Mammoth Freighters conducted the first test flight of its converted Boeing 777-200 last week. The aircraft previously operated for Delta Air Lines.
The Boeing aircraft, registration N705DN, was converted at Aspire MRO in Fort Worth, Texas. The test flight marks a major milestone in the conversion program launched by Mammoth in 2020. At the same time, the company announced that Qatar Airways is the launch customer for the “new” freighter type. The airline has ordered five units of the 777-200LRMF. Although nearly 300 freighters of this model are in operational service, this is the first time a 777-200 has been converted into a freighter.
In total, Mammoth has now received 35 orders for both the 777-200LRMF and the 777-300ERMF. In addition to Qatar Airways, customers include DHL and Saudia Cargo. The first deliveries are expected by the end of this year. Besides Texas, the conversions are also being carried out at STS Aviation Services in Manchester, England. In the future, the company plans to open additional conversion facilities in Asia.
777-300
In recent years, several companies have started converting Boeing 777s into freighters. For example, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in Tel Aviv has been working on its own conversion program for the 777-300. In 2023, the first aircraft, registration N779CK and nicknamed “Big Twin,” completed its maiden flight. The aircraft has since been delivered to Kalitta Air.