by Lufthansa Flyer | Feb 21, 2015 | Airlines, Featured, Photography, Plane Spotting, Trip Reports |
Here is the next installment of images from my recent trip to Paine Field.
If you missed what I’ve posted so far from this ‘series’, here is the index of what has been published so far:
Paine Spotting: February 2015 (Part I)
Lufthansa Cargo’s D-ALFE Goes Home
Lufthansa’s D-ABYS Showing off at Paine Field
Lufthansa’s D-ABYT Retro-Jet: Inaugural Flight
Lufthansa’s D-ABYT Retro-Jet: Returns From Inaugural Flight
Lufthansa’s D-ABYT Retro-Jet: Even More Pictures!
Aeroflot 737
Virgin Atlantic 787 (G-VZIG)
Saudia Cargo (HZ-AK71) prepares for test flight.
…and subsequent return.
Lufthansa’s D-ABYS returns from a Customer Flight – It has since been delivered to Lufthansa.
Lufthansa’ 747-8i (D-ABYS)
LAN’s newest 787, CC-BGB, being remove from Paint Hangar. Photo taken from my hotel room!
JAL’s newest 787 prepares for B-1 Flight.
EVA’s 777 (B16721) prepares for delivery flight…
Cathay’s 777 returns from Customer Flight.
Cathay’s 777, B-KQW, seconds after its completion. Seen here being towed to the Paint Hangar area.
American’s second 787, N801AC, departing for test flight.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Feb 17, 2015 | Airlines, Airports, Featured, Photography, Plane Spotting |
If you’ve been visiting LH Flyer over the past few days, you might be thinking that the only things happening at Paine Field last week were related to Lufthansa aircraft. Granted, Lufthansa did take delivery of their last Cargo 777 (D-ALFE), they did unveil the much anticipated Retro Livery on one of their 747-8i (D-ABYT), and of course there was yet another 747, D-ABYS, that underwent her final flight tests ahead of delivery to LH. For those of you that may have missed some of these moments, you can find those posts here:
D-ALFE: Lufthansa Cargo’s last 777F
D-ABYS: Final test and customer flights ahead of delivery.
D-ABYT: Part I (First Looks & Inaugural Flight), Part II (Return From Inaugural Flight), Part III (Additional photos).
However it was a busy week at Paine Field for other carriers as well. Several airlines took deliveries of their newest birds, Boeing unveiled a few newly painted planes and a variety of test flights filled the 3 days that I spent there. I’m glad that I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Everett since it’s location right next to the airport made it easy to see everything that was going on, even in the middle of the night!
Because of the amount of photos, I’ll break this plane spotting post into 2 or 3 parts. Part 2 and 3 will follow in the next few days.
To see my other Plane Spotting related posts, please visit the Plane Spotting Index or Aero-Shots.com where you can see my growing collection (i.e. work in progress) of Airline photographs.
Enjoy!
Cathay’s B-KQV enters the runway for her test flight
A new United 787 departs on her final test flight prior to delivery.
TK’s TV-JJV 777 approaches Paine Field
Turkish 777 touchdown after ferry flight from California where she was painted.
Singapore’s 9V-SNA prepares for a test flight.
Qatar’s 787 A7-BCS departs for a final test flight
Its not all about modern AIrliners at Paine Field…..This DC3 prepares for takeoff.
A rare sight, an ANA 777 being moved in the Boeing Factory.
KLM’s 777 (new livery) prepares for her first-ever flight.
KLM’s newest 777 approaches Paine Field
Hainan’s newest 787 minutes after being removed from the Paint Hangar.
Cathay’s B-KQV enters the runway for her test flight
A unique angle as this CX 777 executed an intentional missed approach.
Batik Air’s newest 737
American Airlines 737
by Lufthansa Flyer | Feb 13, 2015 | Featured, Fleet Update, Lufthansa, Photography, Plane Spotting |
Over the next month, Lufthansa will take delivery of their final 3 747-8i aircraft. When all is said and told, 19 ‘Queens of the Sky’ will be in the fleet for what should be 15-20 years. It also marks the beginning of the end of new 4-engine aircraft for Lufthansa (there are also 2 A380s set to still join the fleet).
The first 747-8i joined the fleet in 2012 and had her inaugural flight on June 1, 2012. I was fortunate to be in Frankfurt for the festivities surrounding the first 747-8i to join the fleet and now look back and see how quickly time has ‘flown’ by. Pun probably intended.
With ‘YS’ ready for delivery, it leaves D-ABYT and D-ABYU as the final 2 747-8ii that will join the fleet. ‘YT’ is the much-anticipated ‘Retro Jet’ who will sport the livery that was on Lufthansa aircraft in the 1980s. ‘YU’ should have her paint work completed this weekend and I’ll be able to bring you a few images of her as the last 747-8i that is scheduled to join the fleet.
Here is a look at the Retro Livery. She’s parked over a mile away and unfortunately a SCOOT 787 is in the way……
For now, here are several shots I took at Paine Field as ‘YS’ was put through the motions during a ‘B2’ test flight. Typically new aircraft go through three test flights: B1, B2, C1. The ‘B’ flights are conducted by Boeing pilots who troubleshoot and certify the aircraft. The C flight is conducted by the ‘Customer’ and typical involves the Airline’s pilots and technicians. Once A ‘C’ flight is completed, it is ready for delivery to the airline.
By the way, if you missed yesterday’s posted regarding LH Cargo’s last 777F delivery, click here!
Enjoy!
Entering the taxiway towards runway 16R
Entering 16R
Takeoff Roll
Returning from B2 Flight
Final Approach
Over the numbers…..
Flare…..
Touchdown…..
by Lufthansa Flyer | Feb 11, 2015 | Featured, History, Lufthansa |
59 years ago today, on February 11, 1956, Lufthansa put pen to paper and committed to the purchase of 4 Boeing 707 aircraft. It would be Lufthansa’s first step in advancing their fleet into the Jet Age and there would be no looking back. At that point in time, Boeing was on the -400 series of the 707 and Lufthansa would be the first customer of this latest iteration.
The first of the 707-400s, registered as D-ABOB, was completed in November 1959 and took its first flight on December 18, 1959. It would be delivered to Lufthansa on February 3, 1960 at which point it was christened as ‘Hamburg’.
Over the course of over 25 years, Lufthansa would own and operate 23 707 aircraft. The last Lufthansa 707, D-ABUF (Hannover) was retired on May 7, 1984.
The last ever 707 operated by an airline for scheduled passenger service was flown by Iran’s Saha Airlines until April 2013.
Lufthansa’s First 707, D-ABOB / Hamburg. Courtesy of Piergiuliano Chesi (Wikimedia Commons)
by Lufthansa Flyer | Jan 28, 2015 | Airlines, Featured |
What has been expected for a while has become official.
The US Air Force has chosen the Boeing 747-8i to replace the existing 747 aircraft that serve as Air Force 1 when flying the President on his appointed rounds. This comes just in time as Boeing’s 747-8i backlog is diminishing as the final few aircraft are completed.
Know to the military as the VC-25, the current pair of Aircraft that serve as Air Force 1 have been in service for approximately 25 years. The new planes would enter service in 2017-18 and would start flying the President in 2023 after additional years of testing and retrofit to meet military standards and the installation of the secret systems that would be required.
This will most likely also mean the end of the line for the 747-8i and perhaps the 747 platform in general since Boeing is ramping up their facilities for the 777x and has no plans for a successor 747 model. There are only a handful of deliveries left for the 747 and no new orders are on the horizon.
At one point, Boeing was thought to have offered Lufthansa a bargain-basement price to purchase additional 747-8i aircraft to sustain the production line. However nothing came of those negotiations.
The story first broke via Reuters earlier this afternoon.
