Boeing started this week to join the wing and centre section with the forward and aft fuselage sections on the first 747-8 Freighter, providing the first glimpse of the stretched jumbo's full 76.3m (250ft) length.

"This final body join provides us the first real look at the size of the 747-8 Freighter," says Mo Yahyavi, vice-president and general manager of the 747 programme. The 747-8F is due to achieve first flight by year-end, and delivery to launch customer Cargolux is expected in the third quarter of 2010.

747-8 wing join 
 © Boeing
Boeing started this week to join the wing and centre section with the forward and aft fuselage sections on the 747-8 Freighter

 

Source: Flight International