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UPS doubles future 747-8F fleet with new order for 14
UPS Airlines has ordered 14 more Boeing 747-8Fs to double its future fleet of the re-engined jumbo freighter and add vital months, perhaps even years, to the type's backlog. The cargo airline has also ordered four more 767 freighters, it disclosed in separate announcements on Twitter today. The orders were revealed as UPS released annual earnings showing strong growth in 2017 and expectations of higher demand this year. (www.flightglobal.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
hardworker7 The NWA freighters were -200's and pretty well worn out. They were going to order 747-400F but I don't know what happened.
LH and CLX seem well positioned to take advantage of the sky-rocketing cargo rates in Europe as of late. These are 747-8 operators. Wonder if Delta regrets dismantling the cargo fleet they inherited from NWA?
744pnf; Absolutely. They were relics. The recently retired -400s could have been converted as the -200s were prior to that merger.
It made me very sad when the last commercial aviation 747 was delivered to the bone yard. But the "Queen" may not have been preserved in numbers but the beautiful form of the 747-800 will be seen very shortly when these aircraft are completed. I sure hope they have success with this model. Boeing builds models of existing aircraft while Bombardier and Airbus are designing and manufacturing new aircraft new from ideas based on "Paper" Boeing waited too long and are now suffering from not keeping an eye on the market design and trends of the industry. Boeing has something severely wrong between the design and manufacturing management teams.
(Sigh)....Ok a few things. First question, what existing model was the 787 based on? Secondly, present a valid argument that though they share VASTLY similar design philosophies, the A350 is drastically different and therefore more than just an improved 787 with a larger cabin. Don't forget the 787 was designed and flew first in your argument. See your comment here fails to take into account quite a few things. For instance Boeing Correctly predicted the market would not support aircraft of the A380 and 747-8 (not 800)....and they did this before the A380 ever flew. See Airbus once believed that they would be able to make an even larger version of the A380 (the -900) Instead now it and Boeing have had to give some pretty steep discounts just to keep the lines alive...However, Boeing who is "suffering from not keeping an eye on the market design" knew that there were two very specific, important (and profitable) markets the 747 would always own Airbus in....Cargo carrying and Air Force One.... Both still wanted the 747, just a higher performing, yet more efficient version...Hence the 747-8 (not 800) ;0) I am a fan of both Manufactures I just get so sick of these A vs B threads......
For the record, USAF actually looked at using the A380 to replace the B742s that the AF1/AF2 fleet currently are. In fact, the USAF even went as far as to select the B748 to replace it; however, that entire project was cancelled, so right now, there is no replacement for AF1/AF2. In fact, there have only been the -F variants of the B748 ordered, outside the small passenger order by the only customer ordering it, Lufthansa. Right now, there is no replacement for AF1/AF2, which is why USAF has been scrounging in boneyards for replacement parts.
Those two in USAF's fleets are on borrowed time, with no replacement in sight.
Those two in USAF's fleets are on borrowed time, with no replacement in sight.
For the record: Lufthansa is not the only customer for the 747-8 in the passenger configuration. Air China and Korean Air are flying it too. There's a handful in private use as well. As for the Air Force One project, the Air Force purchased 2 already-built 748s in August to be converted for use as presidential aircraft, and the contract to design the presidential upgrades was awarded to Boeing in September.
Don't forget British Airways spent the $$$$ to refurbish their best 747's to continue in service for many more years
They are being replaced with B747-800 acft built for a now defunct Russian carrier. Thanks to the end user they will be much cheaper
John W is correct. The 747-8 was always destined to be the nexr AF1. The US Congress would have it no other way. They and President Trump just didn't want to pay for two built from the ground up birds. This is why the two prior built birds were selected instead. This may also be the cancellation your referring to. What's ironic is these birds were originally going to Russia lol! After the corrupt selection of the 767 (after the A330 had already been) for the KC10/135 replacement, it was clear to Airbus that the A380 would only be looked at as a formality instead of truly evaluated for the role.
Lastly like I said in my original post Boeing knew the F variant would still live on and that the pax variant was on its last days before it even flew....but they needed the Fs to sell and they needed to secure AF1 in order to justify the 747-8.
Lastly like I said in my original post Boeing knew the F variant would still live on and that the pax variant was on its last days before it even flew....but they needed the Fs to sell and they needed to secure AF1 in order to justify the 747-8.