Am Mittwoch, den 09. November 2011, schreiben wir deutsche Luftfahrtgeschichte, wenn die lang ersehnte neue Frachtversion der B747-8 von British Airways World Cargo (BAWC) auf dem Routing STN-FRA-ORD-ATL einen Zwischenstopp in Frankfurt einlegen wird.
Nicht nur wird es der erste kommerzielle Flug von BAWC mit der B747-8F sein, sondern auch das erste Mal, dass diese Frachtmaschine der neuesten Generation deutschen Boden berührt.
First Commercial 747-8 Freighter Flight Departs Frankfurt
Courtesy of IAG Cargo
IAG Cargo, through its brand British Airways World Cargo, has flown the first commercial flight of a Boeing 747-8 Freighter from Germany. The freighter departed Frankfurt airport today at 19.05pm.
G-GSSD departed for Chicago O'Hare airport carrying approximately 120 tonnes of freight and equipment consisting of a mix of products: Constant Climate (temperature controlled), Prioritise (express shipments) and Perform (general cargo).
The freighters will be supplied through a five-year wet lease agreement with Global Supply Systems Limited (GSS), a 49% UK affiliate of Atlas Air, owner of the aircraft. The new 747-8 Freighters will replace IAG Cargo's current fleet of 747-400 freighters and will be the first freighter aircraft since 2000 to be branded with British Airways' livery.
The biggest aircraft on the UK registry, the freighters will serve existing schedules to destinations including STN, HKG, FRA, PVG, ORD, DEL, as well as new routes through NBO, MAD and JNB — providing customers with further flexibility on emergent and resilient trade lanes.
Chris Nielen, Area Commercial Manager, Central & Eastern Europe of IAG Cargo says: "As the first 747-8 Freighter is welcomed to Frankfurt, the investment by IAG Cargo, through British Airways World Cargo, in this new aircraft clearly signals our freighter commitment to the European air cargo industry. This will provide our customers with much sought after additional capacity on our existing freighter routes and the ability to diversify the products we carry, including Constant Climate, our temperature controlled proposition."
Chris Nielen - Cargo Commercial Manager - Central & Eastern Europe
Rainer Ruppel - Ground Services - Senior Vice President- Ramp-/Passenger-Services
Powered by a General Electric GEnx-2B67 engine, the 747-8F has an increased range of 4,390 nautical miles (8,130km) and offers an enhanced environmental performance. In addition, in comparison to the 747-400, the new aircraft will be able to hold a further seven pallets and has a maximum payload capacity of 133.9 metric tonnes (133,900kg).
IAG Cargo 747-8 Freighter Fast & Fun Facts
British Airways World Cargo, part of IAG Cargo's freighter history
The three new 747-8 Freighters will replace the current fleet of 747-400s, which have been in operation since 1997.
British Airways World Cargo has wet-leased freighters from GSS since 2002.
The last branded freighter to be operated by British Airways World Cargo was the 747-400 Chelsea Rose, between 1997 and 2000.
Current freighter routes include STN, HKG, FRA, PVG, ORD, DEL, as well as new routes through NBO and JNB.
Boeing 747-8 Freighter vital statistics
Maximum Payload Capacity: 133.9 metric tonnes (133,900kg)
Range: 4,390 nautical miles (8,130km)
Height: 63ft 6in (19.4m)
Wing Span: 224ft 7in (68.4m)
Length: 250ft 2in (76.3m)
Cruise Speed: Mach 0.85
Engine: General Electric GEnx-2B67 (66,5001b thrust)
The first flight by the 747-8 Freighter on 9th November will be ex Frankfurt to Atlanta and Chicago.
Fun facts
The 747-8 Freighter is able to travel the length of 3 FIFA football fields in 1 second.
A 747-8 Freighter is able to instantly airlift nearly 9 million 72-hour medical kits or 122,000 military MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) to a location in distress.
The 747-8 Freighter wingspan is as wide as two 737-700s end to end.
The 747-8 Freighter tail height is 63ft 6in (19.5m), equivalent to a six-story building.
One 747-8 GEnx-2B engine has approximately the same take-off thrust as all 8 engines on the original B-52 bomber.
The total electrical capacity of a 747-8 Freighter can power up to 480,000 32- inch flat screen televisions.
The 747-8 freighter travels at just over 80% of the Speed of sound at a height of up to 43,000 feet.
The 747-8 freighter can carry the equivalent of 15 detached houses worth of furniture or a Blue Whale - the largest animal in the world.
The enginäs on the 747-8 freighter are so quiet that worried residents near the Boeing test airport called to say they thought the aircraft was flying with the engines turned off.
The 747-8 freighter wingspan is nearly twice the length of the first ever flight made by the Wright brothers in 1903.
Fotos und (C) Copyright 2011: Helmut Groening für Aviation Friends Hamburg
In 2010 the operations of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo had a Joint turnover of €1,096 million and operated 5,886 million cargo tonne kilometres. They have a combined workforce of more than 2700 people covering a global network of over 200 airports.
Pressemitteilung: BA World Cargo