Boeing 747-8 to be scrapped after less than 40 hours in the air

[Skymonster]

On Friday 15th April, a ten-year old Boeing 747-8i was ferried from Basle to Marana, Arizona where it is expected to be parted out. What makes this even more remarkable is the airframe has fewer than 40 flying hours on it. N458BJ was built in 2012 and initially stored for a short while at San Bernardino, California and San Antonio, Texas before being flown to Basle for cabin fitting at the end of that year. Built as a BBJ (Boeing Business Jet), it was originally going to the Saudi Royal Family, but was not taken on. It has languished in Switzerland for almost a decade, but with no airline needing more 747-8i airframes, no freighter conversion program for the 747-8, and no wealthy individual wanting it as a private jet, this incredibly costly and hardly flown aircraft‘s future is almost certainly being reduced to spares ans then being sceapped.

 

[33101]

You can see the flight details for that trip here -> https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N458BJ#flightPageActivityLog

It's possible it may survive a while yet, as the dry desert climate at Marana is good for long term aircraft storage.
On the other hand, the parts may now be worth more than the whole...

 

[edwin_m]

I saw something about the 777 ordered by the previous President of Mexico being up for sale because the current incumbent thinks it's too opulent, and finding no buyers. I guess with a surplus of aircraft after Covid, a non-standard fitout of a non-current design is not going to be in demand - especially as a large number of potential users of large private jets have just dropped out of the market.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

On Friday 15th April, a ten-year old Boeing 747-8i was ferried from Basle to Marana, Arizona where it is expected to be parted out.

Crikey - I saw that movement; it passed directly overhead my house in clear weather!

 

[najaB]

I saw something about the 777 ordered by the previous President of Mexico being up for sale because the current incumbent thinks it's too opulent, and finding no buyers.

I thought it was a 787?

 

[Skymonster]

I thought it was a 787?

It is a 787 that the Mexican government is trying to shift. It’s number 6 which makes it an oddball unlikely to appeal to airlines.