Category: Boeing

Boeing 787 Dreamliner for Flight Test Enters Final Assembly

The 6th and final Boeing 787 Dreamliner designated for flight test is now undergoing final assembly in Everett, Washington. The airplane, designated ZA006, will be powered with General Electric GEnx engines.
The first flight test airplane, ZA001, is getting its paint touched up this week before finishing factory testing. Power was brought onto the second airplane, ZA002, in late February and build verification tests are progressing well. Production work continues on ZA003, ZA004 and ZA005. In all, assemblies for 31 Dreamliners are currently in production throughout the supply chain.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner ZA006 Final Assembly (designated for flight test)

Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing

Boeing Unveils New F-15SE

Boeing today unveiled the F-15 Silent Eagle (F-15SE), a new F-15 configuration designed to meet the future needs of international customers.

F-15 Silent Eagle Logo Nose Art
F-15 Silent Eagle (F-15SE)
F-15 Silent Eagle (F-15SE)

“The F-15 Silent Eagle is designed to meet our international customers’ anticipated need for cost-effective stealth technologies, as well as for large and diverse weapons payloads,” said Mark Bass, F-15 Program vice president for Boeing. “The innovative Silent Eagle is a balanced, affordable approach designed to meet future survivability needs.”
Improvements in stealth include coatings and treatments on the aircraft. With the added advantage of redesigned conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) that allow for internal weapons carriage, the Silent Eagle becomes a very attractive fighter for Boeing’s international customers.

Depending on the specific mission, the customer can use the CFTs that are designed for internal carriage or change back to the traditional CFTs for optimum fuel capacity and external weapons carriage. The Silent Eagle will be able to internally carry air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9 and AIM-120 and air-to-ground weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Small Diameter Bomb (SDB). The standard weapons load used on current versions of the F-15 is available with the traditional CFTs installed.

The aircraft’s canted vertical tails improve aerodynamic efficiency, provide lift, and reduce airframe weight. Another aerodynamic improvement is the Digital Flight Control System, which improves the aircraft’s reliability and reduces airframe weight.
Survivability improvements include a BAES Digital Electronic Warfare System (DEWS) working in concert with the Raytheon Advanced Electronic Scanning Array (AESA) radar.

Boeing has completed a conceptual prototype of the CFT internal-carriage concept, and plans to flight-test a prototype by the first quarter of 2010, including a live missile launch.

Source: Boeing
Photos: Boeing

Turkish Airlines B737 Crashed in Amsterdam

Today at around 11:30 a.m. local time, Turkish Airlines flight TK1951 bound from Istanbul (IST) (Turkey) to Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport (AMS) (The Netherlands) crashed during approach at Amsterdam, killing at least 9 souls, more than 50 have been injured.
The Boeing 737-8F2 (TC-JGE) with 135 people on board was on final approach to runway 18R, when it crashed in a field some 1,5 km short of the runway threshold. The Boeing 737 broke in three parts, fortunately there was no fire.

Weather reported was “Wind 200 degrees, 10 kts, visibity 4500m in mist, scattered clouds 700 ft, temperature 4°C, dewpoint 3°C” [Source: Aviation Safety Network]

Video by AP

Raw Video by AFP

Amateur Video

ATC Radio Turkish 1951 on Approach
http://archive-server.liveatc.net/turkish-1951-cleared-approach-eham.mp3 (MP3 by liveatc.net)

ATC Radio after Crash

Photos
http://www.geenstijl.nl/archives/images/crashschiphol2.jpg
Photo of the inside of the cabin





http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-40086.html#backToArticle=609924

Links
Passenger list of Turkish Airlines flight TK1951

First Boeing 777 Freighter Delivered to Air France

Boeing celebrated the delivery of the first Boeing 777 Freighter to launch customer Air France in a ceremony at the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour near Paine Field.

“Our new Boeing 777 Freighter will operate very well with our 747-400ER Freighters,” said Air France Executive Vice President for New Aircraft & Corporate Fleet Planning Pierre Vellay. “Also, we will benefit from the airplane’s commonality with our proven 777 passenger fleet and improve our cargo efficiency to help us through the current economic difficulties.”

First Boeing 777 Freighter - Air France

Providing cargo capacity normally associated with larger airplanes, the 777 Freighter can fly 4,880 nautical miles (9,038 kilometers) with a full payload of 226,700 pounds (103 metric tons). The new airplane is expected to progressively replace the 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) in the Air France Cargo fleet. Air France currently operates five 747-400ER Freighters and four 747-400BCFs.

“The 777 Freighter uses less fuel per cargo tonne than any freighter operating,” said Aldo Basile, vice president, Sales, Europe, Russia and Central Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “With the 777F, Air France also will experience the lowest maintenance costs and the lowest trip costs of any large freighter, as well as outstanding environmental performance.”

The 777 Freighter is the world’s longest-range freighter and features the lowest trip cost of any large freighter, with high cargo density and 10-foot (3.1-meter) interior height capability that complement the popular 747 Freighter family.
“The 777 Freighter provides a new level of cargo economics, with low tonne-kilometer costs to help cargo airlines in the current environment,” said Larry Loftis, vice president and general manager of the Boeing 777 Program. “The 777 Freighter is a great example of Boeing’s commitment to continuously improve the 777 family to deliver top value to owners and operators.”

The 777 Freighter is powered by General Electric’s GE90-110B1L and meets QC2 noise standards.
Air France Cargo also was the first operator of the 747-400ER Freighter.
Twelve customers have ordered a total of 73 777 Freighters.

Photo: Boeing
Source: Boeing

Boeing delivers first Australian 777 to V Australia

Boeing and the Virgin Group’s new V Australia long-haul airline celebrated the first 777-300ER to go to an Australian carrier. The airplane, delivered by Boeing to International Lease Finance Corp. and leased to V Australia, is one of seven leased and purchased 777-300ERs V Australia will deploy on trans-Pacific and other routes.

V Australia Boeing 777-300ER

V Australia will launch three-class Sydney-Los Angeles non-stop service on Feb. 27, building to daily flights by March 20. Brisbane-Los Angeles flights begin April 8. V Australia’s 777-300ER carries 361 passengers in business, premium economy and economy classes, with advanced in-flight entertainment options.

Boeing has been eager to see an Australian airline using the 777’s capabilities in the South Pacific region, according to Stan Deal, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president, Asia Pacific Sales.
“It is a great day to see this 777-300ER take on the job it was designed for,” he said. “V Australia will be first with 777 service on the Sydney-Los Angeles route – exactly why we built this airplane. We congratulate V Australia for its visionary role.”

V Australia’s 777-300ER is powered by the GE90-115B.

Photo: Boeing
Source: Boeing

Indian Navy Selects Boeing P-8I

The Government of India has selected the Boeing Company to provide eight P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian navy. The P-8I is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy.

Boeing P-8I Indian Navy

India is the first international customer for the P-8. Boeing will deliver the first P-8I within 48 months of the contract signing, and the remaining seven by 2015.

The P-8I is a true multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) that features greater flexibility and a broader range of capabilities than MPAs currently in service. The P-8I can operate effectively over land or water while performing anti-submarine warfare missions; search and rescue; maritime interdiction; and long-range intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance.

The aircraft features an open system architecture, advanced sensor and display technologies, and a worldwide base of suppliers, parts and support equipment.

The P-8 is a militarized version of the 737-800. The P-8 is unique in that it has 767-400ER-style raked wingtips, instead of the blended winglets available on 737NG variants. It also includes 6 additional body fuel tanks, three in the forward cargo compartment and three in the rear, for extended range.

Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing

Photo of the Day – Delta 747 Taking Off

Delta Boeing 747 taking off
Click for full size!

This photo – released by Delta just today – is showing N665US / 6305, the first of 16 “new” Delta Boeing 747-400 taking off from Victorville, CA. Former operated by Northwest Airlines, the 747 is now wearing its new Delta livery. Delta didn’t operate 747s for nearly 31 years.

View additional pictures: Photos – Delta Unveils 747-400 in New Livery

Photos – Delta Unveils 747-400 in New Livery

31 years after Delta retired all of their 747s, Delta Air Lines today unveiled the first Boeing 747-400 in the new Delta paint scheme. Ship 6305 is the first of 16 747-400s operated by Northwest Airlines, now a part of Delta, to be rolled out of a hangar in Victorville, CA in the new paint scheme.

Many travelers over the holiday period will be among the first to see the newly painted Delta aircraft as it re-enters service in mid-December.

Photos
Delta Boeing 747-400
Delta Airlines Boeing 747-400 New Livery
Delta Air Lines Boeing 747-400
Delta Boeing 747-400
Delta 747-400
Delta Boeing 747-400 New Livery

Courtesy of Delta Air Lines

Related: Photo of the Day – Delta 747 Taking Off