2002 - 2010 Boeing 747-400ER Freighter

Also another aircraft the Boeing 747-400 Freighter, currently being produced, can carry 124 tons (110 metric tons) of cargo more than 4,400 nautical miles (8,150 km).

From the beginning, the 747 family design has been specifically optimized as an all-cargo transport.

The -400ERF was delivered to Air France (via ILFC) on October 17, 2002.
The -ERF has the same MTOW as the -ER, and this will give an extra range of 970km (525nm), or an extra payload of 9980kg (22,000lb) at MTOW compared with the standard -400F.

The airplane has the lowest ton-mile cost in the industry

It carries twice as much cargo, twice as far, as the competitor’s leading freighter.
The Boeing 747-400ERF being a cargo transport variant of the 747-400ER airliner, can transport more payload thanks to not being fitted with the fuel tanks compartment of the -400ER model.

The newest member of the family, the 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter, gives air cargo companies an economical means to add cargo lift by converting 747-400 passenger or combi airplanes to freighters.
Seventeen customers have ordered a total of 124 747-400 Freighters, including 32 747-400ER Freighters. Cargolux Airlines was the first to put the 747-400 Freighter into service in November 1993.
More than 100 747-400ER Freighters have been delivered, including a record 18 in 2002.

Boeing 747-400ERF - The World’s Best Freighters

The 747 Freighter’s future is as bright as its past is legendary.
In November 2005, Boeing launched the next-generation 747, called the 747-8, with Cargolux and Nippon Cargo Airlines. The 747-8 family includes the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger airplane and the 747-8 Freighter. Both offer airlines the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large passenger or freighter airplane.
The 747-8 Freighter is scheduled to enter service in 2009 with Cargolux Airlines. In the meantime, the 747-400ER Freighter fills the market need for carrying high-capacity, long-range cargo.
By 2001, over 1,250 747s had been built. Further development of the series continues with the 747-400ER extended range and 747-8 stretched models, although development problems with the 787 have delayed the 747-8 series by about two years. Boeing hopes these improvements will keep the 747 line competitive with the Airbus A380. Long term plans are for an entirely new large, long-range airliner to be developed around 2020 as a replacement for both the 747 and 777.

Generates revenues of more than $52 billion annually

Air cargo is an integral part of world business activity and currently generates revenues of more than $52 billion annually while growing faster than passenger travel.
Boeing airplanes perform every role in the air cargo market and provide the most complete choice of freighters and "total solution" capabilities for conversion of airplanes to freighters.
As the undisputed air cargo market leader, Boeing offers a family of freighter models ranging from the 737 to the newest 747.
Boeing production and post-production freighters provide about 90 percent of the total worldwide dedicated freighter capacity, dominating the world’s air cargo fleets.
Freighters comprise a significant segment of Boeing Commercial Airplanes business, with record orders during the 2005-2007 three-year period, with more than 230 new production freighters added to the company’s order book.
Boeing has been the world leader in civilian air cargo since the 707 Freighter was introduced 30 years ago. From the beginning, the 747 was designed to serve as an all-cargo transport.

Provides 31 percent of the world’s freighter fleet capability

The Boeing 747 provides 31 percent of the world’s freighter fleet capability and has provided decades of U.S. Air Force airlift service, including bulk and over-sized cargo delivery during Operation Desert Storm.
The -400 was offered in passenger (400), freighter (400F), combi (400C), domestic (400D), extended range passenger (400ER) and extended range freighter (400ERF) versions. The freighter version does not have an extended upper deck.
Boeing announced in March 2007 that it had no plans to produce further passenger versions of the -400. However, orders for 36 -400F and -400ERF freighters were already in place at the time of the announcement.
As of June 2009, 692 of the 747-400 series aircraft had been delivered with two aircraft (-400ERFs) to be delivered. Also offered is the 747-8 Freighter or 747-8F, which derives from the 747-400ERF.

The 747-400ER Freighter Exterior

The 747-400ER Freighter unique nose-loading system makes full use of the main deck, which accepts 10-foot (3-meter) high pallets.
747-400ER Freighters can carry twice as much cargo, twice as far, as the competitor’s leading freighter. Along with earlier versions, 747 Freighters — about 250 in all — carry half of the entire world’s freighter air cargo.

The 747-400ER Freighter Avionics

747-400ER Freighter with one or two additional fuel tanks in the forward cargo hold; also it disposes of more reliable Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD’s), an integrated standby LCD flight display, cockpit noise reductions, and avionics upgrades including a quiet climb capability
The integrated digital avionics systems allowed the Boeing designers to reduce flight deck lights, gauges and switches from 971 in the 747-300 to 365 on the 747-400 model. The digitized flight deck significantly reduce the flight crew workload, with an estimated saving of 33%-50%.

Boeing 747-400ER Freighter Engine

The 747-400ERF operators may choose between four Pratt & Whitney PW4062 turbofan engines, with 63,300lb maximum thrust or fourGeneral Electric CF6-80C2B5F turbofan engines, with 62,100lb maximum thrust. The diameter of the 747 engine cowling is 8 feet 6 inches (2.6 m).
The internal fuel capacity has a maximum stowage of 57,285gal(216,840l), it gives a maximum range of 8,430 statute miles and a typical cruise speed of 565mph (910km/h) at 35,000ft.
More than 240,000 pounds of thrust enable the 747-400ERF to travel at Mach 0.85 while performing intercontinental flights.
The 747-400ERF can transport more than 63,500 gallons of fuel (240,370 L). With this aircraft it possible to fly extremely long routes, such as Los Angeles to Melbourne, Australia.
On the 747-400ER model, the engine thrust has grown to 63,300 pounds (28,710 kg).

Power Plant

Four 252 kN (56,750 lb st) Pratt & Whitney PW4056, 252 kN (56,750 lb st) General Electric CF6-80C2B1F.
Further optional engines are 267 kN (60,000 lb st) PW4060, 276 kN (62,000 lb st) PW4062, 274 kN (61,500 lb st) CF6-80C2B1F1 or CF6-80C2B7F.

Systems

Each engine drives a hydraulic pump feeding an independent system; services are connected to supplies in such a way that loss of one supply cannot disable one system; two hydraulic systems also have air-driven pumps to maintain pressure and two have electric pumps; one electric pump can be run to provide braking when the aircraft is being towed on the ground; all four hydraulic reservoirs can be filled from a single location in the port main landing gear bay.
The new Boeing 747-400ERF, being powered by Pratt & Whitney engines, has a higher maximum takeoff weight than existing Boeing 747-400 freighters in the fleet, achieved by the use of lighter materials. This greater payload capability can be traded for extended range, while the highly efficient engines help to reduce fuel burn.

The 747-400ER Freighter Safety

Boeing has delivered 40 Boeing 747-400ERFs with no outstanding orders as of 2009.
The last 747-400, a -400ERF was delivered on December 22, 2009.
On 5 July 2005, Guggenheim Aviation Partners placed a firm order for six Boeing 747-400ER Freighters (747-400ERF) valued at approximately $1.37 billion. Deliveries were scheduled to begin in late 2006 and run through the first half of 2008.

The Boeing 747-400ER Freighter can carry 124t of cargo 4,400nm

On 14 July 2005, Boeing and China Cargo Airlines, a subsidiary of Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines, finalized an agreement for the acquisition of two Boeing 747-400ER Freighters, also known as the 747-400ERF, valued at $430 million. Deliveries were scheduled to take place in July 2006 and August 2007.
On 15 September 2005, Boeing and China’s Jade Cargo International achieved and agreement for the purchase of six Boeing 747-400ER Freighters valued at $1.3 billion. Aircraft deliveries were scheduled for 2006 through January 2008.
A total of 23 customers have ordered a total of 166 747-400/-400ER Freighters; 160 have been delivered.
Including classic 747 freighters, the 747 freighter fleet comprises more than half of the world’s freighter capacity.
The freighter model can carry 124t (113,000kg) of cargo 4,400nm. The domestic model has 568 passenger seats and a range of 1,805nm. The combi model, designed to carry both passengers and freight has 266 seats, seven cargo pallets and a range of 8,300 statute miles.

Pricing and Cost

In 2008, the price for Boeing 747-400ER Freighter was between $ 238.0 — 268.0 million.