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Boeing's 747 Freighters For 787 Program

Dimsum From Canada, joined Jan 2005, 91 posts, RR: 1
Posted (8 years 1 month 6 days ago) and read 3014 times:

Does anyone know why Boeing is acquiring second hand 747s then heavily modifying them (possibly causing engineering issues to arise) as large cargo planes for the transport of 787 parts INSTEAD of leasing (dry or wet) some antonovs or C-5s or even (on the smaller side) their own C-17s?

15 replies: All unread, jump to last

VS74741R From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2005, 272 posts, RR: 0
Reply 1, posted (8 years 1 month 6 days ago) and read 2998 times:

Probably because they will need to use these aircraft throughout the production of the 787 which is a good 20 years at least.

Obviously a Virgin Atlantic fan!!!

Dimsum From Canada, joined Jan 2005, 91 posts, RR: 1
Reply 2, posted (8 years 1 month 6 days ago) and read 2963 times:

Then why do they need to buy used ones (i think that's what they're doing)? Why not just produce new ones while their 747 line is open?

VS74741R From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2005, 272 posts, RR: 0
Reply 3, posted (8 years 1 month 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2950 times:

Because new ones are expensive and what would be the point in using a new one when it would get ripped apart straight away. If you look at an artists impression of what it will look like, you will notice that most of the top of the fuselage is going to be removed and the whole of the tail is going to be hinged.

Obviously a Virgin Atlantic fan!!!

SATL382G From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 4, posted (8 years 1 month 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2886 times:

Also, like Airbus, Boeing is probably going to move pieces that are larger than either the AN124 or C5 can accomodate....

Alessandro From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 5, posted (8 years 1 month 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2886 times:

Dimsum, my thought as well. Maybe too expensive a few used B744 as trade-ins for other Bs seem to be the solution.

Cahiwa From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 52 posts, RR: 0
Reply 6, posted (8 years 1 month 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2865 times:

I read last week that Boeing was not even going to operate the modified frieghters.. that it would go to bid, likely be DHL or some co. like that. Might have even read that here on A-net. K

Spacepope From Vatican City, joined Dec 1999, 2738 posts, RR: 1
Reply 7, posted (8 years 1 month 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 2761 times:

I would like to know where you're going to hire any C-5s from...

In any case, I don't think even those aircraft have the cross section to carry a widebody fuselage.

New build or rebuild, the freighter conversion would still be a total rework of the airframe. At least with this strategy, Boieng takes some 747-400s off of the market.

The last of the famous international playboys

Dimsum From Canada, joined Jan 2005, 91 posts, RR: 1
Reply 8, posted (8 years 1 month 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 2638 times:

Quoting Spacepope (Reply 7):
I would like to know where you're going to hire any C-5s from...

I was pondering that for a while too, but can't they cut some kind of deal with USAF? Probably too unrealistic tho...

Quoting SATL382G (Reply 4):
Also, like Airbus, Boeing is probably going to move pieces that are larger than either the AN124 or C5 can accomodate....

Oh I always thought the AN124 had more cargo space than the 747. (OR maybe they can get a couple of Myrias??)

Quoting Spacepope (Reply 7):
New build or rebuild, the freighter conversion would still be a total rework of the airframe.

Which is why I was puzzled. Aren't there other options aside from a total rework of an airframe, which can be quite costly and challenging (engineering-wise)?

N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79
Reply 9, posted (8 years 1 month 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 2625 times:

Quoting Dimsum (Reply 8):
Oh I always thought the AN124 had more cargo space than the 747. (OR maybe they can get a couple of Myrias??)

Of course it does, but Boeing wants to modify the 744s to haul outsized pieces. These planes will look like Guppys/Belugas

Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss

VS74741R From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2005, 272 posts, RR: 0
Reply 10, posted (8 years 1 month 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2498 times:

This what it looks like. As you can see it's a lot bigger then your average 747 wink

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/...05/photorelease/q1/pr_050218g.html

Obviously a Virgin Atlantic fan!!!

Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15871 posts, RR: 66
Reply 11, posted (8 years 1 month 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2493 times:

Quoting Dimsum (Thread starter):
Does anyone know why Boeing is acquiring second hand 747s then heavily modifying them (possibly causing engineering issues to arise) as large cargo planes for the transport of 787 parts INSTEAD of leasing (dry or wet) some antonovs or C-5s or even (on the smaller side) their own C-17s?

If you lease a plane, the owner normally doesn't allow you to modify it radically Wink

"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo

KL911 From Ireland, joined Jul 2003, 4977 posts, RR: 14
Reply 12, posted (8 years 1 month 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2459 times:

Quoting Dimsum (Reply 8):
(OR maybe they can get a couple of Myrias??)

There is only one flying. Itmight take another 25 years before the second one is completed... Silly

KL911

" The European consumer would crawl naked over broken glass to get low fares." Michael O'Leary

CCA From Hong Kong, joined Oct 2002, 708 posts, RR: 14
Reply 13, posted (8 years 1 month 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 2416 times:

I took a photo of the ex China Airlines -400 that will become the first -400LCF in TPE the other day, it's not of good enough quality for airliners but it shows all the area's that will be cut off.

Rgds CCA

C152 G115 TB10 CAP10 Be76 C500 A330-300 A340-300 -600 B747-200F -200SF -400 -400F -400BCF -400ERF -8F

Citation X From Malaysia, joined Feb 2001, 47 posts, RR: 0
Reply 14, posted (8 years 1 month 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 2323 times:

Do you think they have even considered the Airbus Belugas? Silly

Dw747400 From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 1244 posts, RR: 1
Reply 15, posted (8 years 1 month 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 2307 times:

"Do you think they have even considered the Airbus Belugas?"

I'm sure the though crossed their mind... after all, until the Beluga entered service, Airbus used Boeings.

In addition to pride, I have a feeling the aircrafts range plays a big part here. The Beluga would probably have trouble operating trans-Pacific. I'm not sure if this modified 744 can go nonstop either, but I doubt it would need to refuel more than once.

CFI--Certfied Freakin Idiot

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