Sokes wrote:

How high is the B777 main deck?

N965UW wrote:

Sokes wrote:

How high is the B777 main deck?

It'll be a cold day somewhere when A320 components are transported on Boeing aircraft (not to mention the lack of a nose door or swing tail on the 777)

lightsaber wrote:

JannEejit wrote:

N965UW wrote:

It'll be a cold day somewhere when A320 components are transported on Boeing aircraft (not to mention the lack of a nose door or swing tail on the 777)

Lest we forget that original 'Super Guppy'.

Or Dreamlifter...

That said, these type of freighters sit, a lot. So peak optimization is not required. It is better if it can handle a variety of loads. It will carry pairs of wings, engines, and someday a future aircraft.

You wouldn't want the business case of a new aircraft dependent upon developing a new Guppy...

Lightsaber

Antarius wrote:

WayexTDI wrote:

lightsaber wrote:

Or Dreamlifter...

That said, these type of freighters sit, a lot. So peak optimization is not required. It is better if it can handle a variety of loads. It will carry pairs of wings, engines, and someday a future aircraft.

You wouldn't want the business case of a new aircraft dependent upon developing a new Guppy...

Lightsaber

When has the Dreamlifter transported Airbus Components? I thought the Dreamlifter was for the exclusive use of Boeing (unlike the Beluga which can be leased out).

Im not sure if Airbus has used the Dreamlifter, but it is not just used by Boeing. The Dreamlifter has been doing covid supply runs, for example

Antarius wrote:

WayexTDI wrote:

lightsaber wrote:

Or Dreamlifter...

That said, these type of freighters sit, a lot. So peak optimization is not required. It is better if it can handle a variety of loads. It will carry pairs of wings, engines, and someday a future aircraft.

You wouldn't want the business case of a new aircraft dependent upon developing a new Guppy...

Lightsaber

When has the Dreamlifter transported Airbus Components? I thought the Dreamlifter was for the exclusive use of Boeing (unlike the Beluga which can be leased out).

Im not sure if Airbus has used the Dreamlifter, but it is not just used by Boeing. The Dreamlifter has been doing covid supply runs, for example

Allowable Cargo: These airplanes are not approved for commercial freight hauling operations of material other than that approved per Exemptions 8769, 8769A and 8769B. Only cargo that supports Boeing corporate lines of business is allowed for carriage. All items intended for carriage must conform to the standards found in Document D926U013-44, “747-400 LCF Flammability Acceptance Criteria for Cargo Carriage,” or be accepted by the FAA once a safe method of transport has been established. A summary of all items allowed for carriage is identified in Document D451U742-01, “Allowable Cargo – 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter.” Document D451U742-01 is considered part of the Weight and Balance Manual/Airplane Flight Manual. In addition, a listing of the FAA-approved shipping mechanical equipment (SME) fixtures that are approved for installation on the 747-400 LCF aircraft are contained in the Weight and Balance Control and Loading Manual (Document D043U545-BHC1).

lightsaber wrote:

WayexTDI wrote:

Antarius wrote:

Im not sure if Airbus has used the Dreamlifter, but it is not just used by Boeing. The Dreamlifter has been doing covid supply runs, for example

COVID supply runs fall in the category of National Emergency, and rules are bent in this case; but, can "any" company hire the Dreamlifter for its use?

Actually, the 747 TC (Page 28) states the following (bolding mine):

Allowable Cargo: These airplanes are not approved for commercial freight hauling operations of material other than that approved per Exemptions 8769, 8769A and 8769B. Only cargo that supports Boeing corporate lines of business is allowed for carriage. All items intended for carriage must conform to the standards found in Document D926U013-44, “747-400 LCF Flammability Acceptance Criteria for Cargo Carriage,” or be accepted by the FAA once a safe method of transport has been established. A summary of all items allowed for carriage is identified in Document D451U742-01, “Allowable Cargo – 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter.” Document D451U742-01 is considered part of the Weight and Balance Manual/Airplane Flight Manual. In addition, a listing of the FAA-approved shipping mechanical equipment (SME) fixtures that are approved for installation on the 747-400 LCF aircraft are contained in the Weight and Balance Control and Loading Manual (Document D043U545-BHC1).

So, no, it cannot be used outside of of Boeing.

That, within a very restrictive flamability requirement, could be easily expanded. The issue with the Dreamlifter is an insufficient fire fighting capability. There is also a narrow weight balance certified envelope. That is due to few cargo expected, so all get placed just so in the aircraft for incredibly simple weight balance calculations. e.g., truss holding dry wings attached at points C through K (I'm making up numbers) and that ensures a fire safe and balanced load.

Adding loads is easy. Boeing will bid to NASA for example. But only in an emergency can flammable stuff like facemasks on pallets be carried. To say the least, pallets of laptops with lithium batteries are forbidden.

Lightsaber

tvh wrote:

Is there a case for a beluga medium. The Beluga XL has a diameter of 8.8m. realy overdone to carry a A320 fuselage or wing. A diameter of 4.5 meter would do causing far less drag. For a aircraft like that there could be a market outside airbus.

lightsaber wrote:

That said, these type of freighters sit, a lot.

Antarius wrote:

N965UW wrote:

Sokes wrote:

How high is the B777 main deck?

It'll be a cold day somewhere when A320 components are transported on Boeing aircraft (not to mention the lack of a nose door or swing tail on the 777)

Forgot the super guppy? Airbus used that for years.

Airbus and Boeing are far less antagonistic to each other than a.net leads one to believe.

kaitak744 wrote:

Antarius wrote:

WayexTDI wrote:

When has the Dreamlifter transported Airbus Components? I thought the Dreamlifter was for the exclusive use of Boeing (unlike the Beluga which can be leased out).

Im not sure if Airbus has used the Dreamlifter, but it is not just used by Boeing. The Dreamlifter has been doing covid supply runs, for example

Can someone please verify that? I thought the dream lifter cannot open its tail door without a very specialized ground support vehicle that physically swings the tail open? Meaning, it can only open its door where that vehicle already exists (Nagoya, Everett, Charleston, etc).

kaitak744 wrote:

Can someone please verify that? I thought the dream lifter cannot open its tail door without a very specialized ground support vehicle that physically swings the tail open? Meaning, it can only open its door where that vehicle already exists (Nagoya, Everett, Charleston, etc).