In the Air Cargo World, I look at all the MD11s, 767-200s, A300-600s, A330P2Fs, B747-400 and B747-400BCFs that will need replacements in the next five to fifteen years.
That a lot of heavy metal.
The fly in the ointment ‘in my opinion’ is the Boeing KC76, that has tied up production of the excellent B767-300.
If only the USAF has not bowed to political pressure and ordered what they wanted in the better suited A330. Then airlines would be free the order the Boeing. But that line is tied up.
United has asked for a second production line to be opened as they are finding out that the best replacement for an old B767 is another B767-300 with 400 cockpit.
But unlike the A330, a super stretch 767-400 is not a good idea.
For the same reason the KC76 is no good.
200 fuselage, 300 Wings, 400 tail and cockpit.
What a junkyard dog.
A B767 sits too low to the ground.
It hits the tail with too long a stretch, or a tail boom.
The A330-800 and 900 is too small to make an excellent freighter.
Cargo planes need volume, not load or range.
A 330-1000F (980?) may be suitable.
Yes I know a 980 doesn’t sound like Airbus logic.
But does a A300-622F4R?
Between Amazon, DHL and UPS I could imagine a joint order in the 175-200 range.
I can’t imagine FedEx being interested as they already have the B777.
All airlines, talk to all manufactures, all the time.
So this is nothing new.
I just heard something, and wondered if anybody had anything more concrete to add.
Maybe it’s all a negotiating tactic to get Boeing to lower the price of a 777MAXF.
Yes, I know it doesn’t exist yet, nor does a A330-1000.
This is a rumor network after all.