Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter Successfully Tests Swing Tail

Boeing.com ^ | Oct. 23, 2006 | Staff

[Paleo Conservative]

EVERETT, Wash, Oct. 23, 2006 -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) opened and closed the swing tail for the 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter for the first time Oct. 10. The 747 LCF is currently at the Boeing Everett factory for tests on the swing tail, a major modification to the airplane that allows large pieces to be loaded and unloaded from the back of the airplane. These tests are the first time the LCF swing tail has opened.

Since its first flight, the 747 LCF has accomplished 55 flight-test hours and 270 hours of ground tests. The 747 LCF will transport major components of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

[Syntyr]

"I understand the physics of flight, but I still love to watch (and listen to) something as big as a 747 take off..."

My neighboors dont like me. I bought Flight Sim X over the weekend. I have a 1000 watt 14 inch subwoofer. Cranked that bad boy up and spent 2 hours doing take off and landings in a 747 over the weekend. On startup the pens and pencils in my pencil cup on my desk start to dance :)

[Moose4]

I got to see a Korean Air 747 blast off from Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta yesterday while I was sitting in C Concourse waiting to catch a flight up here to Richmond. 350+ tons of metal tearing into the sky with all that noise...it's mechanical poetry in motion.

Although somebody needs to tell KAL that nothing that big should be painted baby blue.

}:-)4

[PAR35]

An absolutely amazing aircraft! My hat's off to those Boeing engineers.

Shouldn't that read "My hat's off to those Boeing Russian engineers.

[N. Theknow]

Wonder what would happen if they made a double decker out of the thing with 850 seats?

Or at least one more row of seats than the Airboob A380?

[Paleo Conservative]

Although somebody needs to tell KAL that nothing that big should be painted baby blue.

What about KLM?

[Paleo Conservative]

Wonder what would happen if they made a double decker out of the thing with 850 seats?

They'd all die from asphyxiation. The cargo compartment of the LCF is not pressurized.

[Moose4]

KLM's planes are only *half* baby blue. :) Actually that top blue is just a shade darker than the KAL planes, if I remember correctly.

}:-)4

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

It's not a military cargo jet so the aircraft doesn't need to have that capability. If they did, it would be during the mother of all left turns.

[Paleo Conservative]

[phantomworker]

350+ tons of metal tearing into the sky with all that noise...it's mechanical poetry in motion.

I like that. Nice imagery.

[phantomworker]

I think this is 787. The 747 integration is different.

[Paleo Conservative]

It is the 787, but these are the pieces that will be transported by the 747LCF.

[Robert A Cook PE]

How do you air drop from that thing???

Well, the paratroopers wouldn't have a problem coming out in a hurry, once the "tail door" comes open.

The pilot, on the other hand, .....

[N. Theknow]

They'd all die from asphyxiation. The cargo compartment of the LCF is not pressurized. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It can't be "made" in a passenger version?

Wonder if water cooler chit chat at Boeing has opined that it could cause an Airboob corporate, rectal vapor lock en masse if they said they were studying the feasibility of doing it.

[phantomworker]

... water cooler chit chat...

I think it's all bottled water now. ;) Not sure of that particular model, but there are 747 combi's.

[Paleo Conservative]

It can't be "made" in a passenger version?

It costs too much, and the modification didn't increase the maximum takeoff weight. These modified 747's are being converted in small quantities and are not being built with mass production methods. You'd want a passenger jet to be more aerodynamically efficient. The extra large fuselage has more drag.

[Textide]

Geez, there's a whole row of passengers on that plane whose fares just went to getting new tires.

[SW6906]

"Shouldn't that read "My hat's off to those Russian engineers."

Yes, it should.

[SW6906]

Oh, you're good....real good. Fun playing with the newbie engineers, isn't it? ;o)

[SW6906]

Bringing the parts together in Everett

Those are some of the worst attempts at great circle routes I've ever seen! Don't they know there are more direct routes that can be taken?