December’s 747-8F flurry

As 2013 draws to a close, several 747-8Fs are set to deliver. Following last week’s FAA certification of the latest Performance Improvement Package (PIP) for the GEnx-2B/747-8 combination, a group of aircraft equipped with the updated engines are awaiting imminent delivery.

Three of these are for Cathay Pacific, including B-LJK (msn: 43394), seen here returning last month from a Boeing test flight. This aircraft and sister ships B-LJL (msn: 43536) and B-LJM (43825) are essentially ready for delivery, having already been through flight tests. A fourth aircraft, for Korean Air Cargo (msn: 37656, registration: HL7624), is not far off – and it is expected that these deliveries will take place within the next week or so, prior to the Christmas holiday.

Once delivered, Cathay’s active fleet of 747-8 Freighters to thirteen.

Two other 747-8Fs, completed earlier this year but deferred, are also expected to delivery by year’s end: one for AirBridgeCargo (msn: 37670) and one for Nippon Cargo Airlines (msn: 36139).

© Photographer: Alex Kwanten