Airbus rolls out first fully painted A330 freighter
Airbus recently revealed its latest freighter, A330-200F, in full colours for the first time.
The aircraft, MSN 1004 and F-WWYE, is expected to fly for the first time later this year.
The A332F can carry 64 metric tonnes over distances up to 7400km ( or 69 metric tonnes up to 5930km ).
Launch customer of the type will be Etihad Airways, which has orders for three of the type. In total the type has so far received 67 orders, the most of them from lessors with only 19 coming from airlines.
In case you wondered, what is beneath the nose, it is in order to lower the attachment point of the nose gear so that the aircraft floor will be horizontal to facilitate cargo loading. A330 and A340 families have a nose gear derived from the A300 which is shorter than the main gear and makes the aircraft sit with the nose a bit down when on the ground.
The A330 could emerge as an likely replacement for the MD11 freighter given the almost similar payload and better economics, also taking into consideration the lowered cargo demands .
Let’s wish it a safe and successful service life !
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