N747GF

This entry covers airframe N747GF, a Boeing-built airliner completed in 1994 with manufacturer's serial number 26355. The aircraft is a Boeing 747-446 registered in the US and is owned by GE ENGINE LEASING HOLDINGS INC (Cincinnati, OH, US). Operator and home base information: Not published. Notable registry actions: Not published. Valuation and condition highlights: Not published.

This airframe has been configured as a flying testbed and instrumentation platform; its passenger accommodation has been largely removed or reconfigured to make room for test equipment and mission systems rather than standard airline seating. Avionics fit and specific instrumentation suites are not published, but the airframe’s role as a test platform implies substantial modifications to cabin layout, power distribution, and environmental control to support onboard instrumentation and data acquisition. Typical mission profiles for this configuration would prioritize long-range ferry capability and extended airborne test sorties consistent with the aircraft’s 7,285 nm range and 45,000 ft service ceiling. Operator base and routine route network: Not published. Maintenance considerations include support for the four high-thrust CF6-80C2B1F engines and airframe preservation appropriate to a heavily modified, non-passenger configuration.

The Boeing 747-446 airframe represented here combines high seating capacity (490) and long intercontinental range (7,285 nm) with four-engine redundancy and the thrust capability of the CF6-80C2B1F at 57,160 lbf per engine, making it suited to heavy payload and extended-duration missions. In the marketplace, aircraft converted to flying testbeds occupy a niche separate from passenger or freighter demand, attracting lessees or corporate owners needing large internal volumes and endurance rather than standard cabin amenities. Maintenance and resale considerations for this specific airframe center on continued supportability of its four-engine configuration and the specialized modifications made for instrumentation, which can limit conventional passenger or freighter conversion without significant refurbishment.