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Old 29th Jul 2020, 21:50
  #111 (permalink)  
tdracer
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Everett, WA
Age: 68
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The last passenger 747-400 delivered in 2005, but -400F were produced until 2008 (final deliveries occurred in 2009), when the line was temporarily closed to convert it for the 747-8 series production. The 747-8 series has new engines, a longer fuselage, an aerodynamically redesigned wing, updated avionics, and a higher MTOW. First 747-8 Freighter delivered in 2011, the first passenger 747-8 delivered about a year later. Production has been split roughly 2/3rd Freighters, 1/3rd passenger (i.e. "Intercontinental") - the last passenger 747-8 delivered in 2017.
There are currently a dozen or so 747-8F still to be delivered - the last delivery scheduled for 2022. The final nail in the 747 coffin was the vendor that produced the fuselage panels shuttered the factory last year (parts for the aircraft on order were 'built ahead'). Boeing would have had to either find a new vendor, or make a major investment to build the panels in-house to keep the 747-8 in production. At the current production rate (~6/year) the 747 is basically at break even - so it was determined it wasn't cost effective to make a major investment in new fuselage manufacturing capabilities.
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