B-HOU, The World's First 747 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) Retires

The world’s first 747 BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter), B-HOU retired from the Cathay Pacific fleet on Monday morning (15th May), lifting off at 11:31am in the rain. After 26 years of loyal service – including the last six years leased to Air Hong Kong and operating as CX2086, the aircraft to pushback at 11:02am. At the controls for the flight were Base Training Captain Greg Brown, DCP (Operational) Boeing Peter Hudson, Senior First Officer Pejman Dadras and Second Officer Leigh Douglass.

The aircraft was delivered to Cathay Pacific as a passenger aircraft on 22 January 1991, and at that time, was our airline’s sixth 747-400 passenger aircraft. In 2005, Cathay Pacific made aviation history with the first B747-400 passenger-to-freighter conversion aircraft.

A section of the fuselage was removed to make way for the new cargo door. Photo taken at TAECO’s hangar in Xiamen in 2005.

Inside B-HOU's main deck during the conversion process.

The final departure for B-HOU from HKIA.