Boeing 747-8F Takes To The Air
First Major 747 Stretch Takes Off On Debut Flight
First Flight Comes As Iconic Jet Enters Fifth Decade
747-8 Intercontinental Roll Out & First Flight Early 2011
After successfully completing taxi tests, the first 747-8F took off on its maiden flight, kicking off a 3,700 hour certification effort with first delivery to Cargolux due in the fourth quarter of this year. The first 747-8F took off just one day short of the forty-first anniversary of the first 747 flight.
Images Courtesy Of Boeing
While the cargo market remains fragile, the 747-8F has benefited by being in a virtual monopoly position with no direct rival as well as seeing existing 747-400’s that have been withdrawn from service not coming back or being converted into freighters amidst high fuel prices.
Major assembly of the first 747-8 Intercontinental occurs late in the second quarter/early third quarter and is due to roll out during early 2011, with first flight penned for the first quarter of 2011 ahead of first delivery to a VIP customer in Kuwait.
Lufthansa will take its first 747-8 Intercontinental shortly thereafter, again in the fourth quarter next year.
Two 747-8 Intercontinentals will form part of the certification efforts, with three being used for the 747-8 Freighter.
The first test 747-8F, RC501 will complete around 610 flight test hours along with 800 ground test hours.
RC521 will complete around 570 flight test and 525 ground test hours, with RC522 completing 435 flight test and 820 ground test hours as part of the certification program.
16 comments February 8th, 2010
