After a few months I figured the unidentified purchaser might have emerged as a result of human nature. The theories tossed around include::
1) USAF as a spare for the new AF1 but that has been shot down due to transparency
2) USAF for E5 program but again that not likely able to be hidden from public eye. (the E5 needs four similar aircraft from the get go eg. two stored newest LH PAX 748s plus LN 1435 plus LN 1446 were my uneducated guess)
3) some convoluted scheme to convert a new 748 PAX to freight on spec provided the price was compelling enough and pull through of enough additional 748is from LH and maybe Korean could be arranged with Boeing selling 787 and 777 replacements for PAX. The possible listing of LN 1446 for 95M with refences to freighter conversion added this farfetched idea for me
4) another wealthy Gulf state for VIP conversion although if saturation matters arguably there are too many 747 VIPs already in the Gulf with Qatar Amiri trying to sell one of three VIPs and Saudis rejecting LN 1446 in favor of twins. Maybe UAE? But why hidden identity?
5) new Cryptocurrency billionaire?

Any ideas?

Currently it is being used as a test plane for the VC-25B program. Originally the USAF was considering buying 3 VC-25B so 2 would always be in flying condition if one were undergoing heavy maintenance or modifications. I wonder if the USAF could have bought it as a third VC-25B?

My guess is that the USAF may have bought it as a parts doner to keep the two upcoming VC-25B's going in the 30+ years of their service life.

It has always been with Boeing "under control" no airline or VIP conversion company could interfere. So taking this for spares would make much sense. New or better passenger -8s are history.

If the USAF bought it, there should be a line-item in the last Defense Budget and one would think somebody in the media would have picked that up.

Please don't shout me down, but could it have been sold for scrap. There were rumours where I work that a B 747 was possibly coming to be scrapped. I naturally assumed it to be a 400, however, we were asked the weight of a GEnx engine for stands etc. I may have added 2 and 2 making 5, but just a thought. This would be in Europe for info.

It's funny how Google can lead to a treasure trove of information...

https://www.scramble.nl/civil-news/boei ... 8-l-n-1435

berty320 wrote:

Please don't shout me down, but could it have been sold for scrap. There were rumours where I work that a B 747 was possibly coming to be scrapped. I naturally assumed it to be a 400, however, we were asked the weight of a GEnx engine for stands etc. I may have added 2 and 2 making 5, but just a thought. This would be in Europe for info.

Maybe it's N458BJ which has been stored in France since 2012?

That article and similar reports on airliners.net says "in its February orders and deliveries update, Boeing showed that it has logged an Unidentified order .... which is not going to an airline but is reportedly going to a VIP-customer. What kind of VIP customer stays unidentified for two plus months?

Boeing757100 wrote:

berty320 wrote:

Please don't shout me down, but could it have been sold for scrap. There were rumours where I work that a B 747 was possibly coming to be scrapped. I naturally assumed it to be a 400, however, we were asked the weight of a GEnx engine for stands etc. I may have added 2 and 2 making 5, but just a thought. This would be in Europe for info.

Maybe it's N458BJ which has been stored in France since 2012?

Whoever the owner is, I would be surprised that scrapping pays a loss-free price. On the other hand, the pandemic has already brought other surprises.
N458BJ is definitely not in the "Queen of the Skies" category though.

aristoenigma wrote:

What kind of VIP customer stays unidentified for two plus months?

One that doesn't want to advertise (yet) that it just bought a very expensive airplane?

Kudos to that customer for succeeding in keeping the lid on the info, Human nature and the internet tends to let the cat out of the bag inadvertently eventually.

Boeing757100 wrote:

Maybe it's N458BJ which has been stored in France since 2012?

Thinking out loud here: Hmmm...maybe planespotters.net can be of some help here. Let's see. (type, type, type) 747-8. Sort by Registration. (scroll scroll scroll) Scroll down to the Ns. N458BJ. Line number: 1446. Is this line number 1435? My interpretation: Nope, it is not LN 1435.

Source: https://www.planespotters.net/productio ... 8?sort=reg

In fairness to Boeing757100 I think his reference to N458BJ / LN 1446 was in answer to the post number 6 by berty320 abouta 747 being scrapped in Europe

aeromoe wrote:

Boeing757100 wrote:

Maybe it's N458BJ which has been stored in France since 2012?

Thinking out loud here: Hmmm...maybe planespotters.net can be of some help here. Let's see. (type, type, type) 747-8. Sort by Registration. (scroll scroll scroll) Scroll down to the Ns. N458BJ. Line number: 1446. Is this line number 1435? My interpretation: Nope, it is not LN 1435.

Source: https://www.planespotters.net/productio ... 8?sort=reg

I was not referring to line 1435. I was simply trying to answer the question posted in reply #6, as I knew that frame was stored in Europe.

berty320 wrote:

Please don't shout me down, but could it have been sold for scrap. There were rumours where I work that a B 747 was possibly coming to be scrapped. I naturally assumed it to be a 400, however, we were asked the weight of a GEnx engine for stands etc. I may have added 2 and 2 making 5, but just a thought. This would be in Europe for info.

Fascinating possibility berty320. Have you heard any more rumors on whether LN 1446 is headed to scrap? Is the rumored 95M asking price alleged by CSDS close to reasonable? Not sure whether the sum of the parts of a new green 748 might add to.95M.

This thread is about LN 1435 but the fate of LN 1446 seems germaine.

aristoenigma wrote:

https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Egypt-Government

Looks like we have a winner. Egypt Government.

It's at Paine right now

FlyHPN wrote:

aristoenigma wrote:

https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Egypt-Government

Looks like we have a winner. Egypt Government.

Another government which clearly needs a huge plane….

marcelh wrote:

FlyHPN wrote:

aristoenigma wrote:

https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Egypt-Government

Looks like we have a winner. Egypt Government.

Another government which clearly needs a huge plane….

I am happy to know that this ultimate Queen VIP will be used by Egypt as their AF1 for decades to come, As the primary Government transport it will be visible to us 747 fans and well taken cared for.

aristoenigma wrote:

marcelh wrote:

FlyHPN wrote:

Looks like we have a winner. Egypt Government.

Another government which clearly needs a huge plane….

I am happy to know that this ultimate Queen VIP will be used by Egypt as their AF1 for decades to come, As the primary Government transport it will be visible to us 747 fans and well taken cared for.

I was just thinking the same thing. A classic Disney tale. She was suppose to join her sisters at LH but got rejected. Sat rejected for 10 years and was probably going to get scrapped, things turn and now she'll be treated royal and given priority over her sisters at LH. Ok i'm being overly romantic about it

She'll be a sight to see, i'm guessing Egypt will let go of the A342 at some point so a nice replacement.

Does anybody know why Lufthansa rejected her to begin with?

Some extra weight difference and need to synchronize scheduled maintenance with other 747-8is bought by LH. Our resident expert on ANet, 747Classic , knows the fine details but I think all of those issues got figured out and either corrected or addressed in the plane being updated to an effectively newly off the line state for this sale.

stratable wrote:

Does anybody know why Lufthansa rejected her to begin with?

There were several problems! But I think the biggest was the B747-8i typical erratic vibration, especially on the first ones produced... No matter what Boeing did, in the end LH was not happy and satisfied at all.
Boeing might claim that all bugs are fixed, but LH resilience to take up this frame clearly shows that this is not the case. So good luck for the new owner and better keep the A340 as backup, just in case...

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-a ... 2141265925

stratable wrote:

Does anybody know why Lufthansa rejected her to begin with?

viewtopic.php?t=1363077

It appears that this frame, being the first 747-8 built for LH and used extensively by Boeing in the type's testing, ended up being significantly overweight, far off contractual specs with LH, which then chose to not take up the frame.

stratable wrote:

Does anybody know why Lufthansa rejected her to begin with?

As the first production 747-8 Intercontinental she was used extensively for testing of the type, including cabin systems such as air conditioning, galley and lighting equipment. It was to be delivered to LH in 2012 as their fifth frame, however Boeing and Lufthansa agreed to allow Boeing to keep the plane longer for said testing and in January 2013 Lufthansa announced they would not take delivery "purely due to reasons of flexibility" and they noted at the time that they might exercise a top-up order to replace it (which never happened). Evidently the airframe needed significant change incorporation to be brought to the same standard as her LH sisters - so much that Boeing lost track of several tons of structural weight which put the frame well over even her porky early sisters. It has also been claimed that this change incorporation resulted in the fame being on a unique maintenance program compared to her sisters which contributed to LH deciding not to take it.

Thanks a bunch, guess I missed that topic.