Boeing, Atlas Air Announce Order for 12 747-8Fs

Boeing ^ | Sept. 12, 2006

[Righty_McRight]

SEATTLE, Sept. 12, 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings today announced the carrier has ordered 12 747-8 Freighters, making Atlas the North American launch customer for the airplane.

At list prices, the order is valued at about $3.4 billion. Atlas will begin taking delivery of the airplanes in 2010 and expects all 12 aircraft to be in service by the end of 2011. "With this order, Atlas Air remains the leader in providing the capacity and operational flexibility required by our air cargo customers using the state-of-the art freighter platform," said William J. Flynn, president and CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings.

"Worldwide air cargo traffic is projected to grow by over six percent annually for the next two decades, tripling over current traffic levels for our ACMI, Charter and Scheduled Service customers," Flynn added. "With its increased capacity, greater range at equivalent payloads, and lower operating costs, the 747-8F gives our customers a cutting-edge aircraft to meet this growth in global air cargo demand. We are very pleased at our customers' enthusiasm for this next-generation freighter, and we look forward to putting it into service for them."

Atlas operates the world's largest fleet of Boeing 747 Freighters, with 20 747-400 and 15 747-200 Freighters in service with operators throughout the world. The 747-8F, which has a common pilot type rating and more than 70 percent parts commonality with the 747-400F, assures Atlas a seamless and low-cost introduction of the new airplane into its fleet.

"We are proud to have been chosen by this great customer for its new fleet order," said Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Atlas has been instrumental in making the 747 Freighter family the industry standard and, with the addition of the new 747-8 Freighter, Atlas continues its legacy of delivering high value and quality customer service."

Atlas provides cargo services in Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) leasing, global scheduled service, commercial charter services and U.S. military charter services.

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The 747-8 Freighter improves on the current best-in-class 747-400F with 16 percent more payload capacity, due to a larger airframe that allows it to hold seven additional standard pallets while maintaining its customer-preferred nose-door-loading capability.

In addition, both the 747-8 Freighter and 747-8 Intercontinental (passenger) models provide improved fuel burn, achieved by an improved wing design and new engines -- General Electric's new GEnx engines, which deliver greater fuel efficiency, engine durability, weight reduction and lower overall operating costs than today's engines. Including today's order, 30 747-8 Freighters have been ordered by three customers since program launch in November 2005.

[saganite]

I wonder how Atlas can be the launch customer when three other customers have already ordered them? Also, Atlas' order brings the total up to 30 for this derivative.

Since it's based on the 747 the payoff for Boeing should come with fewer orders than if it were a new airframe. Plus, icing on the cake, this means fewer orders for the A-380F!

[radar101]

SEATTLE, Nov. 14, 2005 -- Boeing today officially launched the Boeing 747-8 Program, including the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger airplane and the 747-8 Freighter, following the completion of a launch order from Cargolux and Nippon Cargo Airways (NCA). Cargolux ordered 10 747-8 Freighters, with purchase rights for eight additional airplanes. NCA ordered eight 747-8 Freighters, with options for six additional airplanes. The first 747-8 Freighter is scheduled for delivery to Cargolux in the third quarter of 2009. NCA is scheduled to take delivery of its first 747-8 Freighter in the fourth quarter of 2009. An artist's rendering of the Boeing 747-8 family is shown here in Boeing livery.

[MNJohnnie]

Wow that is so cool looking!

[TChris]

Wow! Is the wing really as swoopy as it appears in the photos? Interesting design.

[taxed2death]

Maybe they should put a "no fat chicks" bumper sticker on it.

;)

[wastedyears]

Airplanes cna operate with the wings that high?

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Good news for Boeing.
I wonder how many more planes Boeing needs to sell of both 747-8F and 747-8I to break even in their investment ?
Wasn't there a customer about a month or 2 that ordered a few 747-8Fs ? other than the 2 customers who ordered it back in November ? or was that just a rumor ?

[MNJohnnie]

Don't know about jets but look at the wings on a WW 2 era F4U Corsair.


http://www.aviation-history.com/vought/f4u.htm

[Prophet in the wilderness]

The 747-8F and 747- 8I ( 1 order ) have 41 orders so far.

So far the B748 has the following orders.

Cargolux 10 ( Freighter )

Emirates 10 ( Freighter )

Nippon Cargo 8 ( Freighter )

Atlas Air 12 ( Freighter )

B747-8I ( VIP ) 1 ( PAX= Passenger Version )

Total: 41 frames

[Prophet in the wilderness]

The 747-8F and 747- 8I ( 1 order ) have 41 orders so far.

So far the B748 has the following orders.

Cargolux 10 ( Freighter )

Emirates 10 ( Freighter )

Nippon Cargo 8 ( Freighter )

Atlas Air 12 ( Freighter )

B747-8I ( VIP ) 1 ( PAX= Passenger Version )

Total: 41 frames

[Prophet in the wilderness]

The 747-8F and 747- 8I ( 1 order ) have 41 orders so far.

So far the B748 has the following orders.

Cargolux 10 ( Freighter )

Emirates 10 ( Freighter )

Nippon Cargo 8 ( Freighter )

Atlas Air 12 ( Freighter )

B747-8I ( VIP ) 1 ( PAX= Passenger Version )

Total: 41 frames

[Prophet in the wilderness]

The 747-8F and 747- 8I ( 1 order ) have 41 orders so far.

So far the B748 has the following orders.

Cargolux 10 ( Freighter )

Emirates 10 ( Freighter )

Nippon Cargo 8 ( Freighter )

Atlas Air 12 ( Freighter )

B747-8I ( VIP ) 1 ( PAX= Passenger Version )

Total: 41 frames

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Sorry for the multible postings, the browser got stuck.

[gaijin]

Does anyone know the engineering function of the added strakes (zig-zags) on the downwind periphery of the engine nacelles?

[airplaneguy]

Yes. It helps reduce noise and makes the airplane ICAO stage 3 noise compliant.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

It's suppose to help in noise reduction of the engines.

[Yo-Yo]

I wonder how Atlas can be the launch customer when three other customers have already ordered them?

From the article:

SEATTLE, Sept. 12, 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings today announced the carrier has ordered 12 747-8 Freighters, making Atlas the North American launch customer for the airplane.

Cargolux and Nippon Cargo Airlines were joint launch customers, but neither are based in North America.

[BfloGuy]

Wow! Is the wing really as swoopy as it appears in the photos? Interesting design.

I'm no engineer, but I was fascinated on my first 747 trip some 10 years ago by how, in flight, the plane seemed to be suspended below the wings. The wingtips were above the cabin.

I wasn't alarmed, mind you, but it was noticeable. So, I'd say, yes, the wing probably is that swoopy.