this past week, mechanics took the first step in major assembly for the new airplane by loading its wing panels and spars in the assembly tools. The spar is the internal support structure that runs through the full length of the wing.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG was the first airline to order the new, fuel-efficient passenger airplane, contracting for 20 747-8 Intercontinentals, with purchase rights for an additional 20. “We are very pleased to see that the production on the 747-8 Intercontinental has begun,” said Nico Buchholz, senior vice president, Corporate Fleet of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. “We are looking forward to welcoming the aircraft in our fleet as it is a component of Lufthansa’s strategy to modernize its fleet and increase environmental stewardship. The 747-8 shows our clear commitment to customer orientation.”

The new 747-8 Intercontinental is stretched 18.3 feet (5.6 m) from the 747-400 to provide 467 seats — 51 more than its predecessor — in a three-class configuration. GEnx-2B engines and a new wing design provide airlines a quieter, more fuel-efficient airplane. The 747-8 is 16 percent more fuel efficient and creates a 30 percent smaller noise footprint than its predecessor. The 747-8 also provides nearly equivalent trip costs and 13 percent lower seat-mile costs than the 747-400, plus 26 percent greater cargo volume.

The 747-8 interior incorporates features from the 787 Dreamliner, including a new curved, upswept architecture that gives passengers a greater sense of space and comfort while adding more room for personal belongings. The architecture is accentuated by lighting technology that provides smooth transitions for a more restful flight.

The 747-8, which includes the 747-8 Intercontinental and the 747-8 Freighter, was launched in November 2005.Boeing has 108 orders for the 747-8 — 32 for the 747-8 Intercontinental and 76 for the 747-8 Freighter. The first 747-8 Intercontinental is scheduled to deliver in late 2011.

Boeing puts the third 747-8F into testing

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. Boeing 747-8KZF N5017Q (msn 36136) arrives at Seattle (King County-Boeing Field) after its first flight.

Boeing’s (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) third 747-8 Freighter, RC 521 (N5017Q), successfully completed its first flight on March 17. It is the final test airplane scheduled to participate in the flight-test program for the 747-8 Freighter.

Piloted by Captains Paul Stemer and Keith Otsuka, with Ralph Chaffin serving as systems operator, RC 521 took off from Paine Field in Everett, WA, completed a two-and-a-half-hour flight and landed at Boeing Field in Seattle. The airplane reached an altitude of 30,000 feet (9,144 m) and an airspeed of 245 knots, or about 282 miles (454 km) per hour. It took off at 3:27 p.m. PDT and landed at 5:58 p.m.

RC 521 has several tests scheduled in the test program, including fuel-mileage testing. The 747-8 Freighter flight-test program calls for all three airplanes to perform approximately 3,700 hours of testing both on the ground and in the air. The first 747-8 Freighter delivery is planned for the fourth quarter of this year.

Boeing puts the second 747-8 freighter into testing

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) has placed a second 747-8 Freighter, designated internally as RC 522, successfully completed its first flight on Sunday evening (March 14). The airplane took off from Paine Field in Everett, WA, for a two-and-a-half-hour flight and landed at King County-Boeing Field in Seattle.

Captain Kirk Vining was at the controls for the flight, with Rick Braun operating as co-pilot and Joel Conard serving as systems operator. The airplane reached an altitude of 27,000 feet (8,230 m) and an airspeed of 240 knots, or about 276 miles (444 km) per hour. It took off at 3:57 p.m. (1557) PDT and landed at 6:25 p.m (1825) PDT.

Boeing 747-8 Freighter Achieves Initial Airworthiness Milestone

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) has completed initial airworthiness testing on the 747-8 Freighter. This milestone enables test engineers to be on board during future flights and allows the remaining two 747-8 Freighter test airplanes to begin flight test.

Since the first flight in early February, the program has conducted 13 flights, achieving several key accomplishments. Pilots have taken the airplane to an altitude of 30,000 feet (9,144 m) and a speed of Mach .65. The program has completed approximately 33 hours of flying. Initial stall tests and other dynamic maneuvers have been run, as well as an extensive checkout of the airplane’s systems. Five different pilots have flown the newest Boeing freighter.

In the weeks ahead, the 747-8 Freighter will reach an altitude of more than 43,000 feet (13,106 m) and a speed of Mach .97. Subsequent testing will push the airplane beyond expected operational conditions.

Flight testing will continue in the months ahead. All told, the 747-8 Freighter test program calls for approximately 3,700 hours of testing using three test airplanes. First delivery is planned for the fourth quarter of this year.

Boeing has secured 108 orders for the 747-8, 76 of which are orders for the new freighter. Cargolux, NCA-Nippon Cargo Airlines, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Atlas Air, Cathay Pacific Airways, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Emirates SkyCargo, Guggenheim and Korean Air all have placed orders for 747-8 Freighters.

The first Boeing 747-800F is rolled out at Everett in a new livery

Photo: Boeing. Boeing 747-8R7F N747EX (msn 35808) is rolled out of the paint shop late on November 17, 2009 in the new colors.

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) last night (November 17) rolled out the first Boeing 747-800 dressed in a new livery featuring a large “8” on the tail and “747-8” on the lower fuselage. The first delivery customer is Cargolux. The new type will make its first flight in early 2010.

Press release:

boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=942

First Boeing 747-8F freighter takes shape

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/First-Boeing-7478-Freighter-prnews-955952413.html?x=0&.v=1

Boeing joins first 747-8 wing to body

News link:

finance.yahoo.com/news/Boeing-Joins-the-Wing-to-Body-prnews-4206871546.html?x=0&.v=1

Boeing to cut monthly 777 production

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Wichita) will cut monthly 777 production from seven to five aircraft starting in June 2010. It has also shelved plans to increase production rates for the 747-8.