Aircraft

Boeing to build the world's largest twin-engine air freightliner

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Artist's concept of the 777-8 Freighter
Boeing
Artist's concept of the 777-8 Freighter
Boeing
The 777-8 Freighter (bottom) will be the world's largest twin-engine frieghtliner
Boeing
Artist's concept of the 777-8 Freighter in Qatar Airways livery
Boeing
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As part of a new 50-aircraft deal with Qatar Airways, Boeing has introduced its new 777-8 Freighter, the world's largest, longest-range twin-engine freightliner, with the same payload capacity as the 747-400 Freighter.

The latest variant of Boeing's 777X family, the 777-8 Freighter is the result of a 2019 request by Qatar Airways for the company to create a new 777X freighter variant to replace the 777F. Since Qatar Airways is the third-largest air freight company by tonnage flown, Boeing listened, resulting in the new purchase of 34 jets and options for 16 more, worth more than US$20 billion. The deal was signed at the White House today by Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stan Deal, and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker.

The 777-8 Freighter shares the same lightweight wing design of the 777X family, with its composite spar made of over 400 miles (644 km) of carbon tape cured in a specially built autoclave. In combination with its pair of GE9X high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines, which put out about 100,000 lb of thrust each and are 10 percent more efficient than their predecessor, the aircraft has a range of 4,410 nm (5,070 miles, 8,167 km) and a structural payload of 118 tonnes.

The 777-8 Freighter (bottom) will be the world's largest twin-engine frieghtliner
Boeing

"We are delighted to launch Boeing's next great cargo airplane – the 777-8 Freighter – with Qatar Airways, one of the world's largest cargo carriers and our partner since the airline began operations 25 years ago," said Deal. "Our team is ready to create an airplane that will serve them well for many decades. Qatar Airways' selection of the efficient 777-8 Freighter is a testament to our commitment to provide freighters with market-leading capacity, reliability and efficiency.

"We are proud that Boeing provides over 90 percent of the world's dedicated freighter capacity. With global supply chains under pressure and high demand for e-commerce, the performance and capabilities of the fleet is more important than ever."

Being built at Boeing's Everett, Washington facility, the first 777-8 Freighter is scheduled for delivery in 2027.

Source: Boeing

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7 comments
BeeCurious
Ok so Boeing has been promising for eons to do something to reduce the massive carbon emmisions the industry emits. So here it is people, the heavy lifting air freight workhorse if the future. And what have they done to make it green? Drumroll…. Zilch! Don’t Look Up indeed.
guzmanchinky
Does 2027 seem like a long way off for an airplane that already exists?
Joyous Fool
777 really sucks comparing to 747. The locking system and loading system are step back from 47. Only good thing that counts for companies is money saving. Loading 777-8 is gonna suck even more unless they figure out better way in that cramped interior. I am glad I am slowly fazing out of the business. 747-400 was best Boeing created.
Marco McClean
It's so sleek. It looks like a swallow-bird with boobs. I can easily imagine it suddenly flitting this way or that in happy exuberance and perching in a giant airy mission bell tower somewhere up there. It looks like it ought to be able to hang in the air and hover vertically (200,000 lbs. of thrust!) but it weighs a time-and-a-half that empty, so no, tch.
Rob
BeeCurious - I think you will find that the aviation industry has been getting more efficient year by year by about 1.5% annually. You seem disappointed that this version is only 10% more efficient?
Tord Eriksson
Surprised that BeeCurious is critical, as this aircraft per ton cargo is far more energy-efficient than any aircraft existing today. Electrics will never do it as the weight of the fuel is the same all the way from start to finish, and such a plane will be much heavier, to begin with. Even if the energy density needed could be attained, and have such a long range. Tomorrow's electric passenger planes are planned to have 500 miles range, at the very most, probably needing recharging before returning!

But the plane isn't pretty, that's a fact no-one can deny!
Cobrarog
Holy hell! Does that thin have a crew, laundry facility aboard?