Airbus A380 in other roles and paint schemes

[Logan Hartke]

I think Boeing agrees with you, that's why they decided to just upgrade the 747 rather than design a true replacement. That having been said, it still has a place as a freighter with its nose door, something the A380 just never could do. I suspect -8F orders will sustain the 747-8 alive for some years to come, though, as -400 cargo operators seek to replace some of their aircraft before the line closes for good. I would not be the least bit surprised if the 747-8 stays in production through at least 2025. The An-124 still hasn't re-entered production (not sure if it ever will), and the MD-11, C-17, A340, and A380 are all out of production, too, so the 747 has found itself the last man standing in a number of areas. Right now, they can sustain production at the current rate of 0.5 aircraft a month with only 6 orders placed a year. Currently, the closest competitors to both the -8I and -8F are the A330-900 and the 777-9 . I don't think Boeing will worry too much about losing 747-8 orders to the latter aircraft.

Long story short, Boeing could wind down the 747-8 and kill it in just a couple of years, or they may keep it going for 10+ more years almost exclusively on a slow trickle of cargo orders (and the occasional VVIP prestige order). Given the amount of valuable floor space the production line takes up, I suspect they won't want to keep it open indefinitely. It'll be interesting to see.

[Doug K]

Bye bye A380, potentially hard times ahead for Broughton.

https://www.aerosociety.com/news/requiem-for-a-superjumbo/

Under the same logic that caused them to stop the A380 production, I can't see the 747-8 going on for much longer. Everyone's flying twins these days.

Apparently there are NO US airlines flying the 747 any more. 

The largest operator of 747 these days is British Airways - there is a big update programme underway.
As a frequent traveler, always in cattle-class and almost always long-haul I can say that A380 is by far the least unpleasant airliner for those of us at the back.
Dreamliner comes close but the A380 is incredibly quiet and smooth. I've been onboard Air France, British Airways and Quantas versions at various times and all were bliss compared to the 747. Even in its upgraded form for BA it's still bloody loud inside.

Mind you I have a very good friend who retired as a senior BA captain recently, I can't say anything against her "Cadillac of the skies"!

[jcf]

Currently the 747-8F backlog stands at 24, mostly UPS,
which will take production through 2022. More orders
would not be surprising.

Aurbus bet on hub-and-spoke, Boeing bet on the direct
flight model, turns out they made the right choice.

[AS.12]

Aurbus bet on hub-and-spoke, Boeing bet on the direct
flight model, turns out they made the right choice.

Most 787s still fly from hubs...

Airbus bet on capacity, Boeing bet on frequency.

[kitnut617]

Aurbus bet on hub-and-spoke, Boeing bet on the direct
flight model, turns out they made the right choice.

Most 787s still fly from hubs...

767's, 777's and 787's  at least that's what I was seeing at YYC. With the odd 747

[zenrat]

...the least unpleasant airliner for those of us at the back....

Nicely put.

[NARSES2]

...the least unpleasant airliner for those of us at the back....

Nicely put.

Indeed, and I'm partially deaf in one ear 

[McColm]

I wonder if it can take off from an aircraft carrier?

[kerick]

I wonder if it can take off from an aircraft carrier?

I wonder if it could be an aircraft carrier?!

[McColm]

I wonder if it can take off from an aircraft carrier?

I wonder if it could be an aircraft carrier?!

Or launch Tomahawk missiles?

[NARSES2]

There's a documentary on the 747 on BBC 4 tonight (20/02/19). It will be a repeat as it is BBC 4  and I think I've seen it but I shall record it in case.

[Firefox]

It might be a good candidate as a mothership for mini fighter

[Weaver]

I wonder if it can take off from an aircraft carrier?

Anything can take-off from an aircraft carrier if the aircraft carrier is big enough...

[McColm]

Commercial aircraft using aircraft carriers,  now that's worth a whiff. 

[Hobbes]

Commercial aircraft using aircraft carriers,  now that's worth a whiff. 

Yes, it is