MSGID: 2:292/854 08430e5e
REPLY: 1:135/250@fidonet 68e478b0
TZUTC: 0200
RR> Interesting, I was not even aware the Russians flew any passenger 747s,
RR> though I see that Rossiya does indeed have 747-400s.  I am currious what
RR> parts are interchangeable between the 747-8 and -400s (Which Rossiya has
RR> 12).
 
Rossiya inherited nine Boeing 747-400 aircraft from the bankrupt Transaero in
2016 and was using some of them for domestic flights.
 
It had planned to retire the 747s by the end of 2024, with the fleet
modernization expected to be completed by then.
 
Western sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine have made it challenging
to maintain and operate these aircraft due to a lack of spare parts.
 
Despite the challenges, Rossiya returned some 747-400 to passenger service for
domestic routes, such as flights between Moscow and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and
Sochi.
 
It is cannibalising some of the grounded 747s for spare parts to keep others
flying.
 
At the moment there is only 1 -400 in service. They have no -800s.
 
Transaero originally had two 747-800 on order but at the time of the
bankruptcy in 2015 they were not delivered and went into desert storage.
 
These two aircraft were obtained by the US Air Force in 2019 (being 4 years
old at the time) for conversion into the next-generation Air Force One
(VC-25B). These modifications are complex and costly, involving structural
changes and extensive security upgrades, and are still ongoing. 
 
The U.S. Air Force chose to modify these existing airframes for the VC-25B
program, aiming to create the new presidential aircraft rather than purchase
new-build jets.
 
These aircraft were moved to Boeing's San Antonio facility in 2019 for
conversion and have since faced significant delays and cost overruns due to
the complex modifications required.

--- DB4 - 20230201
 * Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)
SEEN-BY: 80/1 105/81 106/201 128/187 129/14 305 153/7715 154/110 221/1
SEEN-BY: 226/30 227/114 229/110 317 400 426 428 470 664 700 705 280/464
SEEN-BY: 291/111 292/854 2226 8125 301/1 320/219 322/757 335/364 342/200
SEEN-BY: 396/45 460/58 633/280 712/848 902/26 5001/100 5075/35
PATH: 292/854 229/426