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https://www.flightglobal.com/aerospace/ ... 83.articleFirst 777-300ER for freighter conversion to take part in Israeli flypast
14 April 2021
Israeli independence celebrations this year
will feature a flypast which will include the Boeing 777-300ER
set to be modified into a prototype converted freighter by Israel Aerospace Industries.
The 777-300ER – which will be converted to a 777-300ERSF under a programme designated ‘Big Twin’ –
will be among the aircraft flying from northern to southern Israel on 15 April 2021.
Israel Aerospace Industries says the programme to develop a supplemental type certificate, jointly run with US lessor GECAS,
has passed the halfway point.
As a result the initiative is to move beyond the planning phase into the stage of physical modification of the General Electric GE90-powered aircraft.
The twinjet (N557CC) was originally delivered to Emirates as A6-EBB in March 2005 and left the Dubai-based carrier’s fleet last year.
“We’ve begun executing on the dedicated freighter design developed by the IAI and GECAS Cargo team towards manufacturing the kits,
and the actual conversion phase under licensing from Boeing,”
says GECAS Cargo senior vice-president Rich Greener.
IAI says the 777 will be formally inducted to the company’s Tel Aviv passenger-to-freighter conversion line in order for the modification to begin at the end of June.
The ‘Big Twin’ programme has passed the critical design review and design-freeze stages.
GECAS delivered the aircraft, MSN32789, to the Israeli facility in June 2020,
and the jet has since undergone ground and flight testing on transatlantic routes to the USA, before being returned to Tel Aviv.
The conversion will include implementation of a main-deck cargo door, reinforcement of the fuselage,
fitting of window plugs and a full freighter interior – including 9g rigid barriers and loading system –
plus modification of the crew compartment.
Kalitta Air is set to be the launch operator of the aircraft.
IAI executive vice-president Yosef Melamed describes the preparation for the next stage of conversion
as an “exciting milestone” for the programme.
IAI says it is also contributing two other aircraft types to the flypast,
including a Boeing 767 and a pair of Gulfstream G280 executive jets.
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