747400F

The 747-400F, commonly written as 747-400F, is the freighter variant of Boeing's 747-400 wide-body airliner. Developed in the 1990s, it was designed to provide high payload capacity and long-range intercontinental service with a two-crew cockpit and airframe commonality to the passenger 747-400. The model features a strengthened fuselage, a main-deck cargo door, and a dedicated cargo handling system optimized for palletized freight.

It was marketed to operators seeking efficient long-haul cargo capability, and Cargolux served as the launch customer. Other operators included Lufthansa Cargo, Air France Cargo, UPS Airlines, Atlas Air and Kalitta Air, among others. The 747-400F was offered in configurations appropriate for longer-range missions and varied load plans on the main deck; some variants emphasized extended range or different door arrangements for loading efficiency.

Over time, airlines and leasing companies used passenger 747-400s converted to freighters under the 747-400BCF program and other conversion initiatives, extending the freighter family beyond factory-built aircraft. The 747-400F also faced competition from newer designs such as the Boeing 747-8F and the 777F, which offered improved efficiency.

Today, while many 747-400F airframes have been retired or repurposed, a portion remain in service with cargo operators, primarily for regional and long-haul freight missions, illustrating the variant's enduring utility in air freight operations.