The Boeing Co.’s 747-8 freighter has gained approval from U.S. and European aviation authorities, paving the way to first delivery in September.
“This is such a great day for everyone on the 747 team,” said Jim Albaugh, president of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, in a statement Friday. “Over the last several years, this team has overcome challenge after challenge. … They have ensured that the 747, the Queen of the Skies, will fly for decades to come.”
Both the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency have signed off on the design of the 747-8 freighter, with the FAA also giving Boeing’s freighter production system its approval as well.
Boeing’s freighter has been in flight testing since February 2010. The airplane logged more than 3,400 hours of flight testing.
The jumbo jet is more than 250 feet long and carries more cargo than its predecessor, yet Boeing says the freighter is more fuel efficient than the 747-400.
Boeing plans to hand over the first 747-8 freighter early next month to Cargolux. Prior to first delivery, the freighter will be put through tests to demonstrate that each individual jet is fit to fly, as is standard practice.
Boeing has orders for 78 freighters and is the only jet maker to offer a cargo plane of this size.
The company also is introducing a passenger version of the 747-8, dubbed the Intercontinental. Todd Zarfos, vice president of engineering on the 747 program, said the company is “happy with the progress” it has made in flight testing of the passenger plane. Boeing also expects to deliver the first Intercontinental later this year.
“This is a day to express our profound thanks to everyone at Boeing and at our suppliers who played a part in designing, building and testing this airplane,” said Elizabeth Lund, general manager of the 747 program.
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