Replies

if Boeing were to see a interest and demand for the modified 747 - 400 , it would be only a guess that Boeing would see a niche market for a modified 747 - 400 freighter to compete with the A 380 freighter.

Actually, the 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter could have more demand than people think. There are a lot of outsized cargo that needs to be shipped around the world regularly (which explains why the Ukrainians are making a lot of money lending out their fleet of Antonov An-124's to carry such cargo all the time) and the 747-400 LCF could do quite well serving this market. In fact, the 747-400 LCF could end up being in Airbus service because Airbus will need such a plane to ship in larger high-bypass engines for the A350 and A380 programs! (That is unless Airbus decides to build a second-generation Super Transporter based on the A340-300 airframe but with the larger A340-500 wing.)

Did you notice that the article said that they will use the current wing design for this modified 747 - 400 LCF ?
The classic 747 wing design is a really robust design , however, for economical and efficiency reasons, ( if Boeing has the desire to spend BILLIONS to re design the current 747 wing ) Boeing would have to re design the 747 wing in relation to the triple 777 wing design.
We don't really know what " Tricks up their ( Boeing ) sleeves " that they may have, that Boeing is going to propose in the new 747 Advanced wing design or over all airframe design for the new 747.
They did say that they are going to " MODIFIY " the current wing, but, not sure if that means " TWEAKING " the wing, or a total " RE DESIGN " of the wing.
If we have any engineers here on FR that have some experience in the area of Carbon Composites, how much more can Boeing and their engineers reduce the weight on the 747 Advanced in the use of composite materials ?
One are that they could reduce the weight of the aircraft ( unless they have already done this ) is the use of composite material on the speed breaks on the wings on the 747 ?
The speed breaks on the wings are only used to slow the plane down after it touches down on the runway.
Correct me if I am wrong on this, the speed breaks are not ( structural significant ) as in relation to the rest of the plane .
Can they use composites for the speed breaks ? instead on aluminum ? or do they already use fiberglass in their speed breaks on the wings on the 747 ?
They already use fiberglass for their ( Ball - screw jacks covers ( shrouds ) that cover the ball & screw jacks that drive the flaps on the 747.
Can they use carbon composites on the ailerons ?
Flaps ?
On parts of the tail of the plane ? like the rudder ? the elevators ? Outer surface skins on the tail ?
Is it possible for Boeing to use carbon composites on the upper deck outer surface skin ( Flight deck, upper first class area " THE FAMOUS 747 HUMP " area ) instead of aluminum ?
Or is there a conflict problem in using aluminum and composites between 2 surface joints, and the conflict of expansion and contraction in relation between Carbon composites and aluminum ?
Let hope that Boeing will decide to build the next generation of the 747 Advanced and WOW and DAZZLE us in the great product that they finally come up with in their new designs of the new 747.
The 747 will always be in the heart of many people " The Queen of the skies "