Is She Or Isn't She?

Currently all four 747s in the FAL are for Lufthansa. As of now, these are the last four 747s for LH, and should all deliver in the first half of 2015.

Which brings up line 1435... A great picture of her came out the other day, and Boeing engineers are strapping engines back on, which means they're probably nearing completion of refurbishment. So is Lufthansa going to take her? That's still uncertain. At least the nacelles are still Lufthansa grey. I'm hoping for an official announcement with a top up order in the next few months.

Found on http://airwaysnews.com

Happy Birthday Line 1416, LX-ECV

How quickly a year flies by, and how fast those hours add up! Just over a year ago, after a stillbirth and over four years of desert storage with barely twenty hours on the clock, line 1416 entered into service with Cargolux as LX-ECV, . She's doing much better now, traveling the world, but mostly focusing on Europe to South America and back. Cargolux keeps her busy too. It's truly a happy ending (so far) for this formerly neglected frame.

Could she be the last 744 in service one day? Will she ever receive a full livery? We shall see!

Line 1437 Might Have a Home

Rumor is that Saudi Arabian Cargo will take a third 747-8F, and logically that'll probably be the sister ship to their current two frames: Line 1437 RC523 HZ-AI5 (the last of the three early Atlas NTUs). Makes sense, and I hope it happens. 1437 has been seeing some activity lately, so let's see if she gets a new paint job to confirm.

A Tribute to a Really Overdue Delivery (Lucky) #7: Line 1416 (747-400)

Line 1416. The poor 747-400ERF, neglected, unloved, unwanted. Four and a half years old. Sitting in the desert for over four of those long, lonesome years...

OK, I'm being overly sappy. I'll stop. But the BIG NEWS today is that line 1416 is officially in business with new owner Cargolux. She flew out of Pinal Airpark straight to Anchorage and into service.

Line 1416 is now Cargolux LX-ECV.

A little trip down memory lane is called for. Line 1416 rolled out of the FAL late February 2009.

At the fuel dock after roll out, by Matt Cawby

At the compass rose, by Matt Cawby

She had her first flight March 21st, 2009. She was supposed to be 9K-DAA for LoadAir Cargo, along with sister ship line 1419 (the last 747-400 built).

Lining up for first flight, by Matt Cawby

Returning from first flight.

A test flight in April 2009, by Matt Cawby

LoadAir Cargo went out of business, and Line 1416 was given the Boeing tail N797BA. She took a short hop to Vancouver before heading to Pinal Airpark, where she ended up sitting for over four years. 

Leaving for storage, by Matt Cawby

There were suitors along the way, but every deal fell through for one reason or another. Her sister in exile, line 1419 was bought by Kalitta in 2011 and has been cruising the skies ever since.

Behind line 1419.

On the right, next to sister ship line 1419, by AirTeamImages

All alone now...

After a promising deal with Qantas Freight fell through earlier this year, it seemed 1416 would never fly again, but Cargolux must have seized the opportunity and swooped in to the rescue.

Returning from a first flight out of storage, by azspyder

Cargolux is a great operator for line 1416. They heavily utilize their 747s, and send them to all four corners of the Earth. I can't wait to catch her in full livery at various airports around the world. Overdue is an understatement in this case, but it makes this delivery so much more savory.

Delivery flight. Arriving in Anchorage.

A Tribute to an Overdue Delivery #6: Line 1421

The final 747-8F test frame, and the second 747-8 built, line 1421 (RC521) JA11KZ for Nippon Cargo Airlines delivered on Wednesday and flew away today. Rolled out in early 2010, it took almost four years for this frame to enter service. The backlog is quite small now, with just two old frames waiting to find customers and deliver.

Second in this picture (behind line 1420), back in 2009.

First paint job.

Flight testing at Boeing Field

Flight testing around KPAE

Returning from refurbishment in Texas.

Leaving Portland with NCA livery.

Tons more pictures here.

Oh... My... God...

Line 1416 is scheduled for a test flight this morning.

UPDATE: SHE'S FLYING

And landed. Unless she crash landed in the desert near the border, I'm guessing Flight Aware is screwing up, and the flight lasted about 100 minutes. First flight in four years, and she might have crossed 20 hours total flight time now.

So 1416 most likely has a customer. Woo hoo! Can't wait to see her painted so we can know who it is.

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.

A Tribute to an Overdue Delivery #4 : Line 1432

A red letter day today, as line 1432 (RC572) HZ-AI4 for Saudi Arabian Cargo delivered. And overdue for delivery she was indeed. She rolled out over two (going on three) years ago and languished for most of that time. But now she has a job, and it's time to get to work.

Here's a lengthy delivery time lapse, which includes shots of Norwegian's first 787 delivery (update: not delivery, just a customer flight) (EI-LNA), and Japan Airlines JA832J taking her first flight.

At the Everett Delivery Center

Taxiing onto the runway.

JAL 787 getting ready for a first flight.

Love that livery.

Norwegian 787 getting ready to deliver.

JAL 787 JA832J first flight.

HZ-AI4 for Saudi Arabian Cargo delivery flight.

Norwegian 787 EI-LNA delivery customer flight.

Some old pics of her:

Refurbishment - getting engines

Land bound

Storage

Storage

This is the fastest she moved over her first two years.