First Boeing 747-8 Freighter Leaves Factory

[TopSwiss 737]

On the Boeing website (http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=13&item=929):

First Boeing 747-8 Freighter Leaves Factory
The airplane begins preparations for flight test

EVERETT, Wash., Nov. 12, 2009 – Boeing [NYSE: BA], on Thursday afternoon, towed the first 747-8 Freighter out of the factory in Everett, Wash. The airplane, ultimately destined for Cargolux, will be painted and begin preparations for flight test.

“It is very rewarding to see this airplane transition to the flight test phase,” said Mo Yahyavi, 747 program vice president and general manager. “Our employees, suppliers and customers have put a lot of work into making the 747-8 Freighter a reality.”

The 747-8 Freighter is the new high-capacity 747 that will give cargo operators the lowest operating costs and best economics of any freighter airplane while providing enhanced environmental performance. It is 250 feet, 2 inches (76.3 m) long, which is 18 feet and 4 inches (5.6 m) longer than the 747-400 Freighter. The stretch provides customers with 16 percent more revenue cargo volume compared to its predecessor. That translates to four additional main-deck pallets and three additional lower-hold pallets.

Boeing has secured 105 orders for the 747-8, 78 of which are orders for the new freighter. Cargolux, Nippon Cargo Airlines, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Atlas Air, Cathay Pacific, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Emirates SkyCargo, Guggenheim and Korean Air all have placed orders for the 747-8 Freighter.

# # #

Neg. K64806-01

Contact:
Tim Bader
747 Communications
+1 425-342-4771
[email protected]


Looks nice, wonder how it eventually will fit into the current freight market.

TS737

[Eddie_Crane]

Some nice shots here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonm/)

[SMOC]

Looks good.

First Boeing 747-8 Freighter Leaves Paint Hangar - Nov 18, 2009 (http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=942)

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/file.php/2638/K64810-03_lg.jpg

[Po Boy]

She looks beautiful!! :ok:

[TopSwiss 737]

Cool looking fresh new paintjob :ok:

[helldog]

There is just something about a 747. It draws attention from pilots and people in general that an Airbus just cant match. I dont want to start an argument about Boeing and Airbus and which is better, looks nicer, better to fly. Its just true.....the Jumbo rules the skies and the imagination.

[SMOC]

Just noticed there is no DOOR L5 anymore!

[GlueBall]

And as its B777 cousin, no winglets.

[stilton]

Not really true Glueball, it has winglets, they are more horizontal, bending up under load.


Similar to the 'rakelets' on the 767-400 , 777LR and 300-ER.



Great looking Aircraft, far more aesthetic than any Airbus.

[Eddie_Crane]

A few more shots of the 748 F leaving the paint hangar(s) here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulycoug92/)

Got to agree, something about the 747 makes it look far more aestethically (spell check!) pleasing than any of the Airbuses, even though it's a 40 year old design.

[The AvgasDinosaur]

Odd that they chose to "launch" such a significant aircraft after dark.
I know freighters traditionally haunt the wee small hours but really, Boeing P.R. A bit of an own goal.
Be lucky
David

[Starter Crew]

I work up in the Everett facility and it's typical for aircraft to be moved at night. Reason is the movements often require towing across a bridge crossing the state Highway 526. Wash Dept of Transport asked the company some years ago if they would restrict day use as it used to cause huge backups and accidents (rubberneckers gawking instead of driving).

[slowto280]

Thanks for that interesting info on night movements. It is always a pleasure to read an answer (or in this case, rectification) to a question (in this case, comment) that isn’t filled with snide remarks. :ok:

[casablanca]

I thought it interesting that it appears to have no winglets as does the 747-400. Does anyone know if this was a new wing?

[Eddie_Crane]

New wing I believe.

http://www.fleetbuzzeditorial.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/747-8-wing-design.jpg

[CR2]

Interesting. I thought it was an "improved" 400 wing. Added a bit of span, the raked tips and the different flaps.

Anyone know for sure?

[Eddie_Crane]

It says "new wing design" here (http://www.newairplane.com/747/747features/advancingtechnology/), although I am not "in-the-know" so I stand to be corrected.

[Deltabravowhiskey]

It's a ground up redesigned wing. It shares nothing in common with any previous generation 747 wing, even the systems have been slightly changed.


High Speed enhancements
-New Advanced-technology airfoils
-New state-of-the-art raked tip
-Increased fuel capacity

Low Speed enhancements
-New Double-slotted flaps (inboard) and single-slotted flaps (outboard)
-Redesigned flap tracks and fairings
-Nacalle Chines

Misc
-Fly-By-Wire outboard Ailerons
-Fly-By-Wire Spoilers
-Aileron droop for improved performance margins

PACS = Pitch Augmentation Control System

Addition of a Hydraulic RAT on the #3 hydraulic system (ADP+EDP+RAT)

#2 & #3 Hydraulic systems elimininate the Electrical Hydraulic demand pumps and revert back to the Air Driven Hydraulic demand pumps.
#1 & #4 both get A/C driven AUX hydraulic pumps.

#1 and #4 reserves now transfer into the #1 and #4 Main tanks instead of #2 and #3 main tanks.

[stilton]

Anyone know what the 'pitch augmentation system' is for ?


Was anything like this installed on other models of the 747 ?

[SMOC]

Flaps don't look as slick as I thought they would the O/B part of the I/B flap looks odd.

http://i.bnet.com/blogs/747-8.jpg?tag=col1;attachment_2518

[SMOC]

#2 & #3 Hydraulic systems elimininate the Electrical Hydraulic demand pumps and revert back to the Air Driven Hydraulic demand pumps.

The pic below shows no ADP exhaust on #3 pylon, you can see #4.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2560/4118381143_fa29630064.jpg

So either 2 & 3 demand pumps are AC pumps or the ADPs have been moved possibly into the wing to body fairing with the new RAT like the 777.

[Deltabravowhiskey]

From the -8 Differences program from Boeing:
Higher capacity EDP's, Demands all air-driven (was optional on the -400), both aux pumps are basic on the -8

747-8 Hydraulic pump configuration:
(Changes from Baseline -400 are in Magenta)

#1 = 3.0 CIPR Engine driven Pump, 3.0 CIPR Air Driven Pump, Aux pump
#2 = 3.0 CIPR Engine driven pump, 3.0 CIPR Air driven pump
#3 = 3.0 CIPR Engine driven pump, 3.0 CIPR Air driven pump, RAT
#4 = 3.0 CIPR Engine driven pump, 3.0 CIPR Air driven pump, Aux pump

The Ram Air Turbine:
-Auto & Manual Deployment
-Hydraulic system #3
-Alternate action switch is the same P/N as found on the 757/767

[SMOC]

So they must be in the wing to body fairing, any details Deltabravowhiskey?

Cheers.

[Deltabravowhiskey]

I only have the operational details, nothing from the structural side of the house.

There are a lot of basic changes, nothing that much different than the -400. I will say however that if you like the Airbus landing gear lever you are REALLY gonna love the -8's...:bored:

[CR2]

Just found this article.

Guggenheim cancels orders for two Boeing 747-8Fs (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/01/08/336951/guggenheim-cancels-orders-for-two-boeing-747-8fs.html)

Guggenheim Aviation Partners (GAP) has cancelled half of its 747-8F order, the company confirms.

GAP reduced its order for the new jumbo freighter by two, with two remaining 747 aircraft on order.

The company first ordered four 747-8Fs in October 2007.

While GAP declined to specify why it cancelled half the order, GAP chief executive Steve Rimmer told ATI and Flightglobal in October that despite the dismal cargo market, existing 747 freighters might be more accessible.

At the time Rimmer said: "we've never seen this quantity of freighters before in the desert" and added that "this time we won't see the market pick up fast because there's a lot of good quality aircraft in the desert".

The cancellations were reflected in Boeing's final year-end update to its order total, bringing the 747-8 backlog to 108 orders for the stretched jumbo. Of those 108, 76 are for the freighter version and 32 for the passenger and VIP -8I variant.

Boeing plans to fly the 747-8F early this year, with first delivery to Luxembourg's Cargolux in the fourth quarter.

[muduckace]

Awesome idea to drop the rat into the #3 engine that is allready producing drag in an emergency...

[MIGHTY 8]

Nice observation, but....

This ain't exactly a Seneca II we're talkin' bout here. This jets' got gobs of excess power you can't begin to comprehend.

[muduckace]

The only time a RAT is used is when those "gobs of power that I can not comprehend" fail to produce due to engine failure.

[plantraveler]

Now 2nd one on the flight line :D

[CR2]

747 40th anniversary

Forty years ago this week, Boeing's 747 began earning money for its launch customer Pan Am. In this special package to mark the 40th anniversary, we outline how the Jumbo Jet evolved, talk to the man who led the team that created it, and examine what lies ahead for the next-generation models.

Full article here, quite long, worth a read.

747 40th Anniversary (http://www.flightglobal.com/page/747-40th-Anniversary/)

[helldog]

muduckace your confusing me here. What do you mean about dropping the RAT "into" the engine. I think what Deltabravowhiskey was talking about is hydraulic system number 3 not engine number 3. ie the RAT deploys to prussurise system number 3. Comes out somwhere on the belly I believe...no?

[bumba]

... a look at the engines!

YouTube - Boeing 747-800 Modern Engines (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUVE3_qVTPM)

[L-38]

GEnx-2b . . . axial flow compressor stages that are geared with each other?

Reminds me of back in the fifties when the (then) new geared recip engines of the DC-7's and Super Connies were implemented. With engine gearing and the PRT (power recovery turbine), recip design reached max development and could be improved no further . . . . . History now repeating itself?

[Deltabravowhiskey]

The -2B is a standard two-spool axial flow turbine. The difference is the bi-directional flow from HPT to LPT increasing the energy transfer effiency.

Pratt is currently working on the "GTF" but this is a much smaller engine in the RJ thrust range. There is talk of increasing it to the 737 thrust range down the road.

[muduckace]

Yes, normally a RAT deploys out of the fuscelage to supply hyd pressure or electral power that may be used to also power a elec/hyd pump.

Re-reading his post I believe you are correct in his reference to a hyd system as opposed to an engine.

[plantraveler]

The 747 program on Saturday completed final gauntlet testing on the first 747-8 Freighter. This testing verified the readiness of the systems for flight. With Chief Pilot Mark Feuerstein in the flight deck, the test team in Everett, Wash., put the airplane through a simulation of the entire first flight profile. The flight simulation lasted approximately 40 hours and tested all airplane systems, hardware and software. The team will now spend a few days analyzing the data from the test.

[fleigle]

The third one is now on the flight line, currently unpainted.
Can't wait to see the first flight. :ok:

[fleigle]

Scheduled for next monday (Feb. 8), depending on the weather as usual.

[plantraveler]

EVERETT, Wash. - Boeing Co. says taxi tests on its giant 747-8 freighter went well, and the new plane should make its first flight on Monday.
The company says the plane performed well during the tests at Paine Field in Everett on Saturday, reaching a top speed of 103.5 mph.
The new jet is the largest Boeing has ever built, at 250 feet long. That's about 18 feet longer than the existing 747-400 jumbo jet and more than twice the length of the Wright Brothers' first flight. Boeing also plans a passenger version of the plane.:D

[CR2]

Holding for weather. Live webcast here : Boeing 747-8 Freighter First Flight (http://747-8firstflight.com/)

[fleigle]

The weather cleared and they got on with the flight test programme.
It looks gorgeous (IMHO).

[Helm737]

First 747-8F passed its maiden flight last night! Nice pictures on airliners.net. Looks great!!! :D

[FCS Explorer]

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Boeing/Boeing-747-8R7F-SCD/1650006/M/

Photos: Boeing 747-8R7F/SCD Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/Boeing/Boeing-747-8R7F-SCD/1650006/M/)

[727gm]

Anyone know: Is the upper deck hump exactly the same length as the old 100/200/400F, or slightly longer for area-rule considerations?

[Deltabravowhiskey]

Same upper deck structure as a 400, however customers may elect to have variations from the 400 model to include 2 more additional lie-flat business class seats.

Atlas based on the latest information will be installing 4 lie-flat seats (right side), 2 conventional business class seats. The bunk area and cockpit will remain identical to the 400 version. Total upper deck occupancy will be increased to a total of 10, with 6 business class seats available for deadheading in addition to the (4) operating crew seats in the cockpit.

The lavatory and galley will be reconfigured to permit more space on the right side of the aircraft.

[plantraveler]

Aircraft #1 in Moses Lake Washington performing flight test:D

Two weeks after its first flight, Boeing's new 747-8 jumbo jet took off shortly after 4 p.m. Monday for Moses Lake in eastern Washington, where it will be based while completing initial airworthiness tests and then flutter testing designed to validate the strength and integrity of the airplane structure.
Moses Lake was chosen so as not to interfere with the 787 Dreamliner flight tests based at Boeing Field. During the initial airworthiness phase of testing, Boeing engineers will still monitor the flights out of Moses Lake via radio telemetry from an operations center at Boeing Field, where Boeing has built separate telemetry rooms for the 787 and 747 flight test programs.
Two more 747-8 will join the flight testing after first plane is certified for initial airworthiness.
Within a couple of months, on completion of flutter testing, the entire 747-8 flight test program will move to Palmdale, near Los Angeles, Calif.
Meanwhile, on the 787 flight test program, Boeing plans to resume flutter tests Tuesday on Dreamliner No.1 after an engine problem caused the plane's temporary grounding over the weekend.
Boeing said the plane "experienced an uncommanded loss of thrust in one of the engines" during a test flight Friday and landed at Moses Lake. After the problem was traced to "a pressure-sensing component within the engine," over the weekend mechanics replaced the parts and flew the jet back to Boeing Field Sunday for ground tests.

[SMOC]

Just seen a pic of the 747-8 RAT it's located behind the R/H landing lights in the lower leading edge forward of the front spar. Not the place I would have expected.

[fleigle]

Since the last post the other 2 have flown.
Rumour has it that one of them and a 787 will be at Farnborough this year.
My source is of course Flightglobal. :ok: