Boeing has completed assembly of the forward fuselage of the airframer's first 747-8 freighter.

The manufacturer has transported the 27.2m (89ft 2in) section from the final assembly jig ahead of sealing and systems installation.

More than 70% of the 5.6m increase in length against the 747-400F is in the forward fuselage section of the jet.

The manufacturer says this increase will enable the 747-8F to provide 16% greater cargo volume than its predecessor.

747-8F forward fuselage
 © Boeing

Boeing completed major assembly on the first set of wings for the freighter last month.

Seventy-eight 747-8Fs are on order from eight customers, including Nippon Cargo Airlines, Cargolux and Atlas Air.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news