Line 1477 (RC029) D-ABYJ for Lufthansa had her first flight this afternoon.
First shot thanks to Matt Cawby, second shot thanks to Piotrek.
First shot thanks to Matt Cawby, second shot thanks to Piotrek.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Etihad 747-8F
Atlas's brand new frame, line 1476 (RC582) N855GT emerged from the paint hanger sporting her new Etihad Cargo livery. She had just been painted in Atlas's livery prior to her first flight, but that coat wasn't long for this world.
Line 1476 is still property of Atlas, but she's on a long term wet lease to Etihad for a round the world shipping route. Ethihad is also employing a couple 747-400Fs, and there are rumors that they might be in the market for more 747-8s. both passenger and freighter models. Here's the route N855GT will be taking:
Line 1476 is still property of Atlas, but she's on a long term wet lease to Etihad for a round the world shipping route. Ethihad is also employing a couple 747-400Fs, and there are rumors that they might be in the market for more 747-8s. both passenger and freighter models. Here's the route N855GT will be taking:
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
100k hour 747-400s
Line 1432 (RC572) HZ-AI4 for Saudi Arabian Cargo went out for a C1 flight today, so delivery should be approaching.
I've been snooping around this FAA database, and it looks like Delta's first ten 747-400s (N6[61-70]us) are all just hitting or about to hit 100,000 service hours. Being that they're all 23-25 years old, this is pretty good utilization. Not "Lufthansa good", but still good. The newer six are in the 50-60,000 hour range.
United's 747-400's are not utilized as well as Delta's. Their oldest are all in or approaching the low 90,000 hour range, with many of the newer frames in the 40,000-60,000+ range. Entries here confirm that some of their early retirement frames (like n195ua and n106ua) were, sure enough, in the low 40,000 hour range, or even lower.
I've been snooping around this FAA database, and it looks like Delta's first ten 747-400s (N6[61-70]us) are all just hitting or about to hit 100,000 service hours. Being that they're all 23-25 years old, this is pretty good utilization. Not "Lufthansa good", but still good. The newer six are in the 50-60,000 hour range.
United's 747-400's are not utilized as well as Delta's. Their oldest are all in or approaching the low 90,000 hour range, with many of the newer frames in the 40,000-60,000+ range. Entries here confirm that some of their early retirement frames (like n195ua and n106ua) were, sure enough, in the low 40,000 hour range, or even lower.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Lufthansa wants to replace remaining 747-400s starting in 2020
Update: See this article on Bloomberg. Looks like the Aviation Week article (which has now been updated as well) was based on a misquote and the CEO was talking about the remaining newer 747-400s, which will all be over 20 years old by then anyway. So they're looking at the 777-9x over the 747-8I as a replacement, which would mean the possibility of no top up 747-8I order from Lufthansa.
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Previous: I have issues with the wording in this article that makes the claim. I'm sure the Lufthansa CEO was speaking in German and it's not a direct quote, but it isn't really clear if he actually said what the headline claims he said, or if Aviation Week derived this from the fact that he said they're also looking at the 777-9X in their plan to replace their A340 fleet starting in 2020. The 777-9X isn't really 747-8I size anyway, more like 747-400 size.
If it's true and he really said what the headline claims, then that sucks. But I can't imagine they'd plan to take another twelve frames, and that Boeing would be putting so much work into improving efficiency, if this was true. I'm guessing it would be cheaper to cancel the remaining orders, do an extra heavy check on their current older 747-400's, and limp to 2020 then to spend the capital on twelve new frames for a mere ten years of use. Lufthansa has always made their money owning frames and flying them to old age. Even their A340s will all be 20 years old or older when they get retired. Maybe he meant that future 747-400's replacements would probably be 777-9Xs, instead of more 747-8Is. I guess we'll see with time.
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Previous: I have issues with the wording in this article that makes the claim. I'm sure the Lufthansa CEO was speaking in German and it's not a direct quote, but it isn't really clear if he actually said what the headline claims he said, or if Aviation Week derived this from the fact that he said they're also looking at the 777-9X in their plan to replace their A340 fleet starting in 2020. The 777-9X isn't really 747-8I size anyway, more like 747-400 size.
If it's true and he really said what the headline claims, then that sucks. But I can't imagine they'd plan to take another twelve frames, and that Boeing would be putting so much work into improving efficiency, if this was true. I'm guessing it would be cheaper to cancel the remaining orders, do an extra heavy check on their current older 747-400's, and limp to 2020 then to spend the capital on twelve new frames for a mere ten years of use. Lufthansa has always made their money owning frames and flying them to old age. Even their A340s will all be 20 years old or older when they get retired. Maybe he meant that future 747-400's replacements would probably be 777-9Xs, instead of more 747-8Is. I guess we'll see with time.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
May '13 Wrap Up
Four deliveries in May:
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?
- 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
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?
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