Boeing says a contract will be awarded "imminently" for the conversion of the first of three recently purchased ex-airline 747-400s to swing-tail large cargo freighter (LCF) configuration in preparation for the assembly of the 7E7, the design freeze for which remains on schedule for July 2005.
The modification effort will increase the volume above the main deck to around 1,845m3 (65,000ft3), or roughly three times the volume of the same area in the standard -400F. The aircraft is expected to be certificated by the end of 2006 in time for the start of 7E7 assembly at the end of that year or in early 2007, but is not expected to be delayed by the later-than expected award of contracts that were originally scheduled to be announced around late August or early September.
Boeing held a two-day 7E7 progress meeting in Seattle involving 70 airlines and financial institutions last week, with open discussion about customer requirements, concepts for standardising and simplifying the 7E7 as well as aircraft financing. "We still plan to hit 200 orders by the end of the year, nothing has changed. But we will need participation from the Middle East, Asia and Europe," says John Feren, Boeing 7E7 programme vice- president, sales, marketing and in-service support.
GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES
Source: Flight International
