Boeing 747-8 news

[MD-11forever]

Who would have thought that: another order for the 747-8. UPS buys 14 additional 747-8Fs, thereby doubling their 2016 order for the 747-8F:

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/ups/u ... eing-767s/

[Bralo20]

Who would have thought that: another order for the 747-8. UPS buys 14 additional 747-8Fs, thereby doubling their 2016 order for the 747-8F:

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/ups/u ... eing-767s/

The freighter will keep on selling, maybe not now but somewhere in the future when the ageing freighters need replacement. Probably enough to keep the line open but don't expect miracles from the queen. The passenger version however is as good as buried with no foreseeable orders in de future.

[RoMax]

Boeing already gave up the 747 pax versions, even publicly. But indeed the freighters still have a future, even though at low production rates as such huge full freighters are not flying by the hundreds, especially now that most modern widebodies have such great belly cargo capabilities. But to some extent they still have a use and there is nothing comparable to the 747-8F which can be built factory new, so yes there will still be some years left for that version I'm sure.

[Ozzie1969]

What's the reason the pax version has become such a flop?

[DeltaWiskey]

The 777(X) and to a lesser extent, the A380.

[sn26567]

Boeing received a US$3.9 billion contract to build two B747-8s for use as Air Force One by the US president, due to be delivered by December 2024.

[MD-11forever]

Boeing received a US$3.9 billion contract to build two B747-8s for use as Air Force One by the US president, due to be delivered by December 2024.

I might be wrong, but wasn't it the plan to modify two 747-8s that are already built (for Transaero I think) but that are now gathering dust and sand somewhere in the desert as white tails?
Or has that plan been shelved and will two new aircraft be built?

[Homo Aeroportus]

Boeing received a US$3.9 billion contract to build two B747-8s for use as Air Force One by the US president, due to be delivered by December 2024.

Well remember ? :

The Mighty Duck got his discount....

Credits to DarknessQueen.



H.A.

[Homo Aeroportus]

Boeing received a US$3.9 billion contract to build two B747-8s for use as Air Force One by the US president, due to be delivered by December 2024.

I might be wrong, but wasn't it the plan to modify two 747-8s that are already built (for Transaero I think) but that are now gathering dust and sand somewhere in the desert as white tails?
Or has that plan been shelved and will two new aircraft be built?

You are right according to https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/07 ... paint-job/

Abstract :
Air Force officials, who are officially responsible for contracting for the new planes under the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization program, have affirmed that some requirements have changed, such as a specification for mid-air refueling that was cut.
The service was also able to reduce cost by buying 747s previously built by Boeing for a now-bankrupt Russian airline that never accepted the planes.

No air refuelling ?

Well, for as long as AF-1 can reach the nearest Golf Resort ...

donald-trump.jpg (18.83 KiB) Viewed 9657 times

H.A.

[Passenger]

I know it's risky business not to insult Donald Trump, but let me ask something though:

the initial offer from Boeing was 4 billion for one 747. Now the deal seems to be 3,9 billion for two 747's. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that a rather good deal (even when 3,9 billion is a whole lot of money)?

[KriVa]

I don't think the initial contract was for one 747, that wouldn't really make sense. Granted, the quote could be read that way, but only having a single plane doesn't make sense if you look at the way they operate the current VC-25s. Not having a back-up aircraft would not be an option. And you can't exactly consider the E-4B a backup for a VC-25/747-8. (VC-26?)
I remember reading that the mid-air refuel capability has never been used "in anger", only for training purposes, and even then with the E-4B to avoid damaging the VC-25s, if something were to go wrong.
The 747-8 will probably have considerably longer legs than the VC-25, reducing or even negating the need for aerial refuelling.

[sn26567]

FAA ordered GE Aviation to replace high-pressure turbine stator cases on some GEnx turbofans. Those engines include variants of GEnx-1Bs, which power B787s, and GEnx-2Bs, which power B747-8s.

[sn26567]

UPS expects four more B747-8Fs to deliver in 2020, after receiving one earlier in the year.

[Atlantis]

With the news and confirmation that Boeing will stop the production of the B747, I have a question about it.

The current one, B747-8, has of course a bit bigger engines than his former sisters, but why, and maybe this is a stupid question, why not replacing those 4 smaller engines by the fuel efficient giant new engines which the new B777 is using? Only 2 engines instead of 4?

On this way you can use the queen of the sky for the next decades and you don't need a new model

[Matt]

With the news and confirmation that Boeing will stop the production of the B747, I have a question about it.

The current one, B747-8, has of course a bit bigger engines than his former sisters, but why, and maybe this is a stupid question, why not replacing those 4 smaller engines by the fuel efficient giant new engines which the new B777 is using? Only 2 engines instead of 4?

On this way you can use the queen of the sky for the next decades and you don't need a new model

The GE9X is A LOT bigger and a lot more powerful than the GEnx for the 747-8. You'd create similar problems you have on the 737 max, with the new LEAP engines.

A redesign of the wing is also needed, which implies a redesign of the vertical stabilizer, and the entire plane would need a new certification process. I also wonder if the fuselage would need a redesign around the wings to withhold the new aerodynamic stress.

New design on fuel tanks would also be needed. It would be a new plane and no longer an iteration of the current 747-8

While it technically works; it only works for tests. ( doesn't need to be certified, plus no new wing and fuel tanks since there are still 4 engines )



While I LOVE the 747, we should be realistic. Redesigning a plane that is almost 51 years old... That's overdoing it. Look what happened to the 737 ( which flies for 53 years already ).
It is also very clear that the world does not need big giant planes anymore. ( If a redesign is needed, it should be done on the 757-200 IMO )

[PttU]

It is also very clear that the world does not need big giant planes anymore. ( If a redesign is needed, it should be done on the 757-200 IMO )

Is it?
Maybe for passengers there's currently (and in the next few years) no need for a 747 or A380, but what after those years? The aircraft used in 5-10 years are on the drawing board (and beyond) right now. With both the A380 and 747 gone, there's a gap at the top of the market for the busiest routes...

And for freight, the 747 is still used a lot. Agreed, the 747-8I and its passenger-to-cargo converts can still keep up a few years, but what after that? Not only for routes with a lot of cargo, but also for big cargo. How would you transport an engine for an aircraft AOG if there are no planes to fit those engines in? The Antonov 225 and 124 are even older than the 747 (and A380).

[Matt]

It is also very clear that the world does not need big giant planes anymore. ( If a redesign is needed, it should be done on the 757-200 IMO )

Is it?
Maybe for passengers there's currently (and in the next few years) no need for a 747 or A380, but what after those years? The aircraft used in 5-10 years are on the drawing board (and beyond) right now. With both the A380 and 747 gone, there's a gap at the top of the market for the busiest routes...

And for freight, the 747 is still used a lot. Agreed, the 747-8I and its passenger-to-cargo converts can still keep up a few years, but what after that? Not only for routes with a lot of cargo, but also for big cargo. How would you transport an engine for an aircraft AOG if there are no planes to fit those engines in? The Antonov 225 and 124 are even older than the 747 (and A380).

I think the A350-1000 and the B777-X will fill the gap left by the A380 and the 747. ( passenger wise )

For freight, I agree. I am not sure if there will be a clear solution for freight planes accept maybe that operators will hold on to their 747 like liquid gold. I think that Boeing and/or Airbus will launch a new big Freigther plane in the next 15-20 years when it will be clear that there is a big gap for freighter traffic. And I think it will be in the genre of a Beluga like A350 for airbus. ( I have seen sketches, it ain't pretty tough... )

[flightlover]

And for freight, the 747 is still used a lot. Agreed, the 747-8I and its passenger-to-cargo converts can still keep up a few years, but what after that? Not only for routes with a lot of cargo, but also for big cargo. How would you transport an engine for an aircraft AOG if there are no planes to fit those engines in? The Antonov 225 and 124 are even older than the 747 (and A380).

The T7F will carry most of the normal cargo a B747 can, including the biggest engine types witch are a squeeze in both types already. The only big difference between them is the nose load capability the B747F offers and that is almost never offered by the conversion types. A small advantage for the B747F is that you can work 'around' the transit freight as you have multiple access points for the main deck cargo.
Although there where already planes that offered special load capabilities by turning the tail or nose section to the side, they will not make a comeback soon as that also inhibits short turn-around times. So in the end we will see the B747F will be kept flying for a looooong time I think, or maybe we will be seeing some civilian A400/C5 Galaxy type planes, next to the Antonov's.

[TLspotting]

[sn26567]

A Boeing B747-8 BBJ, an ex-Saudi government plane, has left Basel-Mulhouse airport for Marana to be parted out. MSN 40065 had only 42 flight hours on the clock. What a waste!