Photo Credit: The Boeing Company
Posted on 05/20/2005 2:30:31 PM PDT by Righty_McRight
SEATTLE , May 20, 2005 – Boeing [NYSE-BA] and Air France today announced an agreement to turn three 747-400 airplanes into full freighter configuration as part of the Boeing 747-400 Special Freighter program.
The value of the agreement isn't being released. Air France is one of seven 747-400 Special Freighter customers, and the first to announce plans to convert its former Combi airplanes, which are currently in all-passenger configuration.
Air France will receive its first modified airplane in June, 2007.
"These converted airplanes will accelerate the phasing out of the 747-200 Freighters in preparation of the entry in service of the 777 Freighters," said Pierre Vellay, Air France senior vice president, new aircraft and corporate fleet planning.
Boeing produced and delivered 61 747-400 Combi airplanes (called 747-400M) to 13 customers between 1989 and 2002.
The Boeing 747-400 Special Freighter conversion program was launched in January 2004 and to date has announced 33 firm orders and 29 options.
For the conversions ordered by Air France, the 747-400 former Combi airplanes receive a strengthened main-cabin floor, a full main-deck lining and provisions for a new cargo handling system with an upgraded flight deck. The 747-400 Special Freighter has positions for 30 cargo pallets on the main deck -- comparable volume to that of a new 747-400 Freighter. It is also capable of seating up to 19 people, an option found on no other converted freighter.
Boeing offers customers reliable conversion-based engineering and certification expertise. Customers may choose from several support packages that can be incorporated during freighter conversions, including avionics and flight-deck upgrades, customized maintenance programs and integration of technical manuals.
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Contact: Vicki Ray, Boeing Commercial Airplanes public relations, (206) 766-2155 (office), (206) 852-3319 (mobile), vicki.l.ray@boeing.com
Bob Saling, Boeing International & Sales Communications, (206) 766-2914 (office), (206) 852-3327 (mobile), bob.saling@boeing.com
Mike Tull, Brussels, +32 477 557 667 (mobile), michael.j.tull@boeing.com
However, with the upcoming EU vote, they could pack in a lot of voters from Mauritania on this vessel, what, about 1000 per trip. Perhaps three times that if they stack the votes like cordwood.
That's going to leave a jumbo-jet-sized mark in Toulouse.
It's just a conversion of their existing 747-400 passenger aircraft. Expect lots of 747-100, 200, and 300 freighters to be retired and replaced with converted 747-400SF. Also, the 777-200F which is the freigher version of the 777-200LR will use the same cargo containers that are used on all the 747 freighters.
So does Airbus not make a freighter version? Too bad for their loss to Boeing...I am deeply saddened.
It still is good news; Airbus isn't getting a contract for those freighters, and Boeing's getting a bit of cash to do the conversions.
I just worked a job in Rockaway, right ouside JFK, and every 747-400 I saw take off was much lower on takeoff than any other aircraft, and I mean over 1000 feet lower.
Any guesses as to why? 757's and 767's all were climbing right nicely, the 747-400's were slower and climbing much shallower.
Are the 767's and 757's that much more powerful?
Probably had more weight in the cargo hold than the passenger planes.
The A-380 was supposed to have a freighter version, and the first customers were FedEx and UPS. Problem is, there aren't many (read:3) airports in the US that can handle that monstrosity.
Many more airports CAN and DO take 747's all the time.
That was likely a BIG contributing factor.
Not sure these were cargo aircraft, that is my question.
I have to look up the thrust of the engines, but I am sure the 4 on a 747-400 can push more than the 2 on a 767...I think!
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