Boeing 747-8 Freighter, 747-8 Intercontinental

Steve Pace

Steve Pace

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Boeing's 747-8 Intercontinental making its first flight today (3/20/2011). This is Boeing's largest ever airliner. This image is of a high-speed taxi test on 3/18/2011. I'll post flight photos when they are available. -SP
 

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So far not very successfull. While the freighter seems to have the good future, passanger version isn't very popular. 33 orders so far, 20 from Lufthansa.
 
Four-hour, 25-minute flight was a success. -SP
 

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Nice in-flight view. -SP
 

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A bit embarrassing: Cargolux will not take 747-8F delivery over contract wrangle

Cargolux has informed Boeing it will not take delivery of its first 747-8 freighter on Monday as planned, due to a contractual tussle, the airframer confirms.

The Luxembourg-based freight operator is due to receive its first of 13 General Electric GEnx-powered 747-8Fs during the high-profile ceremony at Boeing's Everett plant near Seattle on 19 September. However, Flightglobal has learnt from well-placed industry sources that, in a last minute wrangle over "unresolved issues", Cargolux is withdrawing its personnel from Boeing's plant and has informed the airframer that it will not accept delivery of the aircraft. The airline had been due to take its second 747-8F two days later, on 21 September.
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Some slightly better news: ICAO maintains 747-8 heavy designation

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has granted Boeing the use of the heavy designation for its 747-8 , continuing the wake separation rules established for the smaller 747-400.
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According to a piece on Wired.com, Cargolux's newest shareholder may be part of the problem:

The last minute rejection of the new 747-8s is likely influenced by Cargolux’s newest stake holder, Qatar Airways. A deal that was put together months ago, Qatar Airways 35 percent stake in Cargolux was finalized on September 11. And according to Flightglobal, there might be some sour grapes between Qatar Airways and Boeing over the 30 787s the airline has on order.
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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-01/boeing-secures-air-china-orders-for-beleaguered-747-8-aircaft.html
 
Just flew with it. For new planes I expected a little bit more. The stewardess told me that it is really hard to have a constant temperature in the middle and rear end of the plane.
 
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-01/why-boeing-is-buying-up-older-747s
 
simpleflying.com

UPS Continues Taking Delivery Of Boeing 747s - How Many More Will Be Built?

Cargo airline UPS has taken another Boeing 747-8, making it the 25th 747 delivered to UPS AIrlines from…
simpleflying.com simpleflying.com

Boeing has announced plans to end 747 production by the end of 2022, and the 747-8 Intercontinental is no longer in production. Basically, the 747 soon will no longer be in production, although the 747-8F will still play a role in the air freight market.
 
TomcatViP said:
Personally, I'd do the same thing with lots of unsold MAX and 330s.
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Buying up some MAX's for pennies on the dollar seems like such a no brainer. C-40, JSTARS, AWACS, and whatever other VIP federal plane you can think of could use a replacement.
 
 
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