Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter Rolls Out; Prepares for First Flight

Boeing Commercial News ^ | Aug. 17, 2006

[skeptoid]

Boeing [NYSE: BA] has rolled the first 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter (LCF) out of the hangar at Taipei's Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport. The enormous airplane is the first of three specially modified jets that will be used to transport major assemblies for the all-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

"This is one of the most unusual modifications Boeing has ever done," said Scott Strode, 787 vice president of Airplane Development and Production. "We've relied on the world's best talent to design and build the LCF and we can all be proud today to see it standing on the tarmac."

Ground testing is under way to prepare the LCF for its first flight. After initial flight testing in Taipei, the LCF will fly to Seattle to complete the flight test program. First flight and the ferry flight to Seattle are expected to occur by the end of August.

The modifications have been performed by Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp. (EGAT), a joint venture of EVA Air and General Electric and a part of Taiwan's Evergreen Group. The second airplane continues to be modified and will be completed this fall. The third airplane will begin modification next year. The first two LCFs enter service in 2007 to support the final assembly of the first Dreamliners.

[sharpee]

I believe it swings to port (left side) somewhere there was an article about the hinge being developed in Italy. The hinge contains all the control lines so the plane can be loaded and unloaded quickly. If this is the plane that they are going to use to transport the fuselage for the new Boeing plane

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

The Super Guppy

FWIW, the pic you posted was of the Airbus A300-600ST 'Beluga', not a Super Guppy.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

I believe it swings to port (left side) somewhere there was an article about the hinge being developed in Italy. The hinge contains all the control lines so the plane can be loaded and unloaded quickly. If this is the plane that they are going to use to transport the fuselage for the new Boeing plane

You're correct. The tail swings port. (747 LCF)

[skeptoid]

That sure looks like a Beluga.

"The A300-600ST was built in Toulouse, France. The first Super Transporter or Beluga, was rolled out on June 1994, with a maiden flight on September 13, 1994. The A300-600ST was certified in October 1995, after 335 test hours and went into service in January 1996. The second Beluga first flew on March 26, 1996 and the third on April 21 1997. The Belugas took over the complete ferrying operations for Airbus major assemblies in October 1996."

Try All About Guppys for lots more pics & dope including the Super Guppy page link on the left.

"The Super Guppy is seen here on it's initial test flight on August 31, 1965 taking off from Van Nuys Airport, California. Notice the contrails coming off the propeller tips due to the humidity in the air."

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Thanks for the correction, btw, I'm super glad FR is back up.

[DungeonMaster]

It may be ugly...but it's slow.

[frogjerk]

Thanks for the correction, btw, I'm super glad FR is back up.

why was it down? Is there a link?

[Robert A Cook PE]

OK.

Dat's plug-ugly.

it might be a nice plane, and it might be needed, and it might do the job perfectly well, but it's jest plug-ugly.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Super Gup was a modified B-29/B-50 conversion.

Amazing how that wing could fly! Once they fixed the engines....)

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Don't know why FR down. Guess we will hear soon....

[aquila48]

When is it due?

[skeptoid]

From this Wiki page:

[sharpee]

There is a link:

http://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers/archive/2005/june/ts_sf05.html

[skeptoid]

Or this one.

[ZOOKER]

Wonderful.

Now that they have their megatransporters on line, they can outsource ALL of their work to third-world peons.

[COEXERJ145]

Now that they have their megatransporters on line, they can outsource ALL of their work to third-world peons.

You're clueless.

Boeing has partnered with foreign companies for decades. It is the only way, other than the government paying for it, Boeing can afford to develop a new aircraft.

[hattend]

Cool!

[patton]

I would be embarassed to fly it. Knaw my arm off in the morning, and all.

[Robert A Cook PE]

True, true.


I "could" be persuaded, however, to fly IN it .... whilst doing the zero-G flips and lifts ... You could sail forever in zero-G in that hull.