Today is bittersweet. Lufthansa takes the final delivery of their order for 19 747-8Is. The order that kicked off the program is filled. Line 1514 RC040 D-ABYU is the last Lufty frame to leave the nest.
It's pretty certain now that there won't be a top up order from Lufthansa, as many of us had hoped. Sadder still that they won't be taking line 1435 either. Line 1435's future looks dire; years in a desert, followed by, at best, sparse use by a BBJ customer on Rolex shopping trips. Maybe Air Morocco will take her.
But alas, let us celebrate Lufthansa for at least being the catalyst behind the beautiful 748I, and operating by far the largest fleet of them, hopefully deep into the 21st century.
I still need to write about my trip on the 748 last month. In summary: it was cool.
It's pretty certain now that there won't be a top up order from Lufthansa, as many of us had hoped. Sadder still that they won't be taking line 1435 either. Line 1435's future looks dire; years in a desert, followed by, at best, sparse use by a BBJ customer on Rolex shopping trips. Maybe Air Morocco will take her.
But alas, let us celebrate Lufthansa for at least being the catalyst behind the beautiful 748I, and operating by far the largest fleet of them, hopefully deep into the 21st century.
I still need to write about my trip on the 748 last month. In summary: it was cool.
Saudi Arabian Cargo picked 2 747-400:
ReplyDeleteLN1318 TC-ACM (former F-GIUC Air France Cargo)
LN1161 TF-AMN (former N469AC Southern Air) https://www.flickr.com/photos/35133216@N05/17182719210/
That's cool for line 1161, didn't think she'd fly again being a bdsf, even though relatively young
DeleteLN1516 RC550 back on the flightline:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/woody2190/status/596185361878888448
RC002 did first flight after outfitting (scroll down):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.aviation-friends-hamburg-forum.de/showthread.php?tid=9228
Cargolux picked up former N558CL LN1380. Will be LX-JCV.
ReplyDeleteI saw that. I just flew to Shanghai Pudong last week, and I spotted the other three ex-Jade 747s, as well as the two ex-China Southern ones, all parked to one side of the airport. Made me sad. I think there was an A340 parked with them. You can see them when you take off to the south. In fact, I just checked, and you can find them all on google maps with satellite view.
DeleteYep, it's pretty sad that these nearly new frames are stored in Shenzen under sky with smog and humidity. Maybe someone will pick them up eventually,
DeleteYup. But two are at Shanghai (Pudong International south side). I saw em with my own eyes last Friday :) You can see them here, along with the two China Southern and a third unknown 747: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Shanghai+Pudong+International+Airport/@31.1216558,121.8058521,397m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x35ad8fde769550c1:0xc9e41371c92c355f!6m1!1e1
DeleteThe third Jade frame, I think line 1391, is at shenzhen, missing at least one engine. https://www.flickr.com/photos/louise_wong/16392132949/
A7-HJA delivered from BBJ to customer:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flightradar24.com/QAF13/64316e1
Looks like it's back in Basel. Probably still needs paint.
Deletehttp://www.flightradar24.com/data/airplanes/a7-hja#643e83a
It looks like LN1440 RC003 A6-PFA finished cabin outfiting too:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/6341838/#156
also LN1449 RC005 A7-HJA was ferried from BSL to FCO for painting.
LX-JCV delivered yesterday to Cargolux, flight SAT-LUX
ReplyDeleteall white livery:
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152983514298108&set=o.108800259165828&type=1
Looks like LN1383 4X-ICA is inactive.
ReplyDeleteSorry, it's been over a month since your last post, I was looking forward to your trip on the 747-8 that you have mentioned before. I guess I should remove this blog from my favorites.
ReplyDeleteYeah sorry, I have it half written up. I've been absolutely swamped with work and a few other things this past month that have kept me from being able to finish it or do much else. I'm keeping the chart updated though, so don't go!
DeleteWe have a new order for a unknowen customer. Any informations on that?
ReplyDeleteFor 1 frame, it's probably either a Cargolux or AirBridge top-up, or maybe Saudia taking line 1437. Maybe a BBJ. That's all I've got right now; speculation.
DeleteIt's definitely a freighter. Boeing stated so in a tweet and in it's O/D update last week. I also think it is ABC, as they stated earlier this year that they would take 1, and perhaps 2 frames. Saudia also is a possibility, given the rumors from earlier in the year. Cargolux stated earlier this year, when they took delivery of their 30th 747 overall, that they were already in discussions with Boeing for a follow up order of potentially 5 frames, so it would surprise me if they ordered a single one, however anything is possible.
DeleteRC550 for Korean Air Cargo did B1 flight yesterday:
ReplyDeletehttp://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE550/history/20150610/1730Z/KPAE/KMWH
The Paris Air Show is this week. Hopefully there is some good news. Otherwise.....
ReplyDeleteWell, it isn't a passenger order, and it's currently an MoU, but if they can get it firmed up, it's very good news.
ReplyDeletehttp://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=20295&item=129452
20 frames, mixed between leases, like the original 5 frames, and leases, like the one ordered last year for ABC. Also, interestingly, delivery over the next 7 years.
Now, perhaps a passenger order sometime this year as well? :-)
ahh...I meant "direct purchases, like the original 5 frames".... whoops.
ReplyDelete