ALL AIRCRAFT Boeing 747-400F

Boeing 747-400F

Built for cost-effective delivery of huge loads to any corner of the globe. The wide-body design, with opening nose, large side door, and cargo handling system, simplifies loading and unloading.

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UNMATCHED CAPACITY

The Ultimate Heavy Cargo Freighter

The Boeing 747-400F is the dedicated air freighter version of the popular wide-body aircraft line. Its capacity, range, versatility, and service requirements are very well known. The aircraft is an excellent choice to address diverse operational needs requiring large or heavy cargo and has more capacity than almost every other freighter in the world.

The 400F is easily distinguished from the passenger versions by its shorter upper-deck hump and lack of windows along the main deck. The aircraft has a mechanized cargo handling system and a large main deck nose door that swings up so pallets or containers up to 40 feet in length can be loaded straight into the aircraft on motor-driven rollers. The main deck side cargo door allows loading of dimensionally taller containers, and the lower deck side door allows loading of containers up to 64 inches in height.

As a popular and established aircraft, the 747 can take advantage of a solid network of global parts availability and service maintenance facilities, meaning the aircraft is subject to fewer delays due to mechanical issues. This reliability and serviceability are particularly valuable when shipping high-value goods and cargo on very tight delivery schedules.

Choose AirFreight.com and get the right aircraft for your shipment. Let our concierge-level customer service and complete shipment flexibility get your delivery where it needs to be when you need it there.

Exclusive use of aircraft, ensuring no conflicting priorities

24/7/365 service availability for whenever you need transport

Platinum-level service and timing to reduce stress

In-flight tracking for accurate delivery status information

Cargo Capacity & Access

The 747-400F’s design allows it to carry heavy and oversized air shipments in two distinct areas of the aircraft for a combined weight of approximately 274,000 pounds and a combined volume of approximately 24,000 cubic feet.

Upper Main Deck: The upper main deck can hold up to 30 pallets or containers with plenty of space for high-volume shipments, which can be accessed through the main deck nose door or large side cargo door.

Nose Door: The aircraft has a mechanized cargo handling system and a large main deck nose door that swings upward so pallets or containers up to 40 feet in length can be loaded straight into the aircraft on motor-driven rollers. The nose door can accommodate the loading of long or oversized cargo up to 40 feet in length with a maximum width of 140 inches and a maximum height of 98 inches.

Side Cargo Door: The side cargo door allows for cargo of approximately 134 inches in width but allows access for slightly taller cargo with a maximum height of approximately 120 inches.

Lower Deck: The lower deck can hold additional smaller pallets or bulk cargo, which are accessed by fore and aft lower deck doors. These doors allow cargo access with a width up to 110 inches and 66 inches in height.

Top Down Cutaway

Main Deck (Top)
Lower Deck (Bottom)

Max Payload

Cubic ft: 24,115
Weight: 274,000

Side Cargo Doors

Main Deck Aft
Width: 134 in
Height: 120 in

Lower Deck Fore
& Aft
Width: 110 in
Height: 66 in

Nose Cargo Door

Width: 140 in
Height: 98 in

Range & Routes

The 747-400F has a non-stop range of approximately 5,200 miles fully loaded, making it ideal for routes throughout the 50 states and those connecting major global markets worldwide. Its long-range capabilities mean fewer stopovers and reduced transit time, lowering the risk of cargo handling delays.

A Boeing 747-400F typically flies routes connecting many major cities in the United States to hubs in Europe and Asia, including but not limited to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Singapore.

Airport Requirements

The 747-400F is a large aircraft and requires airports equipped to handle its size and weight. Airports need sufficiently wide and strong runways to support the 747-400F’s maximum takeoff weight. Runway pavements must be rated to support nearly 400 tons, including the added weight during takeoff and landing maneuvers.

Taxiway Width: The aircraft’s length of 232 feet and wingspan of 211 feet mean it needs wide taxiways with large available areas to accommodate its turning radius.

Many major cargo hubs are very familiar with and already accommodate the 747-400F, although smaller regional airports may face some limitations.

Parking Apron Space: The 747-400F requires spacious parking aprons that allow for loading, unloading, and servicing. The need for access to its nose door also means parking space should not be too close to other obstacles.

Runway Requirements

Takeoff Runway Length: For a fully loaded 747-400F, a runway length of approximately 10,500 feet is generally required to safely reach takeoff speed. This requirement can vary based on altitude, temperature, and wind conditions. High-altitude airports with elevations over 8,000 feet may require longer runways due to lower air density.

Landing Runway Length: The 747-400F requires a minimum runway length of 7,500 feet, depending on its landing weight and weather conditions. Wet or dry runway conditions may increase the minimum landing distance required for safe operation.

Crew

The 747-400F is flown with a pilot and co-pilot. Additional cargo support personnel may be assigned to the flight by Airfreight.com to monitor the cargo and coordinate seamless end-to-end delivery.

KEY AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATIONS

Length

232 feet

Wingspan

211 feet

Maximum Takeoff Weight

875,000 pounds

Maximum Payload

Approximately 274,000 pounds

Range

5,200 miles with a full payload

Cargo Volume

Approximately 24,000 cubic feet

Cruise Speed

570 miles per hour or Mach 0.85

Engines

Typically equipped with four high-thrust engines like the Pratt & Whitney PW4000, General Electric CF6, or Rolls-Royce RB211

End-To-End Emergency Solutions with the 747-400F

A recent AirFreight.com customer faced a critical equipment failure at a green power storage facility in Hawaii. The facility housed several banks of large storage batteries that were charged by solar and wind power and then fed back into the power grid when solar and wind were not available. Unexpectedly, the storage facility blew a major transformer and oversized parts were required to be newly manufactured to get the facility back online. The parts manufacturer factory was located more than 4,000 miles away in the north-central US.

The Challenge

The customer contacted AirFreight.com and worked with one experienced Expeditor who provided them with multiple shipping options. Due to the ultra-critical delivery deadline of getting the power storage facility back online and the extreme shipping range, an exclusive air charter was necessary.

How We Solve It

The only aircraft with the ability to make a direct, non-stop flight and had a cargo door large enough to fit the new equipment was a Boeing 747-400F freighter. AirFreight.com not only arranged for the aircraft but also ensured a dedicated truck was at the parts manufacturer factory ready to receive the equipment as soon as it was finished being built and crated for shipment. The truck immediately departed to the airport, where the equipment was loaded onto the exclusively chartered aircraft as the only pieces of equipment aboard. The rest of the aircraft was entirely empty.

After a nearly nine-hour flight, the aircraft landed in Honolulu, where another dedicated truck had been waiting. After transferring the equipment from the 747-400F to the truck, it departed for the jobsite where it was rapidly unloaded and installed at the green power storage facility, bringing it back online to serve the communities that depended on it.