747F questions ... where are the stairs?
 

Are the noses 'flippable' on all 74 freighters? If so, wouldn't the stairs to the upper deck be in the way of front-loading?

And, on classic and 400 freighters, are the stairs in the normal place? I know this sounds stupid, but I often wondered whether or not the stairs leading to the upper deck are removed during conversion/mfg and if so ... how do you get to the pointy end?

And ... if there are no stairs and the cargo area/fuselage is clear are there ramps to allow vehicles to drive up like the big Rusky freighters? And if so ... is there enough clearance to drive a race team truck up into the bay?

Lotsa stupid questions .... so little time. :D

Minh

folding stairs from upper deck to main deck...

The stairs do get in the way, but as already mentioned, they fold up into the ceiling.
The stairs on the -200 are in flight direction. The -400 has a re-arranged system in order to accomodate an extra pallet. On the -400, you climb "across" from the port side to the starboard side if you see what I mean. These stairs are at door 1L.
Not all noses are "flippable". Pure built freighters do have a the nose-door, many converted aircraft don't.
Since there aren't any converted -400s (yet - Boeing is working on it), all -400Fs have a NCD.
No, there are no ramps like on a "big rusky freighter", and a race team truck (I guess you mean an articulated lorry) won't fit.

Hope of some use.

edited after Classic Crew pointed out my error.

Rat, now you've got me thinking. All this time when I've been on one of our -400s. I thoght that I come in the L1 door, put my bags down then climb straight up the stairs which means I go from Port to Starboard. But maybe its all done with mirrors !!!:) :) :)

Arrrgh. Classic Crew is of course correct..... :o :o :o

And if you think the stairs on the 74F's are rickety, you want to try the stairs in the AN124!!!

YIKES!!!:eek: