BOEING has begun assembly at Everett, Washington, of its first 777 Freighter, which will fly farther and provide more capacity than any other twin-engine cargo aircraft, said a company statement.
This 777 will be delivered to Air France towards the end of the year, said the company. "Our vision to develop the 777 Freighter as the world's most capable twin-engine cargo airplane is now becoming a reality with the start of major assembly," said 777 engineering chief Kim Pastega.
"The 777 Freighter's unmatched range, efficiency and capacity as a twin-engine cargo airplane will significantly enhance our customers' ability to deliver freight," said Boeing vice president Larry Loftis.
The aircraft's main cargo deck door is sized to facilitate easy direct-transfer shipments with 747 freighters, which provide half the world's air cargo capacity. The 777 Freighter is based on the 777-200LR Worldliner passenger jet and will be built along the same production line. Other changes include the main-deck cargo door, a new aluminum floor, a lightweight cargo-handling system and a forward rigid cargo barrier.
Workers took the first step in assembly for the new 777 Freighter by loading its 97-foot-long wing spar into a tool that automatically drills, measures and installs more than 5,000 fasteners into it. The spar is the internal support structure that runs through the full length of the wings and provides its support.
To date, Boeing has 1,040 orders for the 777 from 55 customers worldwide, and for the 777 Freighter it has sold 80 to 11 customers, accounting for more than 20 per cent of the 777's backlog.
The 777 Freighter will have a range of 4,885 nautical miles (9,045 kilometres) with a full payload and general cargo market densities. With a maximum takeoff weight of 766,000 pounds (347,450 kilogrammes), the 777 Freighter will have a revenue payload capability of more than 226,000 pounds (103 metric tons).
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