Comments on: Boeing 747-8F Production Begins

By: ScottysAir

ScottysAir — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:07:30 +0000

Are you positive sure 747-8I has been pushback to 2011, am I correct? What about that I still hear a rumors more brand newest 747-9I? I think that mean its should more passengers capacity on B747-9I. I think its should wait to see in the future from Boeing will considered to begin production with B747-9I.

By: Eddie Hostettler

Eddie Hostettler — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:18:47 +0000

Any news on fabrication schedules of Section 42??

By: Chris Wallace

Chris Wallace — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:24:50 +0000

The three biggest issues with the 747-400BCF is:

1) Cost. 747-400s are still in demand, so they’re values are not dropping quickly.

2) Payload weight. A 747-400BCF carries about 40t less then a 747-8I and is less efficient at carrying the payload it can.

3) Payload loading. Even reinforced, the floor of a 747 passenger plane is not built to handle the weight per unit of measure that a 747 freighter can. As such, loadmasters have to be careful how much and where they load heavy cargo. So you can see 747-400BCFs going out with payloads even below their lower limits, which makes them even more inefficient.

By: keesje

keesje — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:24:38 +0000

I think the biggest competitor to the 747-8F is a cheap converted 747-400 F. Dozens will be converted in the next few years while 773Er and A380 replace them in the passengers role.

When a reengined A380F with a payload range far surpassing the 747-8i becomes available at superior trip costs / unit costs in the next decade, it will do what can be expected.

Most 747 freighter don’t have nose doors, the ones that have them keep them closed most of the time! Often pallets are so high hey can’t enter the lower front door.

http://www.worldtraderef.com/WTR_site/gifs/B747Offset.gif

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:03:02 +0000

Great news for the lastest and most exciting version of the magificent 747. All we need now is a couple more Airlines to buy 20-40 Intercontinentals to really make the program a resounding success.

Bring it on!

By: boeing investor

boeing investor — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:06:07 +0000

Couldnt agree more Dougloid - the nose loading capability is what is unique.

The “fiddliness” of having to build up pallets, move them around so that they can fit through the proposed A380F cargo door(s) is something logistics networks neither have time or patience for.

Freight, by its very nature, is time sensitive. Time spent better served by avoiding loading on a top deck that is pretty much useless.

Nice pics by the way, could have sworn when i read this page yesterday that they were not there!

By: Dougloid

Dougloid — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:21:20 +0000

Boeing investor, I’ve got a pal who’s in the business of selling hogs-that’s right, the four legged tasty critters that become bratwurst….anyway, he doesn’t know anything about airplanes but his degree is in Transportation Logistics. That’s right, the science of moving things here and there at the lowest possible cost and in the most expeditious manner.
I sketched out the A380F and the 747-8F and I said “Which one’s better?” He said that the big Boeing’s front loading capability was critical in loading outsize cargo and jamming pallets on board in a big hurry. He also said that not having to turn the load 90 degrees was a big saving. He remarked that the A380F was probably a little better if you cubed out before you went overweight, but that you couldn’t plan an operation around being able to haul only feathers. He said “If you can carry railroad iron, you can carry feathers but it doesn’t work the other way.”