Let's talk -9F

 Hello Everybody,

Now that the line is going to go next year, It's a good idea to sit and speculate what the next step would have been. I've said on here before that there is scope to do a 747-9F, but what would this be and what could we have expected to see from such a program?

Bedek has restarted P2F conversions, but is this a sustainable program lasting into the long term? How many new frames are likely, given that the are a few 747F classics still around and going strong. Would the market switch to less efficient engines, given that they can't get big freighters with more up to date ones?

Perhaps this a question that BCA should answer.

Anyways, here goes nothing:

747-9F 

Technical Considerations.

Length: Longer than current 747-8, may require strengthened wing box, up to80m total length or longer.

Wingspan: Same as current 747-8, but extra wingspan would be a boon.

Height: Same as current 747-8.

Additional Capacity: at least 2 more pallets on the maindeck and 4 in the underfloor hold.

MTOW: In Excess of 1 million pounds.

Engines: Up rated engines perhaps in excess of 69,000 lbs x 4 engines. Overkill? dunno.

Gear: Strengthened Landing gear with larger tires.

Range: Less than current 747-8F model, 3500Nm worst estimate, but can be extended with underfloor tanks

Other Considerations:

Field performance

Wake turbulence category

Suitable Airports. (Are we looking at a repeat of the A380 here?)

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Any comments, suggestions, please post below, would be happy to hear from everybody.

Thanks.

Told Ya So....

 Well, well, well,

Atlas Air signs new freighters. Four of them. I remember saying once that This Airline was the one BCA should be targeting, but alas they never did. Atlas is going to get a Nasty headache with no replacements for the fleet of queens they operate, some nearing 30 years old.

Atlas is in no way unique, there is probably another airline out there looking for a solution that only a 747 will give them but wont commit to anything because of the doomsday talk and announcement that the line is going, or that it doesn't fit any green new deals.

Is there a profitability issue?

Why BCA Can charge what they like with any future orders, the customer here is bent over the table and in fact if I were them I would just offer them a 20 frame package and tell the accounting department to take a hike. Half the problem with this program is all the doomsday talk, with sayings of all sorts of two pot box boats, none of which can do the same job as efficiently or if not as effectively, while ignoring the product your selling and any potential customers that they have in front of them.

And as for Anet, I know an armchair salesman that wants get in touch. 

.ps IF you pretend your product is garbage, then it might as well be.