Mammoth Freighters has inducted its first Boeing 777-200LR for passenger-to-freighter conversion at Shandong Taikoo Aircraft Engineering’s facility in Qingdao, China. The aircraft, registered N60VL and owned by Jetran, arrived at Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport on 15 October. The project launches Mammoth’s Asian modification operations and is expected to take about 200 days before the aircraft enters service as a 777-200LRMF freighter.
The conversion will involve structural reinforcement, installation of a main-deck cargo door and changes to the aircraft’s fire-protection systems. It is the first Mammoth 777 freighter conversion to be carried out at STAECO, which has been selected to provide additional capacity for operators and aircraft owners in Asia-Pacific and other markets seeking long-range widebody freighters.
Qingdao is Mammoth’s third modification hub, alongside facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, and Manchester, England. The company plans two conversion lines at STAECO, with the second expected to become operational in 2027. Mammoth’s 777-200LRMF design received US Federal Aviation Administration supplemental type certification in April, clearing the type for commercial service. The first two converted aircraft are expected to enter service with Qatar Airways and DHL, although the final operator and delivery timing for N60VL have not been disclosed.