Air Force One

Businessweek has an article on the next Air Force One. It looks like Boeing is going to be the sole bidder, and the speculation is that the US Government will want three 747-8Is. The problem is they don't want them until after 2020, and with the current sales rate of the 747-8, there's concern if the line can stay open that long. The solution to that problem is to sell more frames. Seems simple enough.

Speaking of sales, Lufthansa is rumored to be ordering 50 wide bodies, a mixture of Boeing 777X and Airbus A350. 747 haters on various forums are declaring this to be the end of the 747-8I, getting so ridiculous as to state these 777X will replace the 747-8I prematurely and Boeing will buy the 747-8Is back. Lufthansa, however, previously stated this order was to focus on replacing their A340s, some of which are extremely young (which is sad; I really like the A340). So, there's no basis for this anti 747 speculation. I speculate the people spreading this nonsense are A380 fans who view the 747-8 as a nuisance. The truth is neither frame is selling well due to much deeper reasons than competition with each other. I'm hoping those reasons dissipate and both frames see strong success. I'm still expecting Lufthansa to place a top up order for both the 747-8I and the A380 at some point. We will see.

Line 1463 (RC604) VQ-BRH for AirBridgeCargo (formerly stored at Pinal Airpark for half a year) delivered this week, and should fly off next week.

Tupelo

Headed to Tupelo...

Took me long enough to post these pictures, didn't it? I visited Tupelo Regional Airport in search of old 747s a few weeks ago, and I wasn't disappointed. It's safe to assume that any large airplane flying into Tupelo is soon to be a scrap pile. Case in point, former United 747-400 N193UA, which flew here back in December:

"And that there's what's left of 193..."

The Lufthansa 747s that flew in here last year? Not a sign of them ever existing. It was a really interesting visit. The company that does all this dirty work, Universal Asset Management, stays very busy. They also have a spin off company called Aviation Afterlife that creates furniture and artwork using pieces and parts from these scrapped planes. I won't blather on any more about it; I'll just get to the pictures and videos.

Photo Gallery
Up in N195UA (video)
Flight Line 1 (video)
Flight Line 2 (video)

Block Change (?)

Line 1488 (RC549) for Korean Air Cargo rolled out from the final assembly line yesterday or today, which means line 1492 (RC031) D-ABYL started final assembly. This is the frame that I believe signals a block change for

• Lower weight
• Tail tank enabled
• 1.75 frames a month

among other things. We'll have to watch the roll out dates to verify.

Here's Matt Cawby's pic of line 1488:

747-8 on the Fairway (and Delta really !@#$ing sucks)

I spotted this while hacking up a golf course today (sorry for the cell phone quality):

Line 1451 D-ABYC for Lufthansa, approaching LAX.

It was amazingly quiet compared to the rest of the planes flying in all day.

And off topic: My god Delta customer service is terrible. Short version:

• Lost bag on way to Amsterdam in February, give me a $35 voucher.
• Doesn't work online, I call and they refuse to accept the voucher unless I mail it in to HQ @ Minnesota.
• Mail voucher back to me for god knows why, almost cancel my reservation.
• Tell me to mail it back in within three days or I lose my reservation and have to pay current price ($200 higher)
• I say forget it, just book it without the voucher.
• They charge me an extra $25 for making the reservation over the phone, after they specifically stated they wouldn't.
• Lost my window seat, stuck in a middle seat for 4 hour flight to Atlanta.
• Hang up on me when I call to try to sort the above out.

So trying to use my compensation for lost luggage ended up in me getting charged an extra $25...

Say Goodbye to 747-8 Test Liveries

Line 1421 (RC521) JA11KZ for Nippon Cargo Airlines is headed to Portland to get NCA colors. This was the last frame still wearing a test "Boeing Light" livery.

Have you guys read about this airline that's supposedly preparing for passenger service on a 747-200? They want to operate JFK to St Petersburg Pulkovo International Airport (LED). I'd have to book a flight just for kicks. Here's the frame they're planning on using.

And here's a much sillier idea for an old 747-200. Here's the frame.