Tag Archives: Boeing 747-8

Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental completes final Gauntlet test

Boeing (Chicago) has completed final gauntlet testing on the firstย 747-8 Intercontinental jetliner. The two days of testing were completed late Sunday (March 13).

Gauntlet testing simulates flight conditions to test systems and ensure flight readiness. During the testing, Boeing test pilots put the airplane through its paces. See how extensive the testing is in this video:ย http://goo.gl/0cJCZ. Gauntlet testing is a crucial step in the path toward first flight.

First flight of the 747-8 Intercontinental will occur after final flight readiness reviews, receipt of documentation from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and taxi testing. Both taxi testing and first flight are subject to weather conditions.

 

Boeing completes first engine runs on the new 747-8 Intercontinental

Boeing (Chicago) successfully completed the first engine runs for theย 747-8 Intercontinental yesterday (March 8). The milestone marks a key step in preparing Boeing’s largest-ever passenger jet for flight test.

Engine runs began atย 11:57 a.m. (1157) PST and lasted approximately two hours and 45 minutes. During initial engine runs, the engines are started and operated at various power settings to ensure all systems perform as expected. The engine run test began with the Auxiliary Power System providing power to start the first of four GE GEnx-2B engines. The remaining three engines were started using the cross-bleed function.

Basic systems checks continued throughout the test. The engines were powered down and inspected and will be restarted following a technical review. The team completed a vibration check and monitored the shutdown logic to ensure it functioned as expected.

The GEnx-2B engine is optimized for the 747-8. The new engine contributes to a reduction in fuel burn, emissions and noise, which gives customers the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large passenger airplane while providing enhanced environmental performance.

Copyright Photo: Boeing.

 

Boeing puts a fifth 747-800 freighter into testing

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) successfully conducted the first flight of the fifth 747-8 Freighter on Thursday (February 3). The airplane, coded as RC523, took off from Paine Field (PAE) inย Everett, WA, for a 3-hour, 30-minute flight before returning to Paine Field.

The flight included a standard 2-hour, 30-minute “B1” flight profile that Boeing conducts on all production airplanes prior to delivery, plus an hour of engineering testing woven into the profile.

This is the fifth 747-8 Freighter being used in the flight-test program. Each airplane is used for a specific set of tests, with this airplane focusing on functionality and reliability testing.

The airplane will remain based at Paine Field throughout its test plan.

Boeing joins fuselage sections for first 747-8 Intercontinental

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) moved closer this week toward completing assembly of the first 747-8 Intercontinental as mechanics inย Everett, WA, loaded the forward and aft fuselage sections to join with the wing and center section.

The 747-8 fuselage is 250 feet 2 inches (76.3 meters) long, which is 18 feet 4 inches (5.6 meters) longer than the 747-400. The stretch provides space for 51 additional seats to accommodate 467 passengers in a typical three-class configuration and offers 26 percent more cargo volume.

The 747-8 is the new high-capacity 747 that will give airlines the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large airplane while providing enhanced environmental performance. The airplane also features a 787 Dreamliner-inspired interior that will offer passengers a greater feeling of space and comfort.

The 747 program has orders for 109 747-8 Freighter and Intercontinental airplanes. Thirty-three of those are for the 747-8 Intercontinental, with orders coming from Lufthansa, Korean Air and eight VIP customers. The first 747-8 Intercontinental delivery is scheduled for late 2011 to a VIP customer.

 

Boeing delays the delivery of the first Boeing 747-8F

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) today announced a schedule change for the 747-8 Freighter with the first delivery now expected to be in mid-year 2011. The company also announced steps it is taking to support the new schedule, including adding a fifth airplane to the flight-test fleet.

Boeing previously indicated that, following recent flight-test discoveries, there was a high probability the first 747-8 Freighter delivery would move into 2011. According to Boeing the new delivery schedule follows a thorough assessment of the expected cumulative impact of these discoveries, which include a low-frequency vibration in certain flight conditions and an underperforming aileron actuator. While neither issue requires structural changes to the airplane, they have led to disruptions to certification testing, which the program was unable to offset within the prior schedule.

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean. Boeing 747-8R7F N5573S will become LX-VCC (msn 35807) for launch customer Cargolux Airlines International.

Atlas Air’s Global Supply Systems to operate three Boeing 747-800F freighters for British Airways

Copyright Photo: Pedro Pics. The current three Boeing 747-400F freighters are expected to replaced by the new 747-800Fs. 747-47UF (msn 29252) is pictured at the STN base.

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings (New York-JFK) confirmed that its 49%-owned UK subsidiary, Global Supply Systems Limited (GSS) (London-Stansted), has signed a five-year wet leasing agreement with British Airways Plc to operate three Boeing 747-8 freighters on behalf of British Airways starting in 2011.

Under this long-term aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) outsourcing contract, GSS will provide a turnkey solution for British Airwaysโ€™ cargo division, British Airways World Cargo (BAWC). GSS will lease the 747-8F aircraft that it will operate for BAWC from AAWWโ€™s Atlas Air unit, which expects to take delivery of the aircraft from Boeing in early 2011.

Boeing appropriately reports a net profit of $787 in the 2Q

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) reported a second quarter net profit of $787 million, down from $998 million in the same quarter a year ago.

For the full report:

CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean. While the 787 Dreamliner captures most of the headlines, the new 747-8 continues to move ahead too. Third test aircraft, 747-8KZF N5017Q (msn 36136) is pictured on the ramp at Everett (Paine Field).

Boeing 747-8 Freighter Receives Expanded Type Inspection Authorization

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) received expanded type inspection authorization (TIA) from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the 747-8 Freighter on June 11. This authorization clears the way for FAA personnel to participate in test flights and collect required data.

With the issuance of TIA, the 747 program is beginning expanded certification testing. During this phase of testing, the extremes of the flight envelope are explored. Testing conditions include operations in hot and cold weather as well as takeoffs and landings at high-altitude airports. In addition, over-speed conditions, hard landings and engine-out conditions are tested.

The entire flight-test program calls for a total of about 3,700 hours of ground and air testing. The first 747-8 Freighter delivery is planned for the fourth quarter of this year. The first customer is Cargolux.

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean. The third 747-8F test aircraft, Boeing 747-8KZF N5017Q (msn 36136) is seen at Everett (Paine Field).

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

Copyright Photo: Boeing. Boeing 747-8R7F N55725 (msn 35806) will become LX-VCB on delivery.

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 inย Everett, WA on June 7. ย 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 inย Luxembourg, its hub and home base,” said Ulrich Ogiermann, CEOย 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 inย Everett, WA.ย 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,” saidย 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 inย November 2005.Boeingย 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.