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First Boeing 747-8 Freighter Leaves Paint Hangar
Boeing moved the first 747-8 Freighter out of the paint hangar in Everett, Wash., Tuesday night sporting a special “light” livery.
Painted white with blue accents, the 747-8 Freighter unveiled a new twist on the Boeing Commercial Airplanes livery. It features an oversized “8” on the background of the tail as well as “747-8” on the belly.
The light livery, which saves time and expense compared to the full Boeing livery, will remain on the airplane until the flight-test program is completed. After flight test, it will be refurbished and delivered to a customer.
The first freighter will begin preparing for the necessary tests leading up to first flight in early 2010.
Boeing Hangs GEnx-2B Engines on the 747-8 Freighter
Boeing said today that they have installed the GEnx-2B engines off the 747-8F. This airplanes is moving through it's assembly and testing activities pretty fast. In fact the GEnx will most likely fly on the 747-8 before it flies on the 787 which is the airplane it was meant for (forget about the engines that are flying on the GE 747 test bed).
News Release Issued: September 2, 2009 8:00 AM EDT
Boeing Hangs GEnx-2B Engines on the 747-8 Freighter
EVERETT, Wash., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) continues to make progress on the assembly of the 747-8 Freighter, as mechanics completed the installation of the new GEnx-2B engines on airplane No. 1 in final assembly at the factory in Everett, Wash.
"We are another step closer to bringing the 747-8 Freighter to market," said Mo Yahyavi, vice president and general manager of the 747 program. "This production milestone is a reflection of the strong working together relationship among Boeing, GE Aviation, Middle River Aircraft Systems and Spirit AeroSystems."
The GEnx-2B continues its progress through its engine certification testing. It recently completed the first phase of flight testing on GE's 747 flying testbed.
"The GEnx-2B engine has performed very well during more than 1,500 hours of ground certification tests and 100 hours of flight testing," said Tom Brisken, general manager of GE Aviation's GEnx program. "We look forward to watching the GEnx-powered 747-8 Freighter take its first flight, ushering in a new era of improved aircraft efficiency."
The GEnx-2B is based on the GEnx-1B engine launched with the 787 Dreamliner. The GEnx-2B engine has been designed for the 747-8 and rated at 66,500 pounds of thrust.
"The 747-8 and the GEnx-2B are a perfect match," said Keith Leverkuhn, vice president and general manager of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Propulsion Systems. "The combination of these two technologies will provide our customers with improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions and noise as well as lower cost of ownership."
With the GEnx-2B engines, the 747-8 Freighter will be 17 percent more fuel efficient than the 747-400 Freighter, resulting in a 17-percent reduction in carbon emissions. It also will have a noise footprint that is 30 percent smaller than its predecessor, making it a QC2-compliant airplane on both departure and arrival.
The 747-8 Freighter is expected to make its first flight in the fourth quarter of this year, with first delivery scheduled for the third quarter of 2010. Boeing has secured 78 orders from leading cargo operators for the new 747-8 Freighter. Cargolux, Nippon Cargo Airlines, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Atlas Air, Cathay Pacific, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Emirates SkyCargo, Guggenheim and Korean Air all have placed firm orders for the airplane.
First 747-400 heads for scrapyard
Air New Zealand's first Boeing 747-400 will soon make one final flight to a wrecker's yard as further capacity cuts loom in the face of a continued fall in demand for global air travel.
The 19-year-old jumbo, named The Bay of Islands, was grounded and put up for sale after completing Air New Zealand's historic biofuel test flight in December.
Why does a Boeing 747-400 have winglets?
In order for an aircraft to gain any lift whatsoever, there must be a difference in pressure between the top and bottom of the wing. Below the wing you have high pressure air, above the wing you have low pressure air. This is how lift is accomplished by the wing. The high pressure air is heavier than the low pressure, so the plane has no choice but to remain aloft. (which is why flying is unbelievably safe)
At the end of the wing, there is a turbulent mixture of the high and low pressure air. This mixing point, roughly at the location of the winglets, causes drag and can cause an aircraft to become inefficient. The winglets assist in eliminating some of this drag, therefore adding range and in some cases, quite a bit of exterior style to an aircraft. (my opinion)
Every aircraft is designed differently, so winglets are efficient only on certain models. Aerodynamic variation in aircraft design can be either helped or hurt by winglets. The particular model in this question, the 747-400, usually comes with them, BUT, some airlines have opted to not have them installed on their new planes (Boeing 747-400D - Domestic). Japan Airlines did this because they use the new plane for shorter high capacity hauls versus flying across the Pacific.
Air Force One Buzzing Over New York
A photo opportunity gone bad when Air Force One flying through Manhattan sent people in the buildings running for cover thinking the plane was going to crash into a building.
First set of wings for the Boeing 747-8F completed
The first set of wings for the Boeing 747-8F have been completed, said Boeing, as they make progress on the 747-800 freighter and the Intercontinental (passenger version). The 135-foot wings add Boeing’s latest aerodynamic technologies, allowing the aircraft to fly farther and more efficiently. The newly advanced airfoil is said to improve overall performance and fuel efficiency.
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