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Boeing 747-400ERF - KLM Cargo
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is one of the oldest airlines in the world. It was founded in October 1919 and performed its first flight in May 1920 from Amsterdam to London with a De Havilland DH-16. KLM was a real pioneer airline when it started a regular service between Amsterdam and Batavia (now Jakarta) in 1929, the longest regular air link in the world at that time.
In June 1971 KLM was the first airline to put the 747-200 in commercial service. The first aircraft was one of six 747-200Bs, fitted with Pratt & Whitney JT9D-engines. From 1975 the airline acquired thirteen 747-200Bs with the General Electric CF6-50. A number of these 200Bs were Combis with a combined passenger and cargo main deck. During the mid-1980s the CF6-aircraft were converted to 747-200SUDs (Stretched Upper Deck). One of these aircraft is now preserved at the National Aviation Theme Park Aviodrome in Lelystad, The Netherlands. KLM also bought three 747-300s. In 1989 KLM introduced the first of a total of 25 Boeing 747-400s.
In 2004 KLM joined forces with Air France, forming Air France-KLM. KLM is a big cargo carrier, but because it carries most of the air freight in Combi aircraft, it flies only three specific cargo planes, all Boeing 747-400ERFs (see picture). On March 31, 2003, KLM was the first airline to receive this Extended Range Freighter version of the Jumbo Jet.
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