Official 747-8 Flight Tracking/Production Part 16

UAEflyer · Sun Jul 06, 2014 11:13 am

Maybe Saudi airlines are in talks for the 4 freighters

KarelXWB · Sun Jul 06, 2014 6:31 pm

Quoting 747classic (Reply 139):
IMHO, these aircraft are "white tail" freighters built sequential in the same tabulation block as L/N 1501-RC671 and L/N1502-RC672, all four are still listed with the same mystery Boeing operator identification code 662.

So Matt has had it wrong?

http://paineairport.com/kpae10531.htm

KarelXWB · Tue Jul 08, 2014 2:03 pm

Boeing Aims To Build 747-8s Faster:

http://aviationweek.com/commercial-a...on/boeing-aims-build-747-8s-faster

747classic · Tue Jul 08, 2014 5:05 pm

Nice video from inside D-ABYP during the delivery flight ( incl. KPAE fly-over) , before starting the trip towards Frankfurt , see : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB_Fhs0kyJI&feature=player_embedded

747classic · Wed Jul 09, 2014 7:00 am

The next Intercontinental for Lufthansa (L/N1503 / D-ABYQ) came out of the paint hangar 45-01, thereafter L/N1501 / N5022E (still unknown operator) was moved inside the paint hangar .

See Matt Cawby's Paine Field blog of July 8 : http://kpae.blogspot.nl/2014/07/paine-field-july-8.html

[Edited 2014-07-09 00:00:51]

KarelXWB · Wed Jul 09, 2014 7:48 am

Quoting 747classic (Reply 154):
L/N1501 / N5022E (still unknown operator) was moved inside the paint hangar .

Finally!

In about 7 days from now, we shall see the livery on LN 1501, revealing its customer.

gennadius · Wed Jul 09, 2014 7:57 am

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 155):
Finally! In about 7 days from now, we shall see the livery on LN 1501, revealing its customer.

Hopefully!! Unless it comes out nice and shiny, like 1499 did.

81819 · Wed Jul 09, 2014 10:31 am

Quoting Stitch (Reply 128):
As a Boeing shareholder, I would be very disappointed if Boeing sacrificed 777 orders - and strong 777 margins - because they were fire-saling the 747-8 at just above cost to effectively bribe customers to take it just to keep the line open.

If we look at Cathay Pacific, they have a real requirement for an aircraft larger than the 777. As such, if the 747-8 is good enough and is offered at the right price Boeing can sell 747's without overly impacting on the 777.

I would really love to see some of the Ozark improvements come through. Some recent articles on the subject have mentioned quite a few areas where little tweaks (aerodynamic clean-ups) could have a real fuel efficiency gain.

Maybe an Ozark 747 plane, would be a plane that the original 747-8 should have been!

Laddie · Wed Jul 09, 2014 2:04 pm

Quoting Stitch (Reply 128):
As a Boeing shareholder, I would be very disappointed if Boeing sacrificed 777 orders - and strong 777 margins - because they were fire-saling the 747-8 at just above cost to effectively bribe customers to take it just to keep the line open.

If Boeing can't convince customers the 747-8 is worth more than a 777-300ER or a 777-9, then they need to shut it down.

Here is a summary in Business Week of the dilemma: ship in a dedicated freighter vs. using bellies of passenger airplanes.
http://www.businessweek.com/articles...es-lose-to-boeing-passenger-planes

As noted above, Boeing wants to increase the 747 production rate because they have orders in the offing. I truly hope they announce them soon. The program could use the shot in the arm.

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 155):
Finally! In about 7 days from now, we shall see the livery on LN 1501, revealing its customer.

LN1501 should roll out on Friday, 11 July. Then LN1499 goes into the paint hangar. Goodbye, shiny 747!

KarelXWB · Wed Jul 09, 2014 2:07 pm

Quoting Laddie (Reply 158):
LN1501 should roll out on Friday, 11 July.

That's pretty quick, makes me wonder if LN 1501 and 1502 will receive a basic white livery (and thus are indeed whitetails).

Stitch · Wed Jul 09, 2014 2:55 pm

Quoting travelhound (Reply 157):
If we look at Cathay Pacific, they have a real requirement for an aircraft larger than the 777. As such, if the 747-8 is good enough and is offered at the right price Boeing can sell 747's without overly impacting on the 777.

zeke has noted that Boeing has pitched the 747-8 to CX as interim lift to hold them over between their 747-400 retirement and introduction of their 777-9s, but CX does not appear to be interested. Statements from past and current senior management at CX continue to note that a VLA does not fit into their fleet planning, I expect due to the lack of revenue cargo space compared to the 777-300ER and A350-1000. The A380-800 is little better than a 747-400 and while the 747-8 is better than both, it's not as good as the 77W/A35J.

IMO, the launch of the 777-9 gave CX what they wanted - a twin that can replace their 747-400 in terms of passenger capacity, while offering them maximum cargo capacity.

Quoting travelhound (Reply 157):
I would really love to see some of the Ozark improvements come through. Some recent articles on the subject have mentioned quite a few areas where little tweaks (aerodynamic clean-ups) could have a real fuel efficiency gain.

Well the baseline 747-8 ended up being better aerodynamically than planned (similar to the A380), so the Project Ozark improvements are likely refinement of the aerodynamics based on the data they learned during flight test and certification.

And now that the 747-8 is at her original target weight and should be close to her original target SFC, the extra MTOW that they were able to add has probably improved the desirability of the airframe as it can now fly farther than originally planned (in passenger form).

KarelXWB · Wed Jul 09, 2014 5:50 pm

Few photos of LN 1501 before it went to the paint hangar:

Around KPAE 7-8-14 by moonm, on Flickr

boefan · Thu Jul 10, 2014 4:58 pm

Looks like Cargolux Boeing 747-8F LX-VCK being towed to Tower Apron? or maybe R11/29? Anyone knows the reason behind this movement? Not very good photos but shows it turned left on Eco.

https://twitter.com/man0lero/status/487276567450898433/photo/1

karadion · Thu Jul 10, 2014 5:06 pm

Quoting boefan (Reply 162):

Went to South Ramp 1.

boefan · Thu Jul 10, 2014 5:16 pm

Quoting Karadion (Reply 163):

Thank you

flightsimer · Thu Jul 10, 2014 5:26 pm

Not sure if it has been posted, but was surfing Controller.com and saw that LN1446, BBJ for Saudi Gov. (Possibly) is for sale on the open market.

http://www.controller.com/listingsde...47-8/2012-BOEING-747-8/1316191.htm

gennadius · Thu Jul 10, 2014 6:23 pm

Quoting boefan (Reply 162):
Looks like Cargolux Boeing 747-8F LX-VCK being towed to Tower Apron?

Quoting boefan (Reply 164):
Went to South Ramp 1.

Perhaps this has something to do with it? It's behind a paywall, but from what I can see, it basically says they have secured financing for a 747-8F.

http://www.airfinancejournal.com/art...rce=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

KarelXWB · Thu Jul 10, 2014 8:07 pm

Matt say the Cargolux freighter went into storage.

http://twitter.com/mattcawby/status/487291677682302976

I thought delivery was scheduled for August?

Laddie · Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:33 pm

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 167):
Matt say the Cargolux freighter went into storage.

That is correct. Late-breaking news says Cargolux has delayed the delivery of LN1491/RC511. It was supposed to be handed over to Cargolux by the end of this month.

UAEflyer · Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:21 pm

Quoting flightsimer (Reply 165):

It has been listed for a while now, unfortunately the guy who ordered it passed away. I don't think that any of the Arabia Gulf rulers will buy it, because almost all of them ordered a VIP 748i direct from Boeing and some currently being fitted with VIP cabin.
I wonder how much they want to sell it for ?

boeingguy26 · Fri Jul 11, 2014 6:04 am

Any pictures of a VIP 748i interior?

boefan · Sat Jul 12, 2014 12:11 pm

N5022E LN1501 came out of the paint hangar yesterday

http://paineairport.com/images/kpae10550.png

and

Air China LN1499 followed and went inside

http://paineairport.com/images/kpae10551.png

Someone83 · Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:09 pm

Quoting boefan (Reply 171):
N5022E LN1501 came out of the paint hangar yesterday

http://paineairport.com/images/kpae1...0.png

White tail (or grey tail)?

Didn't give many clues about the customer

boefan · Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:30 pm

N5023Q LN1502 filed for a B1 test flight today

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE672

gennadius · Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:00 pm

Quoting Someone83 (Reply 172):
White tail (or grey tail)?

Didn't give many clues about the customer

It definitely went to a grey color. The tail, engines, some of the doors, and parts of the wing, and maybe the wing to body fairing was painted it appears.

It also looks like the test registration was removed?

Well, not much more in the way of clues, but it's a shame that it didn't come out shiny as well if it was going to be in this intermediate state.

747classic · Sun Jul 13, 2014 8:29 am

Boeing is ready to offer a weight increase of nearly 7% to 472 Tons MTOW on the 747-8.

See : http://www.flightglobal.com/news/art...-747-8-future-in-passenger-400464/

Latest update of this article (see Flight Intl. Issue 8-14 July. page 11) ;

Boeing has determined that the 747-8 landing gear is strong enough to acommodate the higher take-off weight .
The increased MTOW requires only a new tyre and a redesigned axle.(minor modifications)
According to Bruce Dickenson, 747 programme chief project engineer : "we have done the analyse and cleared the structural margin for these modifications ".

[Edited 2014-07-13 02:27:30]

gennadius · Sun Jul 13, 2014 8:58 am

Quoting 747classic (Reply 175):
Boeing is ready to offer a weight increase of nearly 7% to 472 Tons MTOW on the 747-8.

Since they were originally talking about doing this (and the other aerodynamic updates) as part of a customer order, is it safe to say that they probably have an airline or two lined up that will be interested in these updates?

Obviously it will benefit all of the existing customers, but the payload/range changes as a result of this have to be of interest to a specific customer group most likely.

na · Sun Jul 13, 2014 9:13 am

Quoting gennadius (Reply 176):
Since they were originally talking about doing this (and the other aerodynamic updates) as part of a customer order, is it safe to say that they probably have an airline or two lined up that will be interested in these updates?

Obviously it will benefit all of the existing customers, but the payload/range changes as a result of this have to be of interest to a specific customer group most likely.

It indeed sounds like the result of customer interest.

Quoting gennadius (Reply 174):
It definitely went to a grey color. The tail, engines, some of the doors, and parts of the wing, and maybe the wing to body fairing was painted it appears.
It also looks like the test registration was removed?
Well, not much more in the way of clues, but it's a shame that it didn't come out shiny as well if it was going to be in this intermediate state.

This looks very much like a tactical manoeuvre of a client, or Boeing. Grey is the basic color of Silkway and Cargolux.

747classic · Sun Jul 13, 2014 11:17 am

Quoting boefan (Reply 173):
N5023Q LN1502 filed for a B1 test flight today

L/N1502, 747-83QF, N5023Q , B1 flight , July 12 2014

Original uploaded by Royalscottking, see : http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalscottking/14454330767/

KarelXWB · Sun Jul 13, 2014 12:08 pm

Quoting Someone83 (Reply 172):
Didn't give many clues about the customer

Quoting na (Reply 177):
This looks very much like a tactical manoeuvre of a client, or Boeing. Grey is the basic color of Silkway and Cargolux.

I could be wrong, but it looks like LN 1501 and 1502 are whitetails (i.e. there is no customer yet).

Stitch · Sun Jul 13, 2014 3:23 pm

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 179):
I could be wrong, but it looks like LN 1501 and 1502 are whitetails (i.e. there is no customer yet).

Or they're for a customer with a white livery.

Air China Cargo, for example, is white. Perhaps that long rumored two frame 747-8 top-up order is now a two frame 747-8F order?

kanban · Sun Jul 13, 2014 3:40 pm

Quoting gennadius (Reply 176):
Since they were originally talking about doing this (and the other aerodynamic updates) as part of a customer order, is it safe to say that they probably have an airline or two lined up that will be interested in these updates?

This may be a retrofit option through normal Spares procurement.. the tires are BFE, but the axles when available could be changed . Unfortunately, it's not an easy job.. they will probably change them on a spare bogie (all 4 are the same) then swap out one at a time.. there may be other parts that change as well.. axle sleeves and retainer nuts.

Quoting gennadius (Reply 174):
It definitely went to a grey color. The tail, engines, some of the doors, and parts of the wing, and maybe the wing to body fairing was painted it appears.

looks like BAC707 grey to protect the composite surfaces period.. I wouldn't read too much into it other than if it isn't the customer color, the plane will not be painted for several months.

gennadius · Sun Jul 13, 2014 4:25 pm

Quoting kanban (Reply 181):
looks like BAC707 grey to protect the composite surfaces period.. I wouldn't read too much into it other than if it isn't the customer color, the plane will not be painted for several months.

Ah, well that is what I was asking. What are the options for what it has been painted.

Thanks!

KarelXWB · Tue Jul 15, 2014 7:41 am

Cargolux LN 1491 at the south ramp:

Around KPAE 7-14-14 by moonm, on Flickr

UA444 · Tue Jul 15, 2014 7:55 am

I'm feeling pretty confident that Boeing has some customers up their sleeve. They wouldn't be doing all of this MTOW enhancements and looking to increase production if they didn't have someone waiting in the wings.

gennadius · Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:52 am

Page 56 of the Day 2 Flight Daily News talks about the 747-8 and the improvements being made. While most of this has been covered before, what is relatively interesting is the caption to the photo, stating that range issues stopped Cathay Pacific from ordering the 747-8I, as well as the later text in the article that states that the longer stretch for capacity, which traded off for range, potentially drove away Cathay as well the more well known Emirates displeasure.

http://edition.pagesuite-professiona...2562f6-7952-41b9-aab0-50788cf5784e

Stitch · Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:56 am

Quoting gennadius (Reply 185):
While most of this has been covered before, what is relatively interesting is the caption to the photo, stating that range issues stopped Cathay Pacific from ordering the 747-8I, as well as the later text in the article that states that the longer stretch for capacity, which traded off for range, potentially drove away Cathay as well the more well known Emirates displeasure.

Interesting, if true.

The 747-8 even in original porky form had better range than the 747-400 and I have read that CX originally considered the 747-400ER as it would have had the legs to eliminate the occasional tech stop at TPE for TPAC flights, but they felt the number of times they had to stop were low enough to not warrant adding another 747 variant to the fleet.

boefan · Wed Jul 16, 2014 3:33 pm

Lufthansa D-ABYQ LN1503 #15th filed for a B1 flight today

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE36

747classic · Thu Jul 17, 2014 3:02 pm

Quoting boefan (Reply 187):
Lufthansa D-ABYQ LN1503 #15th filed for a B1 flight today

See for aircraft data of D-ABYQ and picture of F/F at July 16 2014 :
http://boeing-test-flights.blogspot....47-830-lufthansa-first-flight.html

KarelXWB · Fri Jul 18, 2014 8:53 am

Cargolux LN 1504 emerged from the final assembly line.

http://twitter.com/mattcawby/status/489975033721131008

gennadius · Fri Jul 18, 2014 6:27 pm

Looks like Air China's 1499 is out of the paint shop!

https://twitter.com/mattcawby/status/490182777644412929/photo/1

trex8 · Fri Jul 18, 2014 9:14 pm

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 189):

Cargolux LN 1504 emerged from the final assembly line.

Is this one going to storage like 1485/90??

UAEflyer · Fri Jul 18, 2014 9:16 pm

Quoting gennadius (Reply 190):

The need to revise their font, the aircraft is huge and the writing is not fit

PhoenixVIP · Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:43 pm

Quoting gennadius (Reply 190):

YES!! Beautiful!

747400sp · Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:54 pm

Quoting gennadius (Reply 190):

Looks like Air China's 1499 is out of the paint shop!

Well it is about time! Please start service 747 back to LAX again.

747classic · Sat Jul 19, 2014 8:18 am

The second Silkway West Airlines freighter after a short stay in the paint hangar to be re-registered from 4K-SW882 to VQ-VBC (Bermuda registry to avoid import taxes ?)
VQ-BVC, KPAE, July 18

Original uploaded by Matt Cawby's Paine Field blog, see : http://paineairport.com/kpae10561.htm

Full aircraft data : L/N 1496 - 747-83QF, RC642, serial number 44973, Boeing Company #2, Lsd. Silkway West Airlines, N807BA, 4K-SW882, VQ-BVC, full livery, KPAE flight line, Roll-out date February 04 2014, F/F March 02 2014.

[Edited 2014-07-19 01:19:33]

na · Sat Jul 19, 2014 8:21 am

Quoting gennadius (Reply 190):
Looks like Air China's 1499 is out of the paint shop!

Good to see its nearing delivery. But I am disappointed that Air China wasted another chance to renew its rather dull oldfashioned livery.

KarelXWB · Sat Jul 19, 2014 10:47 am

Quoting gennadius (Reply 190):
Looks like Air China's 1499 is out of the paint shop!

Hehe, there it is, finally!

747classic · Sun Jul 20, 2014 8:55 am

Refurbishment of L/N1435, the only remaing 747-8I test aircraft, is proceeding at the KPAE flight line.
Attention , it seems that at section 41, below the cockpit windows, new skin panels (with protective coating still present) are installed.

See Matt Cawby's Paine field blog for more pictures : http://kpae.blogspot.nl/2014/07/paine-field-july-19.html

Full aircraft data : L/N 1435 - 747-830, RC021, serial number 37826, F/F April-26-2011, 747-8I test aircraft #2, test registration N6067U, Lufthansa #1 (NTU, airframe rejected, because of non-standarisation compared to the other standard production DLH aircraft), selcal code CS-HP, basic LH color scheme, without lettering and LH logo, D-ABYE( NTU), Scheduled DLH delivery date was September-30-2012 , Resumed additional flight testing (tail tank, GEnx-2B PIP, NGFMS updates) at May 20 2013, flight testing out of San Bernadino (KBSD) from May 26, returned to Moses Lake at June 18 for additional low altitude tests, from June 28 at Inca Manco Cápac Intl. airport Peru (JUL/SPJL) for high altitude airport tests, returned to Moses Lake via Houston at July 10, latest flight tests are flown from Boeing Field and Moses Lake, aircraft was scheduled to be sold later, but seems to be internally listed again for DLH ? Presently in refurbishment to standard production configuration at the KPAE flight line.

[Edited 2014-07-20 02:24:37]

KarelXWB · Sun Jul 20, 2014 2:37 pm

Quoting trex8 (Reply 191):
Is this one going to storage like 1485/90??

Hard to tell, but I guess delivery won't be imminent.

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