Cathay Pacific possibly taking more 747-8Fs

This article says they have three on order. They're trying to get out from under most of their 747-400Fs by trading them in to Boeing. Some of these 744Fs are quite new, and should create an excellent opportunity for second tier freight operators like Kalitta to replace their 747-200s and 747-400BCFs.

Cathay takes one for the road

Cathay Pacific announced today an order for one 747-8F which will bring their total fleet to 14. I was hoping for more, but one is better than none. Cathay's VLA passenger plans are clearly 100% focused on the 777 unfortunately for the 747-8. In other Cathay updates, they took delivery of line 1486 (RC563) B-LJM on the 23rd.

Also delivered was AirBridgeCargo's final frame, line 1483 (RC605) VQ-BRJ. This, along with the paper delivery of line 1479 (RC525) JA15KZ for Nippon Cargo Airlines, marks the end of the desert storage saga, at east for now. All 747-8s that were parked in the desert over the last year or so have now been delivered.

It's looking like 23 deliveries for 2013, unless line 1488 (RC549) HL7624 for Korean can squeeze out the door before the end of the year. That's down from 31 last year, but still a healthy number.

Second 747-8 PIP Delivery

Today, Cathay Pacific took delivery of line 1484 (RC562) B-LJL, marking the second delivery of a 747-8 with PIP engines. Deja vu, two deliveries in two days. The third should happen in the next few days.

Line 1479 (RC525) JA15KZ also paper delivered to NCA two days ago, and should fly away soon. On deck for 2013 still are lines 1483 (RC605) VQ-BRJ for ABC and 1488 (RC549) HL7624 Korean Air Cargo, but the latter is looking like a stretch with only one test flight so far.

You might notice the bottom of the chart has four new Intercontinentals added. Two of those are for Lufthansa, which gave me a sigh of relief. I was a bit paranoid they were going to cancel the last four orders and stick with 15 747-8Is, after they cancelled a few A380s earlier this year. Now it looks like they're going ahead with all 19 747-8Is, and possibly 20 if they end up taking line 1435 (RC021) D-ABYE back. I say add another five to fill up the alphabet (D-ABYZ?). Not including that extra letter in the German alphabet of course (D-ABYß?).

First 747-8 PIP Delivery

Today, Cathay Pacific takes delivery of line 1483 (RC561) B-LJK, marking the first delivery of a 747-8 with PIP engines. According to Boeing's press release, activation of the other two major improvements, the flight computer upgrade (for all 747s models 400 and up) and tail tank enablement (for 747-8I only), will proceed later this month and early January (with Lufthansa) respectively. Here's to (1.8%) more efficiency! Pics to come.

And more details from Aviation Week (thanks for the heads up Mario), stating a total of 3.5% efficiency increase with the whole package (1.8% is from engine only):

The upgraded engine forms the core of a broader set of aerodynamic and structural improvements that have been introduced since the freighter and passenger versions of the aircraft first entered service in 2011 and 2012 respectively. “Together with the other improvements made since entry-into-service on the 747-8F at the end of 2011, the engine PIP bundles 1.8% with another 1.7% for a total of 3.5% (fuel burn),” says 747-8 chief project engineer Bruce Dickinson. In addition to drag reduction and improvements to the cruise efficiency of the wing, the empty weight of the 747-8 has been reduced by almost 8,000 lb, while payload-range capability has been boosted through a 12,000 lb. increase in maximum take-off weight. The GEnx-2B67 PIP incorporates an all-new low-pressure turbine, as well as compressor, combustor and turbine improvements derived from the second batch of upgrades (PIP II) devised for the GEnx-1B engine on the 787. GE provisionally expected a 1.6% fuel burn improvement but, based on positive test data, upped this to 1.8%. The package of upgrades was launched after pre-delivery flight tests revealed a fuel burn performance shortfall in excess of 2%.

Happy 1/10th Birthday, Line 1416

Some good pictures of line 1416 LX-ECV for Cargolux in action have popped up at Widebodies. She's one tenth of a year old (at least in in-service years) now. Not much of a livery but at least there's something. Even if they park her again after three months, I can die knowing the frame wasn't totally wasted.

Pic 1

Pic 2 

And here just last week in Brazil.

Video of takeoff from Afonso Pena International Airport. (ruined by youtube's smoothing algorithm but better than nothing).

Paine Field activity isn't exactly electrifying right now. Cathay's new triplets are still being tested, but it's getting late for them to really contribute to the holiday rush. Korean Air Cargo's line 1488 (RC549) HL7624 is pending a first flight. It's strange that this frame is in flight test while line 1481 (RC548) also for KAC has been sitting unpainted and un-engined for six months.

Looking Like 23 Deliveries For 2013

Blogger.com is blocked from China, as is a bunch of other stuff. I found a way to keep the chart updated though.

So I missed all the excitement of all three new Cathay frames having B1s over 4 days (and it was almost three consecutive). That would be lines 1483 (RC561) B-LJK, 1484 (RC562) B-LJL, and 1486 (RC563) B-LJM.

It looks like between these three and lines 1479 (RC525) JA15KZ (for NCA) and 1483 (RC605) VQ-BRJ (for ABC), Boeing is really pushing to get them out before the end of the year, which would give us 23 deliveries for 2013.

I scored three 747-400 rides this trip, and it's good to see so much 747 activity at the big airports. It's not what it used to be but there are still a lot of them taxiing around. I flew on RP-C7472 (line 1012 for Philippines from LAX to MNL), B-HUF (line 993 for Cathay from HKG to TPE), and B-18207 (line 1176 for China Airlines from TPE to LAX), with a bonus short hop in an A340 from MNL to HKG on the outgoing, which happens to be my favorite Airbus. It was scheduled for an A330, which is the most boring airliner in existence to me, so the swap was a great surprise. A340-300 RP-C3438 was fresh over from Iberia to Philippines Airlines, still with the old Iberia livery minus branding.

Saw a lot of 747-8s on this trip too. Can't wait to fly in one. They really are the best looking version of the best looking airliner ever made. Here are some pics:

RP-C7472 - don't those engines just give you warm fuzzies?

Upper Deck!

RP-C3438 still wearing old clothes.

Hong Kong - How many 747-8s can you count?

D-ABYF at Hong Kong.

B-HUF ready for a short hop to Taiwan.

There isn't always time for a great pic, but gotta get the tail number. Funny thing was the cute flight attendant listed it off from memory before I took this shot to verify. I'm in love.

Need For (Ground) Speed Baby!!

Holy Crap, 747-8s Are Quiet.

Live blogging from the road!

I'm at LAX waiting for my flight (PAL flight 103, 747-400 line 1012 RP-C7472), at the Tom Bradley complex, gate 156, which is at the south end. My flight pulls up and I'm admiring how awesome 747s are in person, and a couple jets are taking off just to the side of me on runway 25R making the usual racket. Suddenly I catch this long ass ghost ship 747 race by and lift up into the air in the dark, and I look closely to see Cathay livery. It's dark so I can't see the tail number, but I looked it up on FlightRadar (because FlightAware is busted) and it's B-LJD. So not only am I stoked to see one of my overdue delivery frames take off in person 100 yards away, but I can't believe how quiet it was. I mean it was like a Tesla just drove by or something. No hyperbole, that was amazing. Unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to get a pic. But here's my ride:

Philippine Airlines line 1012, RP-C7472

Now I'm in the International Lounge feeling like royalty, with free food and drinks, far away from all the smelly proletarians. I could get used to this Business Class thing...

One Million Dollars Per Year

The title sums up the results of the performance improvements being introduced on new 747-8s. One million in fuel costs saved per frame, per year. The improvements itemized:

• 7,700 lbs removed
• 1.8% fuel burn reduction in the engines
• Tail tank enabled, with software modification to keep fuel in the tail to reduce the need for trim.
• FMC improvements, including RNP AR and improved climb functions
• 3.5% fuel burn improvement overall

These improvements will all be delivering this year. Boeing plans on continuing to improve the performance of the 747-8 as well. In a few more years it might actually take off with empty tanks and land twelve hours later with them overflowing.

In other rumors, Cathay's 14th frame has shown up on the charts, although it has yet to be ordered. Another interesting thing is line 1435 (RC021), the current test frame for the above improvements and former Lufthansa D-ABYE, is once again listed internally as earmarked for Lufthansa. This could be a clerical error, but I'm hopeful Lufthansa has had a change of heart.

New Engines Being Installed?

Judging from Matt Cawby's latest flight line shot, it looks like line 1483 (RC561) B-LJK for Cathay Pacific is at the fuel dock and possibly has engines. Or is that an optical illusion? Also, the unknown frame in stall 118 has two balance weights removed, which could mean she's getting engines too.

Empty Nest Syndrome

Two days after the last old Cathay frame, Line 1433 (RC553) B-LJC, flew away to Hong Kong, finally for the first time in almost three years leaving the KPAE flightline without a Cathay 747 sitting around like a bump on a log, Boeing does this (pic thanks to Matt Cawby).

It's like deja vu all over again. B-LJL, painted and engine-less, proudly carrying on the tradition. Fortunately, knock on wood, she and her two sisters are all supposed to be delivered by the end of the year, as soon as the new and improved GE engines are certified and ready.

So don't get too comfortable B-LJL...

A Tribute to an Overdue Delivery #5 : Line 1433

Cathay took delivery of long neglected line 1433 (RC553) B-LJC on Tuesday, going on three years after she rolled off the assembly line. Cathay is very happy with their 747-8Fs, and B-LJC should happily join in on the fun and profit. Here are some pictures to remember her by:

Both have now flown, but will 1437 find a home too?

Not goin' anywhere fast...

All three of these are now in service.

I believe the frame to the left is a United 787 now in service too.

Paperweight to tower, do you read me?

Preparing for first flight but ridin' dirty.

Up in the air on her B1.

New coat of paint.

Unfortunately, 1433 left in the still of the night, and I don't have any pictures of her delivery flight. But she should start showing up at airports all over the world in a week or two, so we haven't seen the last of her.

Two Deliveries, One Day

I'm not really sure which one is #53 and which is #54, but Cathay took delivery of line 1433 (RC553) B-LJC and Lufthansa took delivery of line 1480 (RC030) D-ABYK today. That's a lot of aluminum cleared off the flight line for one day. Pictures to come...

Thanks to Matt Cawby:

Don't have any pictures of B-LJC leaving unfortunately, as she left around midnight.

July Wrap Up

A slow month on the 747 production front. No deliveries, two first flights, and a couple new engine-less frames to sit around the KPAE tower. At least we had a couple new firm orders.

In August, we should see two deliveries: line 1433 for Cathay and line 1480 for Lufthansa. After that there might not be any deliveries until October. Through the end of the year we will probably see Nippon Cargo take three frames, Cathay should take three more (after 1433), and Cargolux might take one or two. That would put us around 20-22 deliveries for the year. There might be a few more (ABC? Korean Air Cargo? Line 1437?) but they'd be surprises at this point.

I caught line 1433 (RC553) B-LJC for Cathay returning from a B3 flight this afternoon.

A Cathay VP recently said he sees no need for passenger VLA (very large aircraft). Cathay, a large 747-8F customer, is a potential 747-8I customer, but that flame is looking dim after his comments.

B-LJC, Fresh

Line 1433 (RC553) B-LJC returned to KPAE today with a fresh coat of paint. She's scheduled to deliver this month. Photographed here leaving Portland thanks to Sabian404.

Lufthansa line 1477 (RC029) D-ABYJ entered passenger service with a trip to Hong Kong on the 12th, but oddly just started registering on Flight Aware and Flight Radar today. She's been christened "Hannover".

Poor line 1416. When will you spread your wings?!

Line 1433 B2 to Portland

Pics of line 1433 heading off to Portland International for a B2 and a paint touch up.

The Last First Flight

For a frame in the overdue category at least. Line 1433 (RC553) B-LJC for Cathay Pacific took off today for the first time, well over two years after rolling off the assembly line and starting her long slumber, stored in various places around KPAE in an unflyable state. This marks the last "old frame" that needed refurbishment to take to the air; all of the old frames have now flown, and as such it's sort of a milestone for the program. Boeing can start focusing all resources on new build frames, shaving off weight and optimizing performance. B-LJC should deliver towards the middle of next month, after some more test flights and a fresh paint job. Thanks to Roy Yang for the pics (which show a very dirty airplane).

Also, line 1482 (RC605) VQ-BRJ for AirBridgeCargo rolled off the FAL, as you can see in the top picture. Judging by my rough rollout date records, they're likely already producing new frames at the adjusted 1.75 per month rate.

May '13 Wrap Up

Four deliveries in May:

• Line 1438 (RC554) B-LJD for Cathay Pacific
• Line 1473 (RC508) LX-VCH for Cargolux
• Line 1476 (RC582) N855GT for Atlas
• Line 1475 (RC028) D-ABYI for Lufthansa

Matt Cawby posted a curious picture:

An apparent 747-8I in final assembly inside building 40-24. However, if you look at the chart, you can see the next ten frames in or scheduled for final assembly are all 747-8Fs. Something is fishy, but I don't know what the explanation is yet. Note 40-24 is supposed to be the 787 surge line, where the first 787-9 is starting its final assembly. Is this just line 1480 for Lufthansa back inside for some fixing?

Obscure 744BCF speculation

One of my new favorite things to do as a distraction is track old 744s in storage. It's difficult to catch every movement, because these planes are spread all over the world and many have spotty flight registration using Flight Radar and Flight Aware, but occasionally I catch some activity and do a little investigation.

Today, Cathay B-HKH (line 831), a 22 year old converted freighter, went for a short test flight out of Victorville, where it's been stored for almost a year. This makes me think it's preparing to enter back into service. Cathay has been vocal about their current dislike for converted 744 freighters in the recent economy, but other freight companies are happily operating them and supposedly making money from them (like Evergreen, which has been flying the hell out of recently aquired N779BA, a former Korean Airlines converted freighter). I'm speculating B-HKH will be going into service as a replacement for National Airlines N949CA (line 960), which was involved in a tragic accident last month. We shall see.

Update: Well I guess I was partly wrong. She's flying back to China this morning, mostly empty judging by the distance. Someone over there must have found work for her.

A Tribute to an Overdue Delivery #3 : Line 1438

A slightly half-assed ODT, due to me being busy as hell with my real job. Line 1438 (RC554) B-LJD, Cathay's 9th (but 4th constructed) 747-8F, delivered today.

Roll out happened back in early 2011 and she got a paint job that April.

Afterwards, she entered long term storage (with engines) at KPAE which lasted for well over a year. It was curious that previous frames for Cathay (lines 1427 and 1428) and later frames after line 1438 delivered punctually, while 1438 (and 1433) were held back for so long.

Refurbishment started around July of 2012 and finished up earlier this year. Photo records show she lost her engines sometime post refurbishment, although I don't remember the exact circumstances.

(Edit: When I look at this last picture closely, I think it's actually B-LJC, which never did have engines during storage. That would make more sense.)

Here's to a long and prosperous (albeit delayed) career. Thanks to Matt Cawby for most of the heisted pics.

Refurb complete

At least for the time being at KPAE, all 747-8 refurbishment is complete. Cathay line 1433 (RC553) B-LJC was moved over the the 200's isle looking ready to fly. At the same time, line 1435 is at the fuel dock, and looks ready to start flight testing the engine/computer/fuel tank improvements. Of course at some point in the future line 1435 will need to undergo a final refurb, and line 1421 is still under refurb in Texas. But it feels strange having no dormant frames laying around Everett after three years of backlog.

Speaking of dormancy, it looks like more frames are getting deferred, which gives me something else to track entirely. On top of NCA and ABC, Korean Air Cargo is now deferring deliveries until 2014, meaning more brand new frames will fly to the desert and sit. Here's a good rundown. 747-8 news in general has been a bit dire lately, but things will turn around; I've got a feeling.