Tag Archives: Mark Gregory Feuerstein

20 March 2011

Aviation, , , , , , ,
The first Boeing 747-8i takes off from Paine Field, 20 March 2011. (Boeing)

20 March 2011: At 9:58 a.m., the prototype Boeing 747–8 International, N6067E, (Line Number 1434) took off on its first flight from Paine Field (PAE), Everett, Washington. Chief Test Pilot Mark Gregory Feuerstein was in command, with co-pilot Captain Paul Stemer. During the flight the 747-8i flew to 20,000 feet (6,096 meters) and 250 knots (288 miles per hour/463 kilometers per hour). Four hours, 26 minutes later, at 2:24 p.m., the prototype landed at Boeing Field (BFI) in Seattle.

Captain Feuerstein said, “It was a great flight. Hard to beat the weather we had today—in fact I’m still a little surprised it worked out the way it did. The airplane was ready. . . and a lot of people. . . put a lot of work into making this airplane what it is. . . This is a testament to how prepared the airplane was. The airplane is actually ready to go fly right now.”

Captain Paul Stemer, Joe Sutter, the “father of the 747,” and Captain Mark Feuerstein. (NYC Aviation)

The Boeing 747-8i International is the final passenger variant of the 747 series. 155 were built before production came to an end in 2022.

Boeing 747-8i International, N6067E, taking off from Boeing Field. (Dave Subelack)

The Boeing 747-8i International is flown by two pilots, and it can carry up to 467 passengers. It is 250 feet, 2 inches (76.251 meters) long with a wingspan of 224 feet, 5 inches (68.402 meters), and height of 63 feet, 6 inches (19.355 meters). The length is an 18 foot, 4 inch (5.588 meters) stretch over the previous 747-400. The leading edges of the wings are swept aft to 37.5°. The total wing area is 5,960 square feet (553.7 square meters). The airliner has an empty weight of 485,300 pounds (220,128 kilograms), and maximum takeoff weight of 987,000 pounds (447,696 kilograms).

The 747-8i and -8F freighter are each powered by four General Electric GEns-2B67 high bypass turbofan engines. These are dual-rotor, axial flow engines with a single fan stage; 13-stage compressor section (3 low-pressure and 10 high-pressure stages); and an 8-stage turbine (2 high- and 6 low-pressure stages. The fan has a diameter of 104.7 inches (2.66 meters). Each engine weighs 12,396 pounds (5,623 kilograms) and produces 66,500 pounds of thrust (295.8 kilonewtons).

The 747-8i’s cruise speed is 0.855 Mach (490 knots/564 miles per hour/908 kilometers per hour), and its maximum speed (VMO) is 516 knots/595 miles per hour/956 kilometers per hour, and the maximum Mach number (MMO) is 0.9 Mach. The service ceiling is 43,100 feet (13,137 meters). With full fuel, 63,034 U.S. gallons (238,610 liters), its range is 7,730 nautical miles (8,896 statute miles/14,316 kilometers).

N6067E was sold to the State of Kuwait 11 March 2012, and re-registered as 9K-GAA.

Boeing 747-8JK 9K-GAA at Salzburg, Austria. (Boeing 747 Queen of the Skies)

© 2023, Bryan R. Swopes

8 February 2010

Aviation, , , , , , , , , ,
The prototype Boeing 747-8F Advanced Freighter takes off for the first time, 8 February 2010. (Unattributed)

8 February 2010: At 12:39 p.m. PST (20:39 UTC), the prototype Boeing 747–8F advanced freighter, N747EX, took off from Paine Field’s Runway 34L. Chief Pilot Mark G. Feuerstein and Senior Engineering Test Pilot Captain Tom Imrich were on the flight deck. The prototype’s call sign was “Boeing 501 Experimental Heavy.”

Almost a completely redesigned airplane, the 747-8F incorporates a stretched fuselage; a more flexible wing with increased span, new airfoils, and raked tips; more powerful and efficient engines; and fly-by-wire systems similar to those of the Boeing 787 airliner. The freighter has two cargo decks and the nose can open for easy access to the cargo bays.

A Canadair CT-33 chase plane flies on the prototype’s wing. (Unattributed)

During the 3 hour, 39 minute flight, N747EX reached an altitude of 17,000 feet (5,182 meters) and a maximum speed of 230 knots (265 miles per hour/426 kilometers per hour). The prototype landed back at PAE at 4:18 p.m. PST (00:18 UTC). Mark Feuerstein said, “The airplane performed as expected and handled just like a 747-400.”

The prototype Boeing 747-8F freighter, N747EX, during its first flight, 8 February 2010. (Boeing)

N747EX was one of three new freighters used during the fourteen month flight test and certification program. Most of these flights took place at Moses Lake, Washington, and Palmdale, California. the three -8Fs flew more than 3,400 hours. The Federal Aviation Administration type certificate was approved 19 August 2011.

“A Boeing Co. 747-8 Freighter, right, comes in for a landing accompanied by an observation plane above a crowd of Boeing workers and other guests after the airplane’s inaugural test flight, Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, in Everett, Wash. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo via Der Spiegel)”
“EVERETT, WA – FEBRUARY 8: A Boeing 747-8 freighter lands after its first test flight February 8, 2009 at Paine Field in Everett, Washington. The 747-8 is the largest jumbo jet Boeing has built. (Stephen Brashear/AFP via Der Spiegel)”
“Capt. Mark Feuerstein, right, Boeing Co.’s chief 747 pilot, and first officer Capt. Thomas Imrich exit a Boeing 747-8 Freighter after flying it for the airplane’s inaugural test flight, Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, in Everett, Wash. (Ted S. Warren/AP via Der Spiegel)”

N747EX is designated as a 747–8R7F, serial number 35808. It is a very large, swept wing, commercial cargo transport powered by four engines. The minimum flight crew consists of a pilot and co-pilot, though on long flights there may be six or more pilots aboard. The 747-8F is 250 feet, 2 inches (76.251 meters) long, with a wingspan of 224 feet, 5 inches (68.402 meters), and overall height of 63 feet, 6 inches (19.355 meters). The length is an 18 foot, 4 inch (5.588 meters) stretch over the previous 747-400. The cargo decks have a volume of 30,288 cubic feet (858 cubic meters).

The new freighter has an empty weight of 434,600 pounds (197,131 kilograms). The Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) is 987,000 pounds (447,696 kilograms). The payload is 303,700 pounds (137,756 kilograms).

The nose of the Boeing 747-8F freighter is raised to access the main cargo deck. The lower cargo compartments are accessed through the side of the fuselage. (Boeing)

The –8 is powered by four General Electric GENx-2B67 high bypass turbofans. These are dual-rotor, axial flow engines with a single fan stage; 13-stage compressor section (3 low-pressure and 10 high-pressure stages); and an 8-stage turbine (2 high- and 6 low-pressure stages. The fan has a diameter of 104.7 inches (2.66 meters). Each engine weighs 12,396 pounds (5,623 kilograms) and produces 66,500 pounds of thrust (295.8 kilonewtons).

The cruise speed of the 747-8F is Mach 0.845. Its maximum speed, VMO, is 365  knots (KCAS) (676 kilometers per hour). The maximum Mach number, MMO, is 0.9 Mach. The freighter’s maximum operating altitude is 42,100 feet (12,832 meters).

The airplane has a maximum fuel capacity 63,034 U.S. gallons (238,610 liters), giving it a range of 4,390 nautical miles (5,052 statute miles/8,130 kilometers).

N747EX was de-registered 23 May 2012 and exported to Luxembourg for CargoLux. It was re-registered LX-VCA, and given the name City of Vianden

The prototype Boeing 787-8F in service with Cargolux, now registered LX-VCA. (Nathan Coats/Wikipedia)

The 747 first flew 9 February 1969. As of December 2020, 1,562 have been built. On 12 January 2021, Boeing announced that the final 747s, four Boeing 747-8F freighters, had been ordered by Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. The final Boeing 747, N863GT S/n 67150, line number 1574) was delivered to Atlas Air 31 January 2023. The production of the “jumbo jet” has come to a close.

The last of 1,574 Boeing 747s, 747-8F N863GT, was delivered to Atlas Air 31 January 2023. (Airline Ratings)

© 2022, Bryan R. Swopes