B744M - Boeing 747-400M Combi

Feature requests Airplanes
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:small_airplane: Aircraft Model (Name & Manufacturer)
Boeing 747-400M Combi by Boeing

:globe_showing_europe_africa: Aircraft Category
E

:compass: Purpose or Role in Game
A combined cargo and passenger aircraft, hence the combi moniker. Would offer a unique strategy as the aircraft can fulfill both passenger and cargo demand simultaneously. This could be an interesting way to enhance player strategy, sending a very large aircraft to a destination with lower demand, making up for it through the cargo revenue.

:chart_increasing: Why should this aircraft be added?
While the aircraft was quite niche, being most prominently used by KLM and Lufthansa, it’s a very unique aircraft as it’s the largest combi ever produced. Given that the B744 already exists in-game, I would imagine that the development cost of adding this variant would be quite low. The biggest change likely being the implementation of the cargo door animation, however, this should be similar to existing cargo aircraft such as the B77LF. Other changes would then be related to performance and handling times.

:airplane: Airlines that use it
All B744M aircraft have sadly been retired or scrapped. Historic operators include:
:netherlands: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
:germany: Lufthansa
:china: Air China
:taiwan: EVA Air
:france: Air France
:south_korea: Asiana Airlines

:magnifying_glass_tilted_left: Special characteristics or variants
Dimensions are identical to the B744 with the exception of the rear main-deck cargo door. The combi aircraft exists with all engine options including the GE-CF6 (KLM, Lufthansa, EVA Air) and Pratt & Whitney PW4000 (Air China). The Rolls Royce variant was an available option, but to my knowledge, no combi aircraft were delivered using the RR engines.

:camera_with_flash: Optional: Links or references
SimpleFlying Operators Article
Boeing Airport Planning Document (B744)

Images showing the main-deck cargo door on the left aft side of the aircraft.
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2

Very good and interesting aircraft but should that fit into pax stands or cargo stands?

2 Likes
3

Pax cause it’s still boarding passengers

4

It was normally used at pax stands.
Implementing a combi aircraft would be a great way to introduce belly cargo configurations as well giving the game more depth.

4 Likes
5

Well its still primarily a passenger aircraft and having flown in them when I was younger with KLM, they were parked at passenger stands just like the regular B744. The only difference was the equipment used to unload cargo. Here you can see one parked at a regular pax gate but with cargo equipment at the aft section:

2 Likes
6

Would be great to have the option to adjust the cargo capacity on fleet planes and the 747 Combi could do that really well. It could serve the lower demand, farther destinations better than any other “cargo” plane.

2 Likes
7

Same there Good opinion for the. This plane and same this possible thing to get promoted. The klm

8

It would also be great to have the 737 Combi in the game with the 747 as well

9

Feel free to suggest it yourself and I’ll give it a vote :slight_smile: There’s also plenty of other combi aircraft like the 757 combi also existed solely for Nepal Airlines, but I personally felt like the B744M was the most prominent, though maybe I have orange tinted glasses :orange_heart: :netherlands: