BOEING A STEP CLOSER TO BRINGING 747-8 FREIGHTER TO MARKET

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Boeing mechanics have completed the installation of the new GEnx-2B engines on the 747-8 Freighter No.1 in final assembly at factory in Everett, Washington.

"We are another step closer to bringing the 747-8 Freighter to market.

"This production milestone is a reflection of the strong working together
relationship among Boeing, GE Aviation, Middle River Aircraft Systems and Spirit
AeroSystems," said 747 programme vice president and general manager Mo Yahyavi
in a statement.

GE Aviation's GEnx programme general manager Tom Brisken said the GEnx-2B
engine performed very well during more than 1,500 hours of ground certification
tests and 100 hours of flight testing.

"We look forward to watching the GEnx-powered 747-8 Freighter take its first
flight, ushering in a new era of improved aircraft efficiency," he said.

The GEnx-2B is based on the GEnx-1B engine launched with the 787 Dreamliner,
and has been designed for the 747-8 and rated at 66,500 pounds of thrust.

Boeing said that with the GEnx-2B engines, the 747-8 Freighter would be 17
per cent more fuel efficient than the 747-400 Freighter, resulting in a 17 per
cent reduction in carbon emissions.

It also would have a noise footprint 30 per cent smaller than its
predecessor, making it a QC2-complaint airplane on both departure and arrival,
it added.

The 747-8 Freighter is expected to make its first flight in the fourth
quarter of this year, with first delivery scheduled for the third quarter of
2010.

Boeing has secured 78 orders from leading cargo operators for new 747-8
Freighter. Cargolux, Nippon Cargo Airlines, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Atlas Air,
Cathay Pacific, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Emirates SkyCargo, Guggenheim and
Korean Air have placed firm orders for the airplane.
-- BERNAMA