Along with another four after that. The cargo airline, the aircraft convertor, Mammoth, and aircraft lessor, Jetran, LLC, announced the news this week: Qatar Airways Cargo will be the launch customer of the long-range freighter version which saw its initial and successful test flight take place on the first day of this month.
Aircraft registration N705DN took to the skies in the early evening of 01MAY25, at Fort Worth, for a test flight that lasted 1 hour and 48 minutes The Mammoth Freighters 777-200LRMF (long range Mammoth Freighter) prototype used to belong to Delta Air Lines, having entered into service in MAR09 as a passenger plane, and remained in its fleet until the pandemic. During that time, on 10FEB22, it was delivered to Mammoth Freighters for conversion, and would have originally been intended to fly for Cargojet Airways, had it not retracted its FEB22 order to purchase and convert four Boeing 777-200LRs, in JAN24, among fears of a ‘soft’ market. And so, instead, the freshly-converted aircraft will soon be delivered to Qatar Airways Cargo, which is now the official launch customer.
Five of a kind
In fact, it will be one of five such aircraft that Qatar Airways Cargo has agreed with Texan aircraft leasing, sales, and aviation services company, Jetran, LLC. The airline already has 28 Boeing 777 freighters complementing the bellies on its 230-strong passenger fleet, and is the second largest operator of this freighter type after FedEx. Mark Drusch, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo commented: “As the launch customer of the Mammoth 777-200LRMF converted freighter, Qatar Airways Cargo proudly continues to lead global trade as the world’s largest air freight carrier. This additional freighter capacity will be instrumental in advancing our fleet growth and expanding the premium cargo services we provide to customers worldwide. The growth of our fleet with the Mammoth 777s reflects our commitment to operating the largest freighter network and fleet in the industry.
Already the world’s largest cargo airline, Qatar Airways Cargo is also the launch customer for the Boeing 777-8F (next-generation freighter expected to be the most efficient and environmentally friendly twin-engine widebody freighter in the industry), with a firm order for 34 planes of this type, as well as options for a further 16 aircraft.
An exceptional freighter
Offering a payload capacity of just under 106 tons, and a range of 4,900 nautical miles at maximum payload, the 777-200LRMF will be one of the highest-capacity long-range freighters on the market. It features an advanced Collins Aerospace cargo loading system which has been specifically developed over the course of three years, and optimized for the 777 passenger-to-freighter market. Its main deck can take up to 22 96-inch pallets/ULDs, and 10 in 96-inch pallets/32 LD3 ULDs in the lower deck.
Mammoth’s flagship freighter product has been carefully developed and undergone extensive and rigorous conversion at Mammoth’s modification partner facility, Aspire MRO, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Bill Tarpley, CEO of Mammoth, stated: “This milestone is the culmination of years of dedicated engineering, collaboration, and innovation. Our mission is to deliver one of the world’s most productive and economical long-range freighters, and today’s achievement is a testament to the hard work and expertise of our entire team and partners. We are also thrilled to announce Qatar Airways Cargo as the launch customer for our 777-200LRMF freighter. Their commitment reflects the long-term value and capabilities this aircraft offers.”
35 firm freighter orders
The result of all this dedication and collaboration is an aircraft that “offer[s] airlines a modern, high-capacity, and cost-effective alternative to factory-built freighters,” and one that scores high in terms of payload, range, and operational efficiency. No wonder then, that Mammoth holds firm orders for 35 freighter conversions from a variety of interested parties, and that it is currently working on the conversion of seven 777-200/-300 aircraft (five at Aspire MRO in Fort Worth, Texas, and two at STS Aviation Services in Manchester, UK).
Final words from Jetrans
Jetran’s CEO, Jordan Jaffe, said: “Witnessing the successful completion of the 777-200LRMF’s initial test flight was both exciting and reassuring. The aircraft exceeded expectations and reinforced our confidence in Mammoth’s engineering and conversion capabilities. We’re proud to have Qatar Airways Cargo play such a prominent role as launch customer for this groundbreaking program and look forward to its certification and entry into service.”
