Official 747-8 Flight Tracking/Production Part 18

KarelXWB · Fri Jul 21, 2017 7:37 am

Few additional photos of the UPS roll out:

N607UP United Parcel Service (UPS) Boeing 747-8F - C/N 64265 / LN 1542 by Woodys Aeroimages, on Flickr

KarelXWB · Fri Jul 21, 2017 10:11 am

AirBridgeCargo LN 1541 outside at the fuel dock:

VP- AirBridgeCargo Boeing 747-8F - C/N 63781 / LN 1541 by Woodys Aeroimages, on Flickr

747classic · Tue Jul 25, 2017 8:16 am

First pictures of the aft section of L/N 1544, N606UP, the third UPS freighter, taken at July 24th, when the hangar doors of building 40-22 were opened.

Original uploaded by Chris Edwards, see : http://www.flickr.com/photos/woodysaero ... 108825456/

Original uploaded by Chris Edwards, see : http://www.flickr.com/photos/woodysaero ... 307969234/

Aircraft data : L/N 1544 - 747-8(4A)F, RC532, UPS, serial number 64253, N606UP, delivery November 2017? (UPS in service date : Dec 11th)

CarlosSi · Tue Jul 25, 2017 8:25 am

How long do y'all think the last 748 will be flying for, assuming it doesn't get retired early because fuel prices?

tapairbus370 · Tue Jul 25, 2017 9:24 am

CarlosSi wrote:
How long do y'all think the last 748 will be flying for, assuming it doesn't get retired early because fuel prices?

If not others, the UPS ones will be here in 2050, at least, I would say.

Jayafe · Tue Jul 25, 2017 9:42 am

tapairbus370 wrote:
CarlosSi wrote:
How long do y'all think the last 748 will be flying for, assuming it doesn't get retired early because fuel prices?

If not others, the UPS ones will be here in 2050, at least, I would say.

I would actually say around 12-15 years, so around 2030, due to the lack of economy on spare parts when all other metals go off the sky.

tapairbus370 · Tue Jul 25, 2017 1:00 pm

Jayafe wrote:
tapairbus370 wrote:
CarlosSi wrote:
How long do y'all think the last 748 will be flying for, assuming it doesn't get retired early because fuel prices?

If not others, the UPS ones will be here in 2050, at least, I would say.

I would actually say around 12-15 years, so around 2030, due to the lack of economy on spare parts when all other metals go off the sky.

I can see your point, but if you see, for instance, Federal Express, they still use the A310-300 and A310-200 (1 acording to airfleets.net), and the -200 stop being made at least 18, if not more, years ago.

Ok, I can agree you and get the expectations a little lower but I see it feasable until....2040, why not?

na · Tue Jul 25, 2017 1:37 pm

CarlosSi wrote:
How long do y'all think the last 748 will be flying for, assuming it doesn't get retired early because fuel prices?

A year or so after the last 777 has been scrapped.

Geoff1947 · Tue Jul 25, 2017 1:56 pm

What news of L/N 1535, is it still looking for a 'home' ?

Geoff

KarelXWB · Tue Jul 25, 2017 2:00 pm

LN 1535 already found a home at Atlas Air. Not sure when delivery is scheduled.

Geoff1947 · Tue Jul 25, 2017 2:57 pm

KarelXWB wrote:
LN 1535 already found a home at Atlas Air. Not sure when delivery is scheduled.

Thanks , not in the Boeing orderbook. Perhaps it will be funded by Boeing and leased to Atlas.

Geoff

seabosdca · Tue Jul 25, 2017 6:02 pm

Jayafe wrote:
I would actually say around 12-15 years, so around 2030, due to the lack of economy on spare parts when all other metals go off the sky.

There are enough freighters out there that airframe parts should remain available a good deal longer than that. And the 787 will help ensure that 748 engines can be maintained.

There is no way the UPS order would have penciled out if UPS expected the frames to be retired in 2030.

747classic · Wed Jul 26, 2017 6:04 pm

Geoff1947 wrote:
KarelXWB wrote:
LN 1535 already found a home at Atlas Air. Not sure when delivery is scheduled.

Thanks , not in the Boeing orderbook. Perhaps it will be funded by Boeing and leased to Atlas.

Geoff

L/N 1535, RC651, white livery, just airborne for a Functional Check Flight with callsign BOE651 towards Moses Lake, see :
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE6 ... /KPAE/KMWH

747classic · Thu Jul 27, 2017 5:46 am

747classic wrote:
L/N 1535, RC651, white livery, just airborne for a Functional Check Flight with callsign BOE651 towards Moses Lake, see :
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE6 ... /KPAE/KMWH

L/N 1535, N1785B landing at Paine Field after the return flight from Moses Lake.
The future operator remains uncertain : Probably (Leased to) Atlas Air, but also AirBridgeCargo could be a possibility (as a replacement for L/N 1542 relocated to UPS) ?

N1785B, KPAE, July 26 2017

Original uploaded by Jennifer Schuld, see : http://twitter.com/JenSchuld/status/890328329097588736

boefan · Fri Jul 28, 2017 8:32 pm

LN 1435 N828BA is returning to PAE from long term storage since 2015 at MZJ

https://www.flightradar24.com/BOE021/e445478

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE21

747classic · Sat Jul 29, 2017 6:28 am

boefan wrote:
LN 1435 N828BA is returning to PAE from long term storage since 2015 at MZJ
https://www.flightradar24.com/BOE021/e445478
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE21

N828BA, KPAE, July 28 2017

Original uploaded by Chris Edwards, see : http://www.flickr.com/photos/woodysaero ... 233395275/

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), selcal code CS-HP, basic LH color scheme, without lettering and LH logo, D-ABYE( NTU), Scheduled LH 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 is internally listed TBC (The Boeing Company). Refurbishment to production standard at the KPAE flight line completed. Re-registered at December 12 2014 : N828BA. Flown to Marana (KMZJ) for storage at May 21 2015. Returned to KPAE at July 28 2017.

SCAT15F · Sat Jul 29, 2017 6:39 am

Does this mean (hopefully) there's finally a taker out there for L/N 1435?

Geoff1947 · Sat Jul 29, 2017 8:11 am

SCAT15F wrote:
Does this mean (hopefully) there's finally a taker out there for L/N 1435?

There was a new order recently listed as Unidentified. I assumed this would be for MSN 1495 or one of the Transaero frames but it could be this one. My guess would be BBJ rather than an airline.

Geoff

kanban · Sat Jul 29, 2017 3:45 pm

The new order was for two planes... if it had been a BBJ it would have been listed under BBJ which it was not so we have to keep guessing

RichardWelling · Sat Jul 29, 2017 4:09 pm

Any idea of when the Qatar Airways Cargo frames will be completed? Or are they previously stored units which will now be allocated to Qatar Airways Cargo?

747classic · Sat Jul 29, 2017 4:32 pm

Noticing the recent upswing in the cargo market and the return to service of several stored factory built 747-400 freighters and even converted 744 freighters, Boeing is a perfect position to deliver 747-8 freighters, with a relative short delivery time (9-12 months.)

About possible customers for the stored 747-8I and 747-8/BBJ aircraft Boeing remains tightlipped.

gennadius · Sat Jul 29, 2017 6:55 pm

kanban wrote:
The new order was for two planes... if it had been a BBJ it would have been listed under BBJ which it was not so we have to keep guessing

The discussion about 1435 or 1495 is referring to the singleton order from back in March of this year I believe.

seabosdca · Sat Jul 29, 2017 8:08 pm

I think it's been established that the single order is a BBJ order for 1495. I remember reading somewhere that 1435 would be used for testing systems for AF1, but I can't remember where I read that.

Slug71 · Sat Jul 29, 2017 8:15 pm

seabosdca wrote:
I think it's been established that the single order is a BBJ order for 1495. I remember reading somewhere that 1435 would be used for testing systems for AF1, but I can't remember where I read that.

This.

Geoff1947 · Sat Jul 29, 2017 9:35 pm

Was there a recent order for 2 frames ? Has Boeing announced this ? Think I need to see Boeing's next month-end figures to make sense of what is happening, hopefully !!

Geoff

Stitch · Sat Jul 29, 2017 9:47 pm

Geoff1947 wrote:
Was there a recent order for 2 frames?

Yes two 747-8 freighters were booked as UFOs on 19 July. They are assumed to be for Qatar Air Cargo based on comments by the company the week prior that they had two on order.

Geoff1947 · Sat Jul 29, 2017 10:54 pm

Stitch wrote:
Geoff1947 wrote:
Was there a recent order for 2 frames?

Yes two 747-8 freighters were booked as UFOs on 19 July. They are assumed to be for Qatar Air Cargo based on comments by the company the week prior that they had two on order.

Thanks, so L/N 1435 can't be anything to do with this then !

Geoff

boefan · Sat Jul 29, 2017 11:21 pm

According to some people familiar with the situation LN 1435 returned to PAE because the contract with MZJ airport expired (was for 2 years) .
Also there is a rumor that a potential customer will inspect the aircraft while at PAE but it will most likely be headed to VCV after to join the other 2 stored frames .

Nothing to take for granted but it is a logical scenario .

Slug71 · Mon Jul 31, 2017 3:57 pm

N837MH wrote:
HL7644 is delivery at July 31st. Also, Arrive at August 1st. Flight Number is KAL028D, Route is KPAE-RKSI. Thank you.

Did she go home today?

747classic · Tue Aug 01, 2017 6:06 am

Slug71 wrote:
N837MH wrote:
HL7644 is delivery at July 31st. Also, Arrive at August 1st. Flight Number is KAL028D, Route is KPAE-RKSI. Thank you.

Did she go home today?

Yes, see : http://flightaware.com/live/flight/KAL2 ... /KPAE/RKSI

Aircraft data : L/N 1539 - 747-8(B5), RC060, serial number 60411, KAL (intercontinental) #10, HL7644, selcal code DJ-AG, unpainted with light blue rudders, roll-out date Feb 02 2017?, returned to slant position #2 FAL at April 25 for travelled work, second roll-out May 10, F/F June 23 2017, Ferried to Portland for paint at June 27, returned at July 07, delivery and delivery flight (KAL28D-RKSI) date July 31 2017.

Original uploaded by Chris Edwards, see : http://www.flickr.com/photos/woodysaero ... 166380651/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

L/N 1541, the next 747-8 freighter for AirBridgeCargo made het first (B1) flight at July 31, with callsign BOE607.
See : http://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE6 ... /KPAE/KMWH

Original uploaded by Chris Edwards, see : http://www.flickr.com/photos/woodysaero ... 299152745/

Aircraft data :L/N 1541 - 747-8(3Q)F, RC607, serial number 63781, Intrepid Aviation/AirBridgeCargo , N5020K, unpainted with white rudders, roll-out April 25 2017, rolled back into the factory for travelled work at June 20, re-emerged at July 01, F/F July 31, estimated delivery date : September 01 2017

audidudi · Wed Aug 02, 2017 6:33 pm

Phil LeBeau on CNBC just hinted that the replacements for the two AF1s could be the two (ntu) Transaero 748Is, l/ns 1519 and 1523, which are both currently stored at VCV.

Stitch · Wed Aug 02, 2017 7:03 pm

audidudi wrote:
Phil LeBeau on CNBC just hinted that the replacements for the two AF1s could be the two (ntu) Transaero 748Is, l/ns 1519 and 1523, which are both currently stored at VCV.

And there is an active thread about that in MilAv.

747classic · Thu Aug 03, 2017 5:41 am

L/N1541, the next freighter for AirBridgeCargo was ferried to Portland for paint at August 02, see : http://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE6 ... /KPAE/KPDX

Aircraft data : L/N 1541 - 747-8(3Q)F, RC607, serial number 63781, Intrepid Aviation, lsd. AirBridgeCargo , temp registration N5020K, unpainted with white rudders, roll-out April 25 2017, rolled back into the factory for travelled work at June 20, re-emerged at July 01, F/F July 31, ferried to Portland (KPDX) for paint at August 02, estimated delivery date : September 01 2017

jagraham · Thu Aug 03, 2017 7:43 am

CarlosSi wrote:
How long do y'all think the last 748 will be flying for, assuming it doesn't get retired early because fuel prices?

At least 2047 because of the nose door. No one is planning anything with nose doors other than Guppy conversions.

flyingclrs727 · Thu Aug 03, 2017 8:35 am

jagraham wrote:
CarlosSi wrote:
How long do y'all think the last 748 will be flying for, assuming it doesn't get retired early because fuel prices?

At least 2047 because of the nose door. No one is planning anything with nose doors other than Guppy conversions.

Maybe even 2070. By 2047 normal air cargo that can be loaded through side cargo doors will be flying on whatever freighters are being produced by Boeing and Airbus in the 2030's. A few 747-8F's will be kept as fully depreciated aircraft that can wait for jobs that need the nose doors. What could eventually end the useful life of the remaining 747-F's after 2050 is if a very large BWB freighter is built to replace the C-5M sometime around the middle of this century. If the replacement for the C-5 has civilian sibling models available too, the need to maintain 747's for special large freight may go away.

Slug71 · Thu Aug 03, 2017 3:03 pm

CarlosSi wrote:
How long do y'all think the last 748 will be flying for, assuming it doesn't get retired early because fuel prices?

Fuel prices are expected to stay down long term.

KarelXWB · Fri Aug 04, 2017 11:52 am

Rumor has it that Qatar Airways will take LN 1535 (instead of Atlas Air).

.@qatarairways will take delivery of LN1535 #748F white tail that is currently parked on the Everett flight. Due Sept 2017.

https://twitter.com/AeroimagesChris/sta ... 5839065088

Boeing 747-8F - C/N 63199 / LN 1535 by Woodys Aeroimages, on Flickr

starrion · Fri Aug 04, 2017 6:52 pm

So if the NTU Transaero birds are spoken for as AF1 replacements, and the BBJ has been taken, there is only 1 whitetail left. The only remaining orders are UPS and whatever Airbridge will take.

What are we gonna talk about?

Sooner787 · Fri Aug 04, 2017 7:36 pm

starrion wrote:
So if the NTU Transaero birds are spoken for as AF1 replacements, and the BBJ has been taken, there is only 1 whitetail left. The only remaining orders are UPS and whatever Airbridge will take.

What are we gonna talk about?

What kind of retirement party Boeing will throw when the final 748 rolls off the line?

ikolkyo · Fri Aug 04, 2017 7:39 pm

I wonder if we will ever see a 747-8 Dreamlifter..

flyingclrs727 · Fri Aug 04, 2017 11:34 pm

ikolkyo wrote:
I wonder if we will ever see a 747-8 Dreamlifter..

Only when one or more airlines flying the 748I have amortized them and they are getting close to a D check. Also the 744 Dreamlifters have lots of life left in them. They have a brand new bulkhead and have lots of cycles left. There store lots of spare parts available from 744's that have been parked in the desert.

Miami · Sat Aug 05, 2017 1:20 am

Air Force awards contract for two 747-8s to be modified as future Air Force One

https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1370429

DABYT · Mon Aug 07, 2017 1:53 am

According to my understanding IR decided against the 748i and A380 because they were both too big for them. At least that's what I read in an interview with IR's CEO a while ago. Now I came across an article where it says that when Boeing offered them the two Transaero 748 frames that were recently acquired by the USAF, they rejected them because they couldn't be delivered rapidly enough.

“They made an offer. We did assessments and held negotiations in this regard. The planes had problems that would have delayed the delivery by at least one and a half years,” Farhad Parvaresh, former CEO of Iran Air—also known as Homa—told Financial Tribune.

What "problems" could those frames have had that would delay a delivery for about 1.5 years??? Any insight appreciated.

https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/69649/why-iran-air-turned-down-boeing-s-offer-for-two-747-8

Stitch · Mon Aug 07, 2017 2:11 am

DABYT wrote:
What "problems" could those frames have had that would delay a delivery for about 1.5 years??? Any insight appreciated.

Perhaps Boeing could not legally transfer them to another customer until the Transaero bankruptcy court formally nullified the orders, and as I recall, that was not until 2017 - over a year after Boeing suggested them to Iran Air.

So I would not be surprised if Boeing told Iran Air that it could be up to a year or more before the frames were no longer legally encumbered plus reconfiguration time to put them in IR's desired cabin outfitting.

DABYT · Mon Aug 07, 2017 1:10 pm

Stitch wrote:
Perhaps Boeing could not legally transfer them to another customer until the Transaero bankruptcy court formally nullified the orders, and as I recall, that was not until 2017 - over a year after Boeing suggested them to Iran Air.

So I would not be surprised if Boeing told Iran Air that it could be up to a year or more before the frames were no longer legally encumbered plus reconfiguration time to put them in IR's desired cabin outfitting.

Thanks, that makes sense. When reading "the planes had problems" i was just thinking of tecnical problems, not legal problems.

747classic · Tue Aug 08, 2017 6:28 am

A rare picture of the two future AF 1 aircraft (Transaero NTU) stored at Victorville (VCV)

Original uploaded by Captain Dave's twitter, see : http://twitter.com/DaveWallsworth/statu ... 4882733056
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the last remaining 747-8I, without a customer, two engines are removed and taken to building 40-54 (propulsion systems)

L/N1435, RC021, N828BA, PAE, August 7th 2017

Original uploaded by Matt Cawby's twitter, see : http://twitter.com/mattcawby/status/894761178001362946

UAEflyer · Tue Aug 08, 2017 7:00 am

747classic wrote:
A rare picture of the two future AF 1 aircraft (Transaero NTU) stored at Victorville (VCV)

Original uploaded by Captain Dave's twitter, see : http://twitter.com/DaveWallsworth/statu ... 4882733056
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the last remaining 747-8I, without a customer, two engines are removed and taken to building 40-54 (propulsion systems)

L/N1435, RC021, N828BA, PAE, August 7th 2017

Original uploaded by Matt Cawby's twitter, see : http://twitter.com/mattcawby/status/894761178001362946

why it would take 7 years to deliver these airplanes to USAF, according to some media reports it will be delivered on 2024 !! i know it is not a normal jet, but 2024 is so far away especially for already built frames.

PITingres · Tue Aug 08, 2017 3:06 pm

Having the frames already built will probably make things take longer, since a lot of stuff will have to be disassembled and changed. I'm sure it could be done faster than 7 years, but faster would mean more expensive, possibly a lot more expensive, and there's no burning need to hurry that I know about.

StTim · Tue Aug 08, 2017 3:17 pm

Imagine the work to just put in the refuelling option. That is just one of the changes.

The hardening of the electrics to survive an electro magnetic pulse on already installed wiring etc etc.

MEA-707 · Tue Aug 08, 2017 3:24 pm

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the last remaining 747-8I, without a customer, two engines are removed and taken to building 40-54 (propulsion systems)

Any chance they will use LN1435 for spares, perhaps taking the engines and some other parts off and take the write off now makes more sense than having it dragged around with parking fees etc for years while LH, KE and CA or anyone else are not interested in a pax 748i.

Who is online

Popular Searches On Airliners.net