Boeing has delivered its last 747 jumbo jet, more than a half-century after production of the plane began, and it’s a freighter.
The final jumbo that rolled out of Boeing’s assembly plant in Everett, Wash., USA, is the 747-8 cargo freighter variant, destined for Atlas Air, with eventual use by the logistics company Kuehne + Nagel. The livery on the aircraft, named Empower, shows the lessor’s logo, and that of K+N subsidiary Apex Logistics.
The 747 originally sprang from plans for a massive military transport jet – a contract Boeing didn’t win. Still, the company kept cargo in mind as it designed the new jet, including the ability to receive freight by hinging its cone-shaped nose. The 747’s lead designer, the late Joe Sutter, was quoted as saying, “One of the decisions we made was to be a good freighter as well as a good passenger plane.”
The Atlas-owned 747-8F is the second on a long-term charter agreement with K+N. A spokesperson for Atlas said: “The names we chose for the last two iconic aircraft fit their legacy – Inspire and Empower.” They added: “As the world’s largest operator of 747 freighters, Atlas is especially proud to take the last 747 ever to be built. We are grateful to Boeing for its shared commitment to safety, quality, innovation and the environment, and for the partnership, to ensure the continued success of the 747 programme as we operate the aircraft for decades to come.”
While it may be last 747 to be manufactured, the aircraft which has become known as the Queen of the Skies continues to be operated all over the world and will do so for many years into the future. It is popular with pilots who often comment that it is easier to handle than smaller aircraft.
The 747-8F freighter version is still very much in demand and late last year Cathay Pacific recommenced its service at Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport WTB in Queensland, after an eight-month hiatus. The weekly freighter service had been in operation since November 2016, however was put on pause in December 2021 over COVID-19 concerns in Cathay’s base of Hong Kong. The past three years has seen much turbulence in the airfreight industry – much of it blamed on COVID.
Cathay’s weekly service operates on a Wednesday from WTB direct to Hong Kong (HKG), allowing connection to their worldwide air cargo freight distribution network. While the initial rationale was to enable local producers in the Darling Downs to export their goods and fresh produce to Asia and beyond, the airline has found demand also increased significantly for inbound freight.
The 747-8 Freighter was designed with a 442-tonne maximum take-off weight with a payload capability of 140-tonne and a range of 4,390 nmi (8,130 km). Four extra pallet spaces were created on the main deck, with either two extra containers and two extra pallets, or three extra pallets, on the lower deck. Atlas have published specs for their aircraft on their website.
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