I couldn't find any answers by searching, so I'll poke your collective brains. The thread title says it all...what are the upper decks of 747 freighters used for? Space for smaller cargo? Crew rest areas/cigar lounges? I would imagine it varies from carrier to carrier, so specific examples would be great.

*Edit*
Didn't think to do a photo search...I've got some answers now, but maybe we can still squeeze a discussion out of this.

[Edited 2006-02-03 01:41:28]

As you already found out, it's basically crew rest and seats for people who travel with the cargo (on special occasions).

Has anyone ever attempted to market those seats? After all, it would be less than 19 people, so no flight attendant needed. Just business class seats, a self-serve bar (obviously, no alcohol) and buffet, and *poof* you could perhaps make some decent money at it.

Steve

I've been in the upper deck of a Martinair 747-200F. It's a crew rest area with business class seats, a galley, and a large tv with a nice collection of videos.

The top deck on the old UPS747 (100/200) still have the First class seats in them for extra crew members or jumpseaters. I have not heard of us using the top deck on the New 747-400F. They may add some crew rest areas as the new 747-400 will be flying longer flights.

Don't forget the bunk beds. I saw them on an AF 747-200F.

Quoting UPS757 (Reply 4): The top deck on the old UPS747 (100/200) still have the First class seats in them for extra crew members or jumpseaters. I have not heard of us using the top deck on the New 747-400F. They may add some crew rest areas as the new 747-400 will be flying longer flights.

The standard configuration from Boeing on the 744F is 6 J seats and two bunks. Remember the 744F doesn't have the same stretch as the 744 pax. The 744 conversion takes a large part of the upper deck and removes the floor to accommodate 3 meter pallets on the main deck.

Quoting PhilSquares (Reply 6): The 744 conversion takes a large part of the upper deck and removes the floor to accommodate 3 meter pallets on the main deck.

Do I get this right, there is no more floor in the aft part of the upper deck ? Is there some sort of separating wall installed (in order not to fall into the maindeck...  ) ?

Quoting A342 (Reply 7): Do I get this right, there is no more floor in the aft part of the upper deck ? Is there some sort of separating wall installed (in order not to fall into the maindeck...

Not speaking out of experience, but I'd guess it's a pressurized bulkhead similar to 74M/E.

Quoting EHHO (Reply 8): I'd guess it's a pressurized bulkhead similar to 74M/E

I believe it is simply a physical bulkhead to finish out the compartment that also blocks any potential smoke from the cargo compartment.

The 744 combi barrier separating the cargo from the passengers provides a restraining wall for cargo and also a smoke barrier.

In each case the entire aircraft is pressurized (at least everything forward of the rear pressure bulkhead).

Regards,
Lotsamiles

Quoting Gunsontheroof (Thread starter): I couldn't find any answers by searching, so I'll poke your collective brains. The thread title says it all...what are the upper decks of 747 freighters used for? Space for smaller cargo? Crew rest areas/cigar lounges? I would imagine it varies from carrier to carrier, so specific examples would be great.

Generally crew rest, a small galley and toilet. Many have Business Class equivalent seats fitted and some form of IFE, with extra seats above those needed for the crew in case company staff are deadheading on the flight.

They are actually quite nice in general! More space than a standard 742 upper deck as the staircase is missing, main deck access being via an aluminium ladder and hatch in the floor. There is also usually a desk of some form for the loadmaster position, to do the freight paperwork.

Here is one from NW.

I know there are more in dB, but don't have time to do a wider search.

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Photo © Nick Onkow

And Cargolux

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Photo © Jonathan Rankin


[Edited 2006-02-03 16:19:57]

JL -400F is similar to Cargolux in the previous post, 6x Business Class seats, and behind the door, 4 beds. And a galley between the seating area and flightdeck.

JL -200F original freighters and some ex pax have only 3 Economy seats (1 row), 2 beds, and a galley on the UpperDeck.

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Photo © Eric Meijer

Quoting Sllevin (Reply 2): Has anyone ever attempted to market those seats?

I remember a couple of years ago, Cargolux filed an application to carry passengers on top deck of thier cargo flights. Nothing became it.

The 747-200's actually have more space than the 747-400's for some reason...not really sure why...

Quoting Tsnamm (Reply 14):

Are you talking about the 744's that have been converted from pax to cargo? If so, the upper deck goes back farther, hence lowering the capacity on the main floor....

The upper decks of a few UPS 742's. IIRC, the seats are actually quite comfortable.

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Photo © Tim Lane

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Photo © Dmitry Kudryn

Quoting Legacyins (Reply 13): I remember a couple of years ago, Cargolux filed an application to carry passengers on top deck of thier cargo flights. Nothing became it.

Did Cargolux drop the ball on this, or was it because of some regulatory issue?

F L Y 7 7 7 U A L

Quoting Tsnamm (Reply 14): The 747-200's actually have more space than the 747-400's for some reason...not really sure why...

The 400F has two more 3m high main deck pallet positions than the 200F, so the floor of the upper deck is shorter, even though the "hump" ha sthe same size when looking at it from the outside. You can also see it at the windows: The third cabin window on the 744F upper deck is the crew rest, with a bulkhead behind it. The position of this window is much further forward than the position of the rearmost window on a 200(F) upper deck.

Quoting Legacyins (Reply 13): I remember a couple of years ago, Cargolux filed an application to carry passengers on top deck of thier cargo flights.

I think that up to the 1980s, CV could carry passengers on board the 200F. There was even a flight attendant on board. I strongly doubt that CV ever filed an application for pax carriage on the 400F though.

A little off the topic , but what is on the upper deck of the Air Force 1 747?

Quoting JAM747 (Reply 19): A little off the topic , but what is on the upper deck of the Air Force 1 747?

Communications gear...and the cockpit of course

Greg

[Edited 2006-02-04 05:20:36]

Quoting JAM747 (Reply 19): but what is on the upper deck of the Air Force 1 747?

I believe it's the communications center. I spoke with a retired MSgt at Oshkosh a few years ago who worked the old 707 Air Force One and he said all the comm center activities were moved up there when the 747 was put into service.

Very weak... the UPS cargo seats look just like the Maxjet seats... Old...

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View Large View Medium Photo © Michael F. McLaughlin

Actualy, the UPS ones look wider...

Well the 767 has 19" wide seats, vs. 20-21" on the 747.

N521UP has UA's last-generation of Business Class seats. Wonder if she was an ex-UA 742 or UPS got a good deal on them.

LY's 742F,s have a couple of old business class seats, a little galley for getting drinks and heating meals etc. and in the rear 4 matrasses on the floor with blankets and pillows. So there's enough opportunity for the crew to relax when able..

IM

Quoting Stitch (Reply 23): Well the 767 has 19" wide seats, vs. 20-21" on the 747. N521UP has UA's last-generation of Business Class seats. Wonder if she was an ex-UA 742 or UPS got a good deal on them.

521 is ex-Singapore. No idea where we got the seats from.

How about the -300 converted freighters with their long upper decks:

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Anything special up there?

Quoting Tsnamm (Reply 14): The 747-200's actually have more space than the 747-400's for some reason...not really sure why...

Very simple, The upper deck is shorter on the 744F to accomodate two more "high" palets on the main deck. Palets loaded through the nose of a 747 are lower then the one which can be loaded through the rear cargo door.

Quoting Patroni (Reply 18): I think that up to the 1980s, CV could carry passengers on board the 200F. There was even a flight attendant on board. I strongly doubt that CV ever filed an application for pax carriage on the 400F though.

Cargolux had 14 fist class seats on their 747-200's. They sold tickets to passengers, but only to Asia. It was the FAA which stopped that passengers could be carried on freighters to and from USA. In the end only staff and their families could fly, I think that is astill the case.