DFW wrote:The 777 used the same avionics bay as the 767, to save on cost and design time. That makes it look funny I think. Not a clean slope from barrel to nose, but an abrupt transition.
I guess my eyes must be getting old, because I don't see what you are talking about.
DFW wrote:The 777 used the same avionics bay as the 767, to save on cost and design time. That makes it look funny I think. Not a clean slope from barrel to nose, but an abrupt transition.
I guess my eyes must be getting old, because I don't see what you are talking about.
No i think he was referring to the new A380-alike XWB nose in his second sentence.
The way I understand the 777 has the same nose section as the 767. to me the nose looks to be a little small on the 777, maybe because it was originally made for the 767, a smaller plane.
I'm probably missing something here, buut I do not understand the issue. I've read the Wikipedia entry and I'm mystified. Wikipedia says:
"As Section 41 is a complex component, identical models are shared within two groups of Boeing aircraft:
The 767 and 777 also share the frontal portion. These aircraft have vastly different avionics, however."
The 767 has a fuselage interior cross-section of 15' 6" (14.7 m) and the 777's interior cross-section is 19' 3" (5.86m). In looking at the frontal design of the 777, the transition from the nose to the larger fuselage diameter is seamless with no transition between differing diameters.
I'm sure that Boeing used all previous design elements that they could in designing the 777, but I do not see this in the Section 41 frontal section.
Boeing did use many components in the 707 / 727 / 737 designs since they had a common fuselage diameter and shape.
This is not to say the 777 designers did not use whatever they could, but I do not see it in this case.
Didnt think the XWB looked that bad, but like any lady, give it the right make-up, and it will look better!
Joking apart, I think the idea is to enhance the crew rest area, and as long as it is aerodynamically ok, it produces a bit more revenue space, as the rest area will not impinge on the forward cabin.
achace wrote:Didnt think the XWB looked that bad, but like any lady, give it the right make-up, and it will look better!
Joking apart, I think the idea is to enhance the crew rest area, and as long as it is aerodynamically ok, it produces a bit more revenue space, as the rest area will not impinge on the forward cabin.
I think that is the aim of Airbus, switching to an A380 like nose for the A350. Also, I mentioned before the avionics of both planes will be mostly the same except for a few things, making commonality a selling point for both. Either way the nose feature of the A350 will continue to evolve in development design. Airbus is not even close to a final design. Hopefully they will show the public something worthwhile at the Paris Air Show over the summer.
I think it is a good idea to wait until late next year to freeze the design. This way the 787 would have been already flying and Airbus will know what they are up against. The problem is that all they have to show the Customers are paper promisses now. They have a lot at stake here so I think Airbus will give it their best shot.
Richard Aboulafia's May 11 article discusses some issues facing Airbus as they develop the A350XWB. Time is not their friend, it's an opponent that must be overcome.
