Tag Archives: Boeing 747-8F

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 Airways’ cargo division, British Airways World Cargo (BAWC). GSS will lease the 747-8F aircraft that it will operate for BAWC from AAWW’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 747-8KZF N5017Q (msn 36136) PAE (Nick Dean) (3rd 747-8F test aircraft), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

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.

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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 747-8KZF N5017Q (msn 36136) PAE (Nick Dean) (3rd 747-8F test aircraft), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

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

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 747-8KZF N5017Q begins testing in Southern California

Boeing 747-8KZF N5017Q (msn 36136) BFI (Joe G. Walker), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) has placed the second Boeing 747-8 Freighter, RC521, the pictured 747-8KZF N5017Q (msn 36136), landed in Palmdale, CA yesterday (April 19), marking the beginning of a planned transition of 747-8 Freighter testing to Southern California. The more than four-hour flight from Boeing Field in Seattle included testing on avionics and cruise performance.

The airplane will be stationed in Palmdale for the majority of its scheduled flight-test program. The crew will conduct several tests on the airplane with fuel-mileage and engine-performance testing as key focus areas.

A contingent of employees has been stationed at Palmdale for the testing, including flight-test engineers and the support personnel who prepare the airplane for each day’s flights. In the coming weeks, the two other 747-8 airplanes in the flight-test fleet will join RC521 in Southern California.

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

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. N5017Q is pictured at Seattle (Boeing Field-King County) prior to the departure to Palmdale.

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.