Boeing's 747 Large Cargo Freighter Development on Plan

Boeing.com ^ | Feb. 22, 2005 | Staff

[Paleo Conservative]

SEATTLE, Feb. 22, 2005 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today said development of the 747 Large Cargo Freighter is proceeding according to plan and the modified freighters will be ready to support final assembly of the first Boeing 787 Dreamliners in 2007.

"We have a top-notch team of engineers working to design what will be one of the most unique airplanes flying," said 787 Vice President of Manufacturing and Quality Scott Strode. "This kind of modification is an engineer's dream. It's an extremely challenging project, and it's essential to the success of the Dreamliner."

Boeing announced last week the critical "swing zone" of the freighter, the part of the Large Cargo Freighter's aft fuselage that opens to allow loading and unloading of the 787's large composite structures, is being designed in partnership with Gamesa Aeronautica of Spain. Gamesa is the first Spanish supplier supporting the Dreamliner program.

Boeing also said today that engineers from Boeing Rocketdyne, located in Canoga Park, Calif., are assisting its structural design team in Everett, Wash., with changes to the Large Cargo Freighter's cockpit area, the only part of the airplane that will be pressurized. Strode said the work is focused on modifications to the upper and lower decks, and relocation of several systems in the forward section of the aircraft.

Engineers at the Boeing Design Center in Moscow are helping design the freighter's enlarged upper fuselage and rear fuselage, as well as the main cargo deck floor and "transition zone" that marries the new structure to the existing airplane structure. The expanded girth of the Large Cargo Freighter will hold three times the cargo by volume of the 747-400 freighters flying today.

The design supplier for the pressure bulkhead that joins the cockpit area to the fuselage will be named after contracts are finalized. No design changes are necessary to the freighter's wings, and Boeing engineers will extend the airplane's vertical fin by five feet to aid the pilots' control during flight.

The Large Cargo Freighter team achieved firm configuration of the airplane in October. Once the detailed design work is completed, the components will largely be provided by current 747 suppliers, Strode said. Those parts will then be shipped to Taipei, where the airplanes will be modified by Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corporation (EGAT), a joint venture between EVA Air and General Electric, and part of Taiwan 's Evergreen Group.

Systems updates will be provided by the existing 747 suppliers.

Boeing has decided the airplane will remain without a livery until an operator for the airplanes is chosen later this year. "We know Boeing will not operate these airplanes," Strode said. "We are talking with a number of interested parties, and we expect that branding of the airplane will be part of the negotiation process."

Two Large Cargo Freighters will be needed to support initial 787 production. Two 747-400s that will be converted to the new configuration were purchased by Boeing last year. Boeing continues looking for a third airplane that will enter service later. Certification of the first Large Cargo Freighter will occur in 2006, with the airplane returning to service in 2007 to support final assembly of the first Dreamliners.

The 787 is an all-new family of mid-sized airplanes that will provide exceptional fuel efficiencies for airlines and superior comfort for passengers. It is to enter service in 2008. Boeing has 191 announced firm orders and commitments for the 787 from 15 airlines.

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[Paleo Conservative]

[AGreatPer]

Why are there no turned up or tipped wings on these modern marvels? That feature seems to be standard on new aircraft.

[Paleo Conservative]

I think it has the raked wingtips developed for McDonnel Douglas for the MD-11 and later put on the 767-400ER and the 747-400ER both the freighter and the passenger models.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Can they use carbon composite materials for the outer surface skins on the hump area were the flight deck and upper first class ares is ?
Can they use carbon composites for the ailerons, flaps, surface skins on the wings , vertical stabilizer, and horizontal stabilizers ?

[Prophet in the wilderness]

On the new 747 Advanced versions, they are going to use the " RAKED WING TIP " instead of the winglets.

[Paleo Conservative]

Can they use carbon composite materials for the outer surface skins on the hump area were the flight deck and upper first class ares is ? Can they use carbon composites for the ailerons, flaps, surface skins on the wings , vertical stabilizer, and horizontal stabilizers ?

Supposedly the wing flaps will be simplified from triple slotted to double or even sinlgle slotted. This will save on weight and complexity. I would think wing flaps and tail flaps would be candidates for composite use. I'm not sure Boeing wants to spend the kind of money it would take to recertify the 747 Advanced to allow new materials in the lifting surfaces of the wing.

Here is some more information if you're interested.

http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/1951541/

[Prophet in the wilderness]

You know, I hear some people ( must be Airbus fans ) go on about how the 747 is a tired old design and needs to be retired and stop production, I say NON SENSE .
The 747 design is a marvel of aviation, and still is a great airframe design, in fact, the 747 in these pictures look more modern and up to date than the Airbus A 380 will ever be.
The Boeing engineers discovered ( I read it some were ) that the more they stretch the 747 airframe, the more structurally efficient it becomes.
Some people are going GA GA over the airbus A 380 just because now, it's the largest commercial airplane in the world, so what.
The 747 will still be one of the greatest airframe designs of all time.

[Paleo Conservative]

[Centurion2000]

It's been said that the most successful use of the A380 will be in cargo. Could this jumbo compete there?

In a heartbeat, it does not require that airports be modified for it to land there.

[Paleo Conservative]

I wonder why China Airlines bought this airplane to replace the used 747-400 that will become the second 747-400 LCF that will be used to for Boeing's internal use to ship assemblies for the 787? From what I can tell from various websites they are replacing a used 747-400 with a new 747-400 with Boeing's new interior. It doesn't even appear to be a 747-400ER. I wonder how this makes financial sense? I guess China Airlines doesn't have to have any downtime to refurbish an existing aircraft. Any ideas?

China Airlines takes delivery of Special-Livery 747-400

China Airlines today took delivery of a unique Boeing 747-400 featuring a distinctive blended paint design and the Boeing Signature Interior.

The exterior of China Airlines' 14th 747-400 combines the airline's plum blossom tail image with Boeing's new blue commercial airplane livery. The award-winning interior is designed to make passengers as comfortable as possible on intercontinental flights. The cabin features ambient lighting and larger overhead stowage bins that open downward for convenient loading. It also has a high ceiling that provides passengers a more roomier, open environment.

"The 747 has greatly contributed to the expansion of China Airlines' services to its passengers," said Chiang Yao-Chung, chairman, China Airlines. "With the 747-400's proven performance and continued excellence, our passengers will experience an increasingly enjoyable and comfortable flight, with optimal operational efficiency and reliability."

"In expanding its intercontinental operation, we are pleased that China Airlines has standardized its long-haul fleet with the Boeing 747-400," said Larry Dickenson, senior vice president -- Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We at Boeing are thrilled to continue as China Airlines' partner and look forward to our long future together."

The airplane delivered today replaces a 747 that China Airlines sold back to Boeing for use as the second of three Large Cargo Freighters (LCF). The LCF will be used to transport major assemblies for the Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner from suppliers worldwide to the Boeing plant in Everett, Wash., where the Dreamliner will be built.

_______________ Mai Pen Rai

[Paleo Conservative]

I wonder if this is the plane Boeing bought back from China Airlines to be the second of three 747-LCF freighters? Due to copyright restrictions, I can't post the picture on Free Republic so I am posting a link to it. If this is the plane, I can understand now why China airlines bought a brand new 747-400 to replace one of their existing 747-400s that they sold back to Boeing to modify into a 747-LCF.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/047556/M/

Supposedly China Airlines has a bad saftey record. They had a 747-200 that crashed in 2002 due to cracks resulting from improperly repaired damage from a tail strike that ocurred during a takeoff in 1980.

Associated Press | 13 August 2002 | Lawsuit accuses Boeing of failing to inform China Airlines about repair problems

Associated Press | Fri. Feb. 25 2005 Cracks caused 2002 China Airlines crash: report