Originally nicknamed the "Jumbo Jet" the large main deck
of the aircraft can be configured in various pallet layouts
on the main deck, and several different container and bulk
configurations in the belly.
The availability of a main deck, unobstructed by a crew
cabin or barrier net allows installation of an oversize
nose loading door. The addition of the nose door allows
the aircraft to be loaded simultaneously from both the front
and side. In addition to quick turn-around, these features
make the 747 Freighter aircraft well suited for the carriage
of oversize loads.
Main Deck Pallet Positions
Main Deck Pallet Loading
The maximum allowable load for any single pallet is 14,690 lbs.
(6,800 kg). However there is an additional load requirement that
stipulates the maximum allowable weight of a pallet pair, or
"compartment". These compartmentalized requirements differ by
position in the aircraft. The max allowable compartment load
is 30,184 lbs. (13,720 kg) for the three positions over the
wing (shown above in red). The positions in the nose of the
aircraft have lower allowable loads of 9,988 lbs. (4,540 kg),
(shown in blue). while the last tail compartment is rated
lowest at 4,488 lbs. (2,040 kg) (shown in yellow). All the
remaining compartments are rated the same, with allowable loads
of 21,384 lbs. (9,720 kg) (shown in green)
Pallet Profiles
Pallet profiles also differ by position in the aircraft. In
general, the tallest loads can be accommodated toward the back,
and must be loaded through the side cargo door. This is a unique
characteristic of the 747F and is attributable to the location of
the flight deck. Allowable dimensions are shown below. Dimensions
include the height of the pallet. The color-coded contours shown
correspond to their placement in the graphic above.
Lower Deck Pallet Positions
Cargo Compartments
The belly compartments are pressurized and temperature controlled.
All are capable of carrying live animals, however there is no access
to these compartments in flight. The aft bulk compartment holds
un-palletized cargo only, and is where domestic animals are stowed
on passenger flights. Due to the small size of its door, not much
of the equipment supplied here is able to utilize this volume,
whether assembled or collapsed.
The large door sizes of the two lower fore and aft compartments
permit carriage of much of the equipment shown on this site when
collapsed and stacked. Due to its large door and height, the
forward compartment can accommodate occupied Livestock Pens when
loaded with animals not requiring in-flight attention.
Cargo Doors
A large side cargo door is also provided to allow simultaneous
loading of the main deck through the nose and side. Tall loads up
to 123" can be accommodated through the side door, as the ceiling
profile of the main cabin is higher in the back.
Two large cargo doors provide excellent access to both the fore
and aft belly compartments, allowing palletized loads up to a
height of 64".
Background
By all standards, the 747-100 aircraft was large for its time.
Its 200 ft wingspan, 230 ft length, and 300 ton take-off weight
dwarfed all other aircraft on the tarmac.
The -100 was quickly superceded by the 747-200 with a new wing,
giving it far greater range, increased capacity, and an elongated
ten-window upper-deck rather than just the three windows possessed
by its predecessor. The huge 747-200 Freighter can deliver 200,000
lbs. of cargo over a range of 4,490 miles, and a great many of
these aircraft are in service today.
The series 300 is the same basic airframe as the -200 except for
the extended upper deck, which trades range for additional load
and passenger carrying capability.
The 747-400 is basically the original series 300 aircraft with
an additionally extended flight deck. It also features a new
cockpit, and enhanced wing features such as blended winglets
to give it much greater lift range and efficiency, with the
same power.
Several versions of each series were produced including the "F"
designated freighter, or all-cargo version, the "C" designated
convertible cargo-passenger version and the "CF" designated
cargo-passenger "Combi" version. No designation letter is
used for the standard passenger configuration, except to two
variants of the passenger aircraft; the shortened long range
"SP" or special performance version, and the "SR" short range
version.
As of November 19, 1999, a total of 1,236 of all types of
this aircraft had been manufactured, with that number growing
at a rate of 3 per month.
Specifications
Aircraft
747 Freighter
747 Main Deck Pallet Locations
The 747
The 747 is the only commercial wide-body transport with
three levels; an upper flight deck, main deck, and belly
compartments. This unique configuration presents several
advantages as a freighter aircraft.
The main deck can be configured in several different pallet
layouts utilizing different pallet sizes. The most common
pallet layout is shown here. The main deck can accommodate
twenty-nine 125" x 96" pallets arranged in two rows of 13
with the 125" dimension running fore-aft, with two additional
pallets in the nose, and the last in the tail. This arrangement
is depicted in the graphic above.
747 Pallet Loading
747 Pallet Profiles
Positions AR-MR,CL-ML
Positions NR-OR,NL-OL
Position PR
Belly Positions
The lower belly deck of the 747 F can be can be configured with
either 125' x 88" or 125' x 96" pallets in both the fore and aft
compartments. The forward compartment holds 5 of either pallet,
while the aft accommodates 4. Both compartments have a maximum
load per pallet of 11,088 lbs. (5,040 kg) and similar profiles
(shown above in green).
747 Cargo Compartments
Aside from the main deck, the 747 Freighter has an upper flight
deck, and three separate lower, or belly compartments. The flight
deck is not suitable for the carriage of any beyond carry-on, but
is ideal for the carriage of supernumeraries.
747 Cargo Doors
The 747-200F has a nose cargo door as standard equipment. The nose
hinges just above the flight deck, swinging forward and upward to
provide clear access to the main cargo compartment.
747 Nose Door
The 747 was conceived in 1965, and flew for the first time on
February 9th, 1969. Its inaugural passenger flight was Pan Am's
New York - London route, in January of 1970.
The specifications and graphics provided apply specifically to
the B747-200F aircraft. Due to its nose door, it is one of
the most popular of this type for cargo operations. While this
information is intended to serve as a general guideline of
aircraft capabilities, always check with the aircraft operator
for exact dimensions and loading requirements. Exact
configurations can vary considerably from aircraft to aircraft.
Maximum gross payload
222,620 lbs. (100,980 kg)
Main deck container capacity
29 positions
Maximum payload range
3,480 nautical miles (6,450 km)
Side cargo door dimensions
123.0" high x 134.0" wide
(312 x 340 cm)
Nose door dimensions
98.0" high x 104.0" wide
(249 x 264 cm)
Forward belly cargo door dimensions
66.0" high x 104.0" wide
(168 x 264 cm)
Aft belly cargo door dimensions
66.0" high x 104.0" wide
(168 x 264 cm)
Aft bulk cargo door dimensions
44.0" high x 47.0" wide
(111 x 119 cm)