The range capability of the 777F provides significant savings for cargo operators. It enables them to take advantage of fewer stops and associated landing fees, less congestion at transfer hubs, lower cargo handling costs, and shorter cargo delivery times. The new freighter also integrates smoothly with existing cargo operations and facilitates interlining with 747 freighter fleets.
The 777F inherits the same basic design and flight characteristics of 777 passenger airplanes but is designed specifically to transport cargo. It also shares many of the 777 family’s advanced features, such as a fly-by-wire design, an advanced wing design with raked wingtips, and a state-of-the-art flight deck. It is powered by the world’s most powerful commercial jet engine, the General Electric GE90-110B1.
The 777F has been specifically designed as a freighter, with additional strengthening in key structural areas, including:
- New monolithic aluminum floor beams.
- Rigid cargo barrier located in the forward section of the airplane.
- Strengthened fuselage, especially in the area of the main deck cargo door.
Other design enhancements include:
- Enhanced, lightweight cargo-handling system with built-in test equipment that continually monitors the operational health of the system.
- Modified environmental control system.
- An advanced maneuver load alleviation system that redistributes the aerodynamic load on the wing during non-normal flight conditions, reducing the load on its outboard portion. This allows the 777F to operate in a wide variety of flight environments without compromising payload capability.
The 777F also features a new supernumerary area, which includes business-class seats forward of the rigid cargo barrier, full main deck access, bunks, and a galley.
The airplane’s design reflects information and feedback that Boeing gained at freighter working group meetings held with 20 airlines and cargo operators. Boeing’s plan was to ensure that the 777F would operate with procedures and handling similar to other 777 variants. The result is a common type rating with 777 passenger airplanes and only minimal transition required and lower training costs.