Boeing delays the delivery of the first Boeing 747-8F

September 30, 2010 — 35807, 747-8R7F, Boeing, Boeing 747, Boeing 747-8, Boeing 747-800F, Boeing 747-8F, Cargolux (Luxembourg), Everett, LX-VCC, N5573S, Nick Dean, PAE, Paine Field

Cargolux Airlines International Boeing 747-8R7F N5573S (LX-VCC) (msn 35807) PAE (Nick Dean) (launch customer of 747-8F), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) today announced a schedule change for the 747-8 Freighter with the first delivery now expected to be in mid-year 2011. The company also announced steps it is taking to support the new schedule, including adding a fifth airplane to the flight-test fleet.

Boeing previously indicated that, following recent flight-test discoveries, there was a high probability the first 747-8 Freighter delivery would move into 2011. According to Boeing the new delivery schedule follows a thorough assessment of the expected cumulative impact of these discoveries, which include a low-frequency vibration in certain flight conditions and an underperforming aileron actuator. While neither issue requires structural changes to the airplane, they have led to disruptions to certification testing, which the program was unable to offset within the prior schedule.

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean. Boeing 747-8R7F N5573S will become LX-VCC (msn 35807) for launch customer Cargolux Airlines International.

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