Twin Engine Cargo King - Boeing 777F
January 25th, 2008
On January 29, 2008 the first new widebody of the year will enter major assembly.
Needing little introduction, as of writing, the 777F has 80 orders from 11 customers.
Launched back in May 2005, based on its sistership, the 777-200LR, the 777F will bring more range and cargo capability unlike any other twin engine freighter.
Air France is poised to take delivery of the world’s largest, longest ranged, twin engined freighter in the fourth quarter of this year.
With the success of the 777 family already in service, the 777F brings in the expertise of three major partners on the program.
Image courtesy of Boeing
Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) are also heavily involved on the 787 Dreamliner program and also contribute to the entire 777 family too. The first aft fuselage panel on the airplane will be shipped on January 30, 2008.
Between the three Japanese companies, they account for more than 20% of the 777’s fuselage structure. Boeing and its partners recently attended a customer focus group meeting in Japan to discuss various aspects of the sixth member of the 777 family.
Image courtesy of Boeing
Discussions ranging from production planning, flight tests, certification to ensuring that the infrastructure for training, spares and maintenance is in place to facilitate a smooth and seamless integration upon entry into service for all customers.
With a “tried and tested” airframe, the 777F builds on Boeing’s wealth of knowledge and experience gained from the longer ranged variants, the 777-200LR and much sought after 777-300ER.
Image copyrighted and owned by BOEING777 and FleetBuzz.com
These two models, along with the 777F are powered exclusively by the General Electric GE90-115B engine (thrust ratings vary on models).
The engine has already proven to be a big success for both General Electric and Boeing. Having already established a 2% fuel burn improvement, the longer range 777 family gained a further 1.4% fuel burn improvement via modifications to the engines themselves, as well as changes to the vortex generators on the airplane’s wings.
Evolution on the 777 has not just been external.
Underneath the skin, the 777 family has derived benefit from a lower fuselage weight thanks to weight saving materials throughout the structure, such as the main floor panels.
Passing these benefits onto the sixth member of the 777 family, the 777F is already being earmarked by Boeing engineers as being ahead of target on predictions of the airplane. Range is likely to be increased due to the fuel efficiency already gained via the engines and other enhancements while an estimated lower than planned empty weight will allow the airplane to haul more freight farther than any other twin engine airplane.
All that remains between assembly and delivery is the test and certification phase - based on the experience attained from the previous five family members, the 777F is on target to debut as planned.
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6 Comments Add your own
1. Sal (USAF336TFS) | January 25th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
The 777F is the aircraft that I’m really looking forward to seeing. I’m a bit disappointed that Lufthansa Cargo hasn’t YET made a direct purchase of this beauty, but it’s cooperative entity with DHL has…
NewCo will lease 11 777-200Fs, starting in 2009. I haven’t heard what the final name of the company will be, nor is there any word on which Leasing company is providing the financing.
FedEx will certainly welcome this new variant into their fleet and by it’s chairman’s own words, the 777F will become it’s new flagship freighter, replacing the now defunct A380F.
The 777 have always been my personal favorite, and my own family’s involvement in LH Cargo has warmed me to freighters in general. When this model was first announced, many in the industry were very excited. Myself included! Back office rumours have been circulating for years of an imminent LH Cargo order of the 777F. I still believe that we’ll eventually see Lufthansa livery on a new build 777F.
The addition of this model, destined to become the preeminent twin engine freighter of the 21st Century, is what many in the air freight buisness have been looking forward to.
Congratulations to both Air France and Boeing for bringing the most technologically advanced freighter to market.
She’ll most certainly make an immediate and dramatic impact on the air freight industry, as her sister, the 747-200 did 40 years ago, and still does, today.
2. Chris Wallace | January 25th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
In a way, the 787 being delayed again has benefits to Boeing in that it now pushes that program’s flight test and certification program outside of the same window planned for the 777F and the 747-8I/F.
I personally see a pretty bright future for the 777F. She is a natural replacement for the MD-11F, offering better payload, range and efficiency. I would not be surprised to see EVA Air replace their new-build MD-11Fs with 777Fs and while we will never see a 777 in LH’s colors, we might just see 777Fs in LH Cargo’s colors to replace their new-build and converted MD-11Fs. 5X is also a likely customer, I expect and there are likely other MD-11CF operators who will be looking hard at the 777F.
3. John | January 26th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
This aircraft will capture a big market.
A great aircraft and a great engine, in fact the world’s most technically advanced big fan engine plying the skies today. And, the world’s most fuel efficieng long range engine, the GE90-115B.
Great that Boeing went for engine exclusivity on this bird.
4. John | January 27th, 2008 at 12:55 am
Great that Boeing went for engine exclusivity on this bird.
Even though there is no other choice!!
5. 747-8I Moves Ahead «&hellip | January 31st, 2008 at 7:33 am
[...] naysayers had incorrectly asserted that the 777F and 747-8F projects would suffer due to the ongoing 787 [...]
6. Mike. | February 1st, 2008 at 12:46 am
Will the next gen. of a Boeing transport be UnManned?
(FedEx places order for 200 Boeing UnManned freighters)
UPS likely to follow soon with a big order as well.
Lufthansa next in line by year end.
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