777-200F & 747-8F - The World On Time
November 2nd, 2007
Reports surfaced of the 787 Dreamliner rescheduling directly impacting upon the testing and service entry of the two newest Boeing freighters, the 777-200F and 747-8F.
Thanks to some accurate research, it has been confirmed that these rumors are just that.
Image courtesy of Boeing.com
Despite the recent changes to the 787 program, Boeing is firmly on track to deliver the first 777-200F in the fourth quarter of 2008. Assembly of the first airplane is scheduled to commence during the first quarter of 2008.
After speaking to a senior executive at one of the initial launch customers of the 747-8F, the assertion that the type may also be affected by the 787 delay or alleged transfer of 747 engineers has also been firmly dispelled.
Image courtesy of Boeing.com
“As far as we are concerned, the 747 Freighter remains on track to be delivered as planned“.
“There is nothing from Boeing or any indication to us at least, that the timetable will not be met. Obviously things can change, as we’ve all witnessed with the 787, but we’re optimistic that our (dash) 8’s will be delivered on time“.
Noted above, things can and do change - where the A380 and 787 are two all new designs for both Airbus and Boeing, the 777 and 747 are the most mature products in the market with a very good supplier base and logistics network undergoing very little comparative change to cater for the 777-200F and 747-8F.
Also, the issue of pilot availability is emerging as a skewed story - not least because both the 787 and 777-200F programs have their own pools of pilots allocated for flight tests.
Image courtesy of Cargolux.com
According to former 787 program head, Mike Bair, Boeing may re-examine the global supply chain to its next airplane.
“The right way to do this would be to have all those big parts across the street, so you could just roll them in,” says Bair. “We’ll see on the next airplane programmes whether we can accomplish something like that.”
Naturally, Airbus will also be keeping an eye on how it intends to distribute work amongst partners on its oft-delayed, redesigned A350XWB jet.
While Scott Carson acknowledged that there may be no passenger orders in the remainder of 2007 for the 747-8I, 2008 may just be the year that the type secures new customers.
One thing is for certain, until Boeing announces any firm schedule changes, the two newest cargo kings will be hauling freight as planned - and on time too.
Sphere: Related ContentEntry Filed under: 787 First Flight, 787 Orders, 787 Premiere, 787 Rollout, Aeroplane, Air Transport, Air Travel, Airbus, Airbus A318, Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Airbus A321, Airbus A350, Airbus A380, Airlines, Airplane, Airplane Order, Airplanes, Airport, Airports, Aviation, BA, Boeing, Boeing 737, Boeing 747-8, Boeing 777, Boeing 787, Boeing 787 Order, Boeing 787 Orders, Boeing 787 Premiere, Boeing 787 Rollout, Boeing Orders, British Airways, Dreamliner, Dreamliner First Flight, Dubai, Emirates, Fleet Replacement, FleetBuzz.com, Jet Travel, Low Cost Airlines, Low Cost Carriers, Randy Tinseth, Richard Aboulafia, Transformers, Travel
11 Comments Add your own
1. Reader | November 2nd, 2007 at 9:03 am
I presume you cant reveal the 747-8 customer with whom your spoke?
Regardless, this is in stark contrast to the seemingly anti Boeing reporting of Leehamnet’s recent piece.
That said, whoever is publishing the correct information, I do agree that it is far better to hear news of delays from Boeing than rely on hearsay or, as in the Leeham case, conjecture.
Lest we forget, remember on the 787 delay how many customers stated that they were not informed of a delay? Thats not to suggest Boeing “hides” news, but at least news does break that the 77F or 748 are delayed, its far more credible to hear it from the source.
Having read Leeham for a long time, there has been a marked decline in its writings - very harsh overtones to Boeing while singing the praises and ignoring the EU aid to Airbus. But afterall, Leeham was paid by Airbus to commission a report, so what are we really to expect from a source with credibility thats paid for by someone else?
2. Dougloid | November 2nd, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Perhaps, as Maggie the housecat tells me, the surest way to respond when one is skewered is to toss a similar grenade back at the source. That goes a long way, she opines, to explain the….ahem….garbage we see in the comment section of Jim Wallace’s blog.
3. Jacobin777 | November 2nd, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I’m glad to hear there will be ostensibly no delays in either the B777F and B748F programs….the B777F program started quite sometime ago, and has been mentioned, is a much more mature platform…
With Emirates Cargo yesterday and FedEx recently stating they aren’t interested in the A380F, it seems as if the B748F program will continue to be a success….
4. sonicruiserlives | November 2nd, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Just one day before Boeing announced a six month delay (on the 787) this blog said there would be no delay. There could well be a delay in these programs as well. Hopefully not though for all involved.
5. boeing777 | November 2nd, 2007 at 5:53 pm
sonicruiserlives:
http://boeingblogs.com/randy/archives/2007/10/a_change_of_flight_plan.html
Randy Tinseth stated the same thing until the news was released.
“It is still our objective to meet that May 2008 delivery but in doing that we have had to compress our flight-test schedule.”
I’m of the opinion I would rather wait to hear any news of delays from Boeing than on leaks or rumor.
It’s often all to easy to post leaks and proprietary information without consent - and thats something I’ve neither engaged in or intend to do or use sources that are prepared to leak news for whatever agenda they have.
6. Inspiring Confidence &laq&hellip | November 6th, 2007 at 6:49 am
[...] the 777-200F on track for a late 2008 service entry, the news for both it and the Dreamliner come at a time when skeptics [...]
7. Firmed Up « BOEING7&hellip | November 7th, 2007 at 6:42 am
[...] only does this news dispel some of the rumors that the project is in jeopardy (for now at least), but will likely point the way for more [...]
8. Through The Looking Glass&hellip | December 18th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
[...] As we peer through the looking glass into tomorrow, Boeing maintains that both of its large freighters are on track. [...]
9. keesje | December 19th, 2007 at 10:08 am
So one thing is for certain: Boeing is on track until Boeing announces any firm schedule changes.
..
Maybe the best way is to not only repeat what Boeing says.
Of course a customer repeats what Boeing says. He has to legally. If he says he thinks it will be delayed he has weakened his negotiation position later on if he has to negotiate compensation.
We can all docile believe Boeing will deliver more then 100 787s in 2009, the 787-3, 772ER/LR and 747-8i will sell in healthy numbers, the A350XWB and cheap converted 744Fs flooding the market create no issue etc. until Boeing says otherwise.
I think that if you are responsible for making investment choices & and wrong choices cause personal financial damage everything changes..
10. Boeing 787 First Flight T&hellip | January 11th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
[...] for a much greater window of flight tests and will not require the alleged extra resource from the 747-8F or 777-200F, the latter of which will be heading into production, testing and service entry during 2008. [...]
11. Keeping The (Freight) Fai&hellip | January 14th, 2008 at 11:07 am
[...] Speculation whirred amongst skeptics and analysts alike that there would be issues that could derail these two projects. [...]
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