We've had B747-8s at LAX for a year now it seems; Cargolux, Cathay Pacific, Korean, and Nippon Cargo all have been parking them on the freight ramps. But today LAX received its first passenger B747-8, in Lufthansa colors.
Lufthansa, who operates thirty B747-400s, has ordered twenty of the new B747-8s. Their B744s seat 344 passengers, while the new B748s accommodate 362 passengers.
The new B748s are longer and have a greater wingspan than their B744 predecessors, and not surprisingly, also have a greater takeoff weight. While the old and new aircraft have similar speeds and fuel capacities, the new model has a 300-mile greater range.
Having ordered twenty, Lufthansa is currently the biggest customer for the B747-8I; the next largest order is from Cargolux, who has ordered thirteen of the B747-8F freighter model.
Besides LAX, Lufthansa plans to operate the B747-8I from Frankfurt to Washington Dulles and Chicago O'Hare -- thus making LAX the only place on the west coast to see the B747-8I. Besides the factory, that is!
References: Lufthansa fleet
Wikipedia: Boeing B747-400
Wikipedia: Boeing B747-8
Boeing: 747 family
Seattle pi: Lufthansa Brings the B747-8I to LAX
USA Today: Lufthansa to introduce new 747-8 to Los Angeles and Chicago
Special note: Happy Birthday Pop!
She's a beauty. Glad to see her finally here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Thankfully she lands during the day--UNlike the UAL Dreamliner. Gotta find some time to make the SAN-LAX drive to get some photo taking done.
ReplyDeleteWOW.......!!
ReplyDeleteIt's probably me...??
in the picture, it looks like her 'touch down' was a bit low to the ground.....??
Love the Pictures.....
MissTWA
Nothing in the world is better than any B747 model, ever! Especially not the A380. I don't care what you guys think. The B747 is so appealing to the eye, and nothing comes close to a comparison to the B747.QUEEN OF THE SKIES!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely looking more elegant than an A380.
ReplyDelete