Boeing 747-8F Production Begins

Quite simply, it has no rivals.

For a new major airplane derivative, the first iteration of the newest 747 family starts life as a freighter, not a passenger airplane.

As production winds down for the current 747-400 family, assembly of the first 747-8F has got underway at Everett with the first wing spar and wing panels being loaded into assembly tools.

Image copyright/owned by FleetBuzz Editorial.com

Below are two images courtesy of Boeing of production getting underway.

First delivery is due late 2009 to launch customer Cargolux who launched the 747-8 family on the back of an initial order for 10 airplanes along with Nippon Cargo Airlines.

Both carriers have since added to their orders. Total outstanding firm orders stand at 78 from 9 customers, including Atlas Air, Cathay Pacific, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Emirates, Guggenheim Aviation Partners, Korean Air and Volga-Dnepr Airlines.

Key to the success of the 747-8 family has been the development of the General Electric GEnx-2B engine, a derivative engine also soon to be found on the 787 Dreamliner.

“The GEnx-2B engines serve a critical role in the efficiency gains offered by the 747-8 family,” said Ross R. Bogue, vice president and general manager of the 747 program.

“It will help the 747-8 provide our customers with improved fuel efficiency, reductions in emissions and noise, while allowing customers to generate additional revenue with their ability to carry more passengers and cargo.“

Image and excerpt below courtesy of Boeing

With a maximum structural payload capacity of 140 tonnes (154 tons) the 747-8 Freighter offers 16 percent more revenue cargo volume than the 747-400F with slightly greater range. The additional 120 cu m (4,245 cu ft) of volume enables the airplane to accommodate four additional main-deck pallets and three additional lower-hold pallets. The 747-8 Freighter allows operators to choose between carrying greater revenue payload — up to an additional 20 tonnes (22 tons) — or flying up to 1,400 nmi farther in markets where cargo density requirements are lower. The airplane upholds its predecessor’s legendary efficiency, with nearly equivalent trip costs and 16 percent lower ton-mile costs than the 747-400F. In fact, the 747-8 Freighter will enjoy the lowest ton-mile costs of any freighter, giving operators unmatched profit potential.

14 comments August 13th, 2008