MSGID: 2:292/854 160e3e04
REPLY: 1:135/250@fidonet 68f458f0
TZUTC: 0200
RR> The B747 was actually designed from the ground up to be converted into a
RR> freighter.
 
The B747-concept actually was for a freighter for the US military and then
adapted for civilian use when Lockheed won the contract, becoming a game
changer, before primarily becoming a freighter ... again ... a role which
suits it very well.
 
RR> While airbus did initially offer a Freighter version, they ran into a
RR> problem of underengineering the floor of the second story, so it could
RR> not be used to carry freight.
 
That is correct and is the issue with "any" adaptation from passenger to
freighter.
 
The real issue with the A380 is that, even with a strenghtened floor, there is
not enough vertical space to accomodate two standard-sized pallets/containers
side-by-side in the top cabin.
 
But ... interesting 'but' ... The A380 could be converted to handle cargo on
its main deck and passengers on the upper ... a mixed-freighter. The problem
however is that the FAA does not allow any new mixed-freighter operations
anymore like for example KLM operated on its EHAM-KLAX route successfully. Too
much opposition from US freighter companies, especially Atlas. KLM was
interested in a mixed-version of the 777 and that never came to be for that
reason.

--- DB4 - 20230201
 * Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)
SEEN-BY: 80/1 105/81 106/201 128/187 129/14 305 153/7715 154/110 218/700
SEEN-BY: 221/1 226/30 227/114 229/110 317 400 426 428 470 664 700
SEEN-BY: 229/705 280/464 291/111 292/854 2226 8125 301/1 320/219 322/757
SEEN-BY: 335/364 342/200 396/45 460/58 633/280 712/848 902/26 5001/100
SEEN-BY: 5075/35
PATH: 292/854 229/426