Boeing 747-400 Broad Freighter Cargo liner

The Boeing 747 Broad Cargo liner Freighter (LCF), also called Dreamlifter , is a Boeing 747-400 modified and used for the transport of parts of planes between the various suppliers of Boeing.

History

October 13rd, 2003, Boeing announces that within sight of the duration of the deliveries by boat, air transport will be the principal method of transport of the elements of the 787 (then indicated by the code 7E7). Three 747-400 for passengers must be increased to be able to embark assemblies of parts bound for Everett since the Japanese and Italian suppliers.

Dreamlifter has a Fuselage in the shape of bulb, concept already used on the Super Guppy and the Airbus A300-600ST Beluga, apparatuses also used for the transport of wings or great sections of fuselage. It contains three times the volume of the 747-400F (version cargo liner of the 747-400). Contrary to the 747 cargo liners with which the nose opens to charge the goods, Dreamlifter opens by the tail.

Conversion into LCF, development by the Muscovite research departments of Boeing, in partnership with Gamesa Aeronautica in Spain, is carried out with Taiwan, in the workshops of Evergreen Aviation Technologies. Boeing already acquired 3.747-400 of second hand, the first at Air China and the two following at China Airlines. They are apparatuses N747BC (serial 25879), N780BA (serial 24310) and N249BA (serial 24309).

It is more economic for Boeing to buy planes and to convert them rather than to entirely manufacture them. Indeed, after having modified an existing plane, the tests to pass to obtain certifications necessary (in particular on behalf of FAA) are less constraining. If Boeing had entirely built the LCF, the plane should have undergone years of development and tests as each new apparatus introduced on the market. Consequently, the LCF is not a plane produced directly by Boeing and will not be sold to possible customer, alone Boeing will use it.

In June 2006, Boeing announces that the first charger of freight DBL-100, employed to place the parts of 787 in the LCF is ready. These apparatuses are built by the Canadian firm TLD and are longest in the world.

In December 2006, Boeing announces that the LCF will be also indicated Dreamlifter (in reference to the 787 called Dreamliner) and reveals delivered apparatus raising the Dreamlifter logo whose graphics points out that of Dreamliner.

In January 2007, the LCF does not have ink not received certifications of the FAA. Those were to be given at the beginning of 2007 but were pushed back of a few months. The Winglet were withdrawn because they caused vibrations and several other elements must be improved before final certification. During this time, the three apparatuses can continue to deliver parts.

The strange appearance of Dreamlifter generated comparisons with the Wienermobile and the Hughes H-4 Hercules. Because of his disgracieuses forms and owing to the fact that, for reasons of tests, it remained a long time without painting, the president of Boeing presented, in the form of joke, of the excuses with Joe Sutter, the " père" from the 747: " Forgiveness for what we did of your avion".

Operations

The first 747-400 Broad Freighter Cargo liner left its hangar of the International airport Taiwan Taoyuan on August 17th, 2006. The first test of flight proceeded successfully on September 9th in this same airport. September 16th, 2006, N747BC arrives at Boeing Field to finish the test program. The test of the opening of tilting tail were applied to the Boeing factory of Everett. the first LCF entered in service in 2007 to take part in the assembly of the first 787.

The delivery periods for the wings of 787 (built in Japan) should be reduced 45 days to 8 a.m. It is Evergreen International Airlines which will ensure the organization of the fleet of the LCF.

During a flight of test in November 2006, a Cessna 172 used for the drive with the flight is taken in turbulences of one 747 LCF. The small apparatus is turned over and lost 1000 feet (approx. 305 meters) before the instructor cannot take again control, with 150 feet of the ground (approx. 45 meters).

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

of the first flight, on September 9th, 2006, at Evergreen in Taiwan
N780BA on Airliners.net
N747BC on Airliners.net

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