In August of 2007, I quietly launched a tracking site for the three (then two) 747 Large Cargo Freighter Dreamlifters. The aircraft are responsible for transporting the wings, fuselage and horizontal stabilizer from around the world to Everett, WA for final assembly.
The changes to the blog include an updated tracking metric for 41 different active flight numbers that are assigned to the LCF, as well as a few tweaks to the look and feel of the site.
Each flight is operated by Evergreen International Aviation which is responsible for the Dreamlifters. Flights are split into two categories: training flights and operational movements.
Training flights (EIA4XX) are for crew familiarization/training and flights to maintenance facilities. Operational movements (EIA51XX) consist of movement of 787 structure or returning shipping fixtures.
Since the strike began, there has only been one 51XX flight. It was on September 7 from Anchorage, AK to Charleston, SC. All the other movements since the strike began have been 4XX flights.
Earlier this week, the Dreamlifter (N249BA) flew from Nagoya (spotted) to Portland (spotted) and then on to Charleston as EIA5186. This is the first formal LCF flight in seven-plus weeks. What is currently unclear is whether or not any structure was transported to Charleston. The NGO-PDX-CHS route would suggest that Section 43 and 45/11 for LN9 would be on its way to Global Aeronautica, but I don’t have any kind of confirmation on this.
Any information on the aircraft’s contents (if any) would be very helpful.
This post was originally published to the internet between 2007 and 2012. Links, images, and embedded media from that era may no longer function as intended.
This post originally appeared at Flightglobal.com from 2007 to 2012.