Posted on 08/21/2006 11:19:34 AM PDT by 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.
ROFL--thanks for tickling my funny bone.
Friend of mine used to fly a carvair but only at night hauling freight.That was an ugly plane. so many analogies...
True: Wing and engines were B-29 for the KC-97.
KC-97 Stratotanker
The C-97 was the cargo/transport version of the B-29. Fatten the B-29's fuselage, use the same wings, tail and engines and you have a cargo plane. The prototype first flew in 1944 with the first production C-97A in 1949. Boeing also developed a practical in-flight refueling boom about the same time. Previously, the Air Force had experimented with a trailing hose technique with some success, but Boeing's boom changed the state of the art overnight.
Very soon the basic C-97 Stratofreighter became a KC-97 Stratotanker refueling bomber aircraft, usually a B-47 Stratojet. The tanker version (KC-97) was introduced in 1950 using the "flying boom" refueling system and all subsequent USAF contracts were for tankers, having the capability of serving as a heavy cargo aircraft without removing the refueling gear. After 1956, USAF KC-97s were gradually replaced by KC-135 jet tankers, but some were modified for continued use in other roles. The KC-135 jet powered aircraft, with a greater capacity, took over the tanker role along with its name, Stratotanker. The KC-97 did all the pioneering work.
How did a piston engine tanker refuel a faster jet bomber? It "tobogganed". The refueling connection would be made high up and then the bomber and tanker flew "downhill" together enabling the tanker to pick up more speed. The KC-97L had an extra jet engine mounted under both wings which gave it the added speed required for flight and takeoff. This enabled it to refuel jet bombers without tobogganing. The KC-97 carried both AVGAS and jet fuel. The AVGAS was used to power its radial Piston engines while the jet fuel was carried to power its two jet engines and to be off loaded to its receivers.
In 1964, selected aircraft were returned to tanker configuration (KC-97L) primarily for the Air National Guard. Two jet engines were added to increase speed and altitude, making the tankers more compatible with high performance jet aircraft. Although the last USAF C/KC-97 was retired in 1973, it remained in use in the AFRes and ANG until the late 70s.
And what dutiful father wouldn't announce his arrival to a gaggle of google-eyed youngsters over the Wiendermobile PA system, that the king of cool had arrived (and that his son would have no mistake where his Dad was.
He'd always comply with the well established customs of the cool & "in" crowd by peeling rubber, er stalling, as he pulled away.
Dave says that although his son, now 25, has forgiven him, to be safe, that's why he's still in the federal witness protection program. O.K., so I made that part up about Dave burning rubber in the Wienermobile, but it did sound cool, eh?
Boeing has farmed out work over the years, for various reasons. Sometimes a sale to a State-owned airline, such as China, hinges on some of the work being thrown their way.
Sometimes it's a special project, like modifications to an existing aircraft in a small quantity (the 767 tanker and the 747 large cargo aircraft are examples).
But the majority of their planes were always made in the USA, until now. The majority of the 787 will be made overseas, on the order of 70-80%. With their new transport, they can farm out large assemblies, even entire fuselage sections. I expect this trend to accelerate.
If you don't see it, you are the one who's clueless.
I laugh when I hear someone say "If it's not Boeing, I'm not going!" Well, guess what? It's not Boeing.
Saw this in email last week. An impressive beast. Wonder if it will be as trick to fly as the Super-Guppy.
Actually that would not have been the case formerly, back when the 747 was developed, for example. And it should not be the case today, but for the almost totally-subsidized AirBus "Competition", and the extortionate practices of countries playing off their "business" against Boeing and Airbus...demanding co-production contractions as part and parcel of their order...but for that, Boeing could charge as needed and tell the market countries that want co-production deals to "take a hike."
The downsizing of U.S. commercial production capacity has seriously hurt the ability of the U.S. to turn around and produce for war. I don't believe it prudent to rely for such production on nations that regard us as "the Main Enemy." I'm sure you know who I mean.
Yup. The 2 NASA ones were at Gulfstream Aerospace in Van Nuys when I worked there in the 70's. We mostly created cargo jets out of used passenger ones.
OMG. There used to be a Super Guppy parked at the Santa Barbara airport, back in the 70s.
You mean like the 377SG that lifted the mains well before the nosegear on takeoff? This 1959K QuickTime video supposedly shows it. I don't know if that was typical of all T.O. weights and C.G.'s, but I've heard the Super Guppy's fuselage made a lot of lift.
Boeing.com states on the 787 Program Fact Sheet ...
US and non-US content on the 787
Roughly 75 percent US
Roughly 25 percent non-US
I've wondered about the definition of 'content'.
Any Brits out there remember the Brabazon?
......CORNDOG AIRFREIGHT, maybe?
Who cares where the parts are built?
Follow the money. The name of the game is large scale system integration.
That is funny.
Too bad they had to paint the fuselage that unbecoming yellow for its debut picture. LOL
It hasn't been painted yet. It's got the green protective coating that protects the aluminum during the manufacturing process.
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