[Paleo Conservative]

Ping!

[Darkwolf377]

It looks like a flying Thermos.

[Larry Lucido]

Wow, it's like loading a battery stick into my Streamlight.

[orionblamblam]

Moscow? Are we talking Russkies, or does Idaho have a design facility?

[ZOOKER]

Boeing has needed this for years.

It has gotten by with some bizarre transportation methods for oversized major assemblies --- they use barges, modified rail cars, and tractor trailers that steer at both ends. They all work but are unwieldy and already at their limits for size of the pieces they could transport.

Airbus saw the need for air transport when they started their company, and bought up all the available Super Guppy transport planes for themselves.

They use them to fly in whole fuselage sections to their assembly plant in France. Obviously Boeing intends to copy their methods, but they have to build their own transport to do it.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Great stuff. But it makes me wonder Boeing didn't just slap a temporary nose cone and tail cone on the fuselage section being transported and stick it on top of the 747 fuselage. I seem to recall something similar being done before...

Sure, drag may have been higher, but I would think the higher fuel consumption would be more than offset by the cost of building these new transporters.

[spodefly]

BTTT

[decimon]

I hope that yellow thingy is to provide support for the tail section when swung. Doesn't look like a Big Friendly Hinge would do.

[roaddog727]

Cool beans!

[Paleo Conservative]

I wonder why China Airlines bought this airplane to replace the used 747-400 that will become the second 747-400 LCF that will be used to for Boeing's internal use to ship assemblies for the 787? From what I can tell from various websites they are replacing a used 747-400 with a new 747-400 with Boeing's new interior. It doesn't even appear to be a 747-400ER. I wonder how this makes financial sense? I guess China Airlines doesn't have to have any downtime to refurbish an existing aircraft. Any ideas?

China Airlines takes delivery of Special-Livery 747-400

China Airlines today took delivery of a unique Boeing 747-400 featuring a distinctive blended paint design and the Boeing Signature Interior.

The exterior of China Airlines' 14th 747-400 combines the airline's plum blossom tail image with Boeing's new blue commercial airplane livery. The award-winning interior is designed to make passengers as comfortable as possible on intercontinental flights. The cabin features ambient lighting and larger overhead stowage bins that open downward for convenient loading. It also has a high ceiling that provides passengers a more roomier, open environment.

"The 747 has greatly contributed to the expansion of China Airlines' services to its passengers," said Chiang Yao-Chung, chairman, China Airlines. "With the 747-400's proven performance and continued excellence, our passengers will experience an increasingly enjoyable and comfortable flight, with optimal operational efficiency and reliability."

"In expanding its intercontinental operation, we are pleased that China Airlines has standardized its long-haul fleet with the Boeing 747-400," said Larry Dickenson, senior vice president -- Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We at Boeing are thrilled to continue as China Airlines' partner and look forward to our long future together."

The airplane delivered today replaces a 747 that China Airlines sold back to Boeing for use as the second of three Large Cargo Freighters (LCF). The LCF will be used to transport major assemblies for the Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner from suppliers worldwide to the Boeing plant in Everett, Wash., where the Dreamliner will be built.

_______________ Mai Pen Rai