Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter (Dreamlifter)
Boeing · United States · first flew 2006 · transport aircraft
Variant of the Boeing 747-400 — family overview.
The Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter, informally known as the Dreamlifter, is an extensively modified Boeing 747-400 with a massively enlarged fuselage designed exclusively to transport Boeing 787 Dreamliner subassemblies between international production sites.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turbofan, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Hugely enlarged 747 fuselage for 787 component transport |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Hugely enlarged 747 fuselage for 787 component transport
- Bulbous upper-lobe fuselage with characteristic swollen profile
- Swings tail to load — entire rear fuselage pivots open
The most visually striking of all cargo aircraft — an enormous bubble-shaped upper fuselage dwarfing the lower body, creating a profile reminiscent of the Airbus Beluga but far larger; the swinging tail section is a unique identification feature.
Specifications
- The Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter (Dreamlifter) has a length of 71.68 m (235 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 68.4 m (224 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 878 km/h (546 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 2006, four Dreamlifters were converted from existing 747-400 airframes by Evergreen Aviation Technologies in Taiwan. The aircraft is critical to Boeing's global 787 supply chain, shuttling fuselage sections and wing components from Italy and Japan to the final assembly line in Everett, Washington.
Variants
All four aircraft are configured identically as large-cargo transporters; there are no passenger or other variants.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Atlas Air on behalf of Boeing exclusively for 787 component transport; regularly seen at Seattle/Everett, Charleston SC, Nagoya, and other 787 programme airports.
Related aircraft
- Boeing 747-400
- Boeing 747-100
- Boeing 747-200
- Boeing 747-300
- Boeing 747SP
- Boeing 747-400BDSF
- Boeing 737-900ER
- Boeing EA-18G Growler
- Dreamlifter (747-400LCF)
- Boeing 777-200LR
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