N768CK

This entry covers the specific airframe c/n 34018, registered as N768CK, a dedicated freighter built in 2006. The airframe was manufactured by Boeing as a Boeing 747-481F(SCD) and is recorded in the US registry under the corporate owner KALITTA AIR LLC of Ypsilanti, MI, US. The aircraft operates as a main-deck freighter and is maintained and operated in Kalitta Air's global cargo network; its recorded market valuation is $45,000,000. Notable registry items for this airframe are limited to its corporate ownership and standard US registration entries.

This airframe is configured as a main-deck freighter with a side cargo door and lower-hold pallet/container capacity, carrying only crew seats on the flight deck and cabin areas; no passenger accommodations are fitted. Typical mission profiles for this aircraft in Kalitta Air service encompass long-range heavy cargo operations, intercontinental freight lanes that exploit its near-4,500 nm range and high cruise speed. Avionics and systems specifics are standard to the 747-400 freighter derivatives and are configured to support freight handling and long-duration operations; maintenance considerations center on four high-thrust CF6 engines and freighter-specific structural and door systems. Based at the operator’s U.S. bases, the aircraft is used in scheduled and ad hoc cargo charters across global markets.

The Boeing 747-481F(SCD) belongs to the 747-400 family of large, long-range freighters, offering high payload and main-deck bulk cargo capability compared with twin-engine widebodies. Its competitors historically include the Antonov An-124 in ultra-heavy lift roles and twinjets like the Boeing 777F for long-range efficiency; the 747 freighter niche remains valued for main-deck volume. Buyer and charter demand is driven by payload needs and route structure; maintenance and resale considerations for this airframe reflect age, lifecycle on line-replaceable components, and the ongoing market premium for large-volume freighters despite rising fuel and upkeep costs.