Boeing creates advisory panel for new 737

bits44 · Post by **bits44** » 11 Sep 2006, 14:06

Boeing has appointed a panel of 737 customers to advise on the new 737,
Ryanair,Southwest,GOL and others will have input on design. Reported in service dates could around 2014.

http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/af ... 06032.html

KT

CX · Post by CX » 11 Sep 2006, 16:25

This will be fierce, Airbus surely won't give up their lead with their A320... but it looks like the 737replacement will beat the A320 replacement in terms of how soon it'll fly..

David747 · Post by **David747** » 11 Sep 2006, 16:29

will the new airplane feature a composite fuselage?

cageyjames · Post by **cageyjames** » 11 Sep 2006, 18:03

So wait, did GE/RR/et al get some new engine technology?

The last I heard was the 737/A320 replacements were limited by engine technology and the simple fact that the current models are just so efficient.

bits44 · Post by **bits44** » 11 Sep 2006, 18:30

will the new airplane feature a composite fuselage?

almost a certainty, there is not much that can be done to improve the NG's
so composites will be way of the future, as far as engines go, this is going to be a huge market, so all the manufacturers will come up with something very fuel efficient, and very quiet.

KT

cageyjames · Post by **cageyjames** » 11 Sep 2006, 19:16

bits44 wrote:as far as engines go, this is going to be a huge market, so all the manufacturers will come up with something very fuel efficient, and very quiet.

Right, but I haven't heard a thing yet. I'm wondering if Airbus/Boeing are putting the cart in front of the horse here.

Honestly I view all this 737/A320 next gen stuff as marketing at this point. I can't see how they can hit a target of 2014 unless the engines are ready to go at this point. They can't just be updated models, but totally new technology and that will delay their entry into service.

Frankly this is a hard road for both Boeing and Airbus. Any new model will hurt existing sales so they can't get people too "excited" about new models too early.

bits44 · Post by **bits44** » 11 Sep 2006, 21:48

I don't suspect Airbus has done much considering all the other problems they have to deal with, but Boeing is probably a lot further down the road than most realize, I would not be surprised to see a GenX in a smaller version hidden in the weeds!

KT

cageyjames · Post by **cageyjames** » 11 Sep 2006, 23:11

bits44 wrote:I don't suspect Airbus has done much considering all the other problems they have to deal with, but Boeing is probably a lot further down the road than most realize, I would not be surprised to see a GenX in a smaller version hidden in the weeds!

I'm sure both are quite far along. I just don't see the benefit with the technology we know about today. We just want a new B757 to replace our existing aircraft. A321s and B739s just aren't equivalent. I'm sure the Y1 will have a 757 type model (it better!), but a A321 with longer range could secure much more sales in a shorter time with lower cost to customers.

I know Boeing was here in Tempe last month pushing the 739, but we ended up buying A321s to help with capacity (but not helping with our 757 problem). We are still very tight on aircraft capable making it from PHX to HNL and PHL/CLT to Europe.

Knight255 · Post by **Knight255** » 12 Sep 2006, 04:12

Will this still be a "737" or are we looking at a totally new airplane (797??)???

bits44 · Post by **bits44** » 12 Sep 2006, 05:08

I would expect them to retain the 737 basic model with some additional alpha designator? perhaps "C" !

Its such a recognizable model in the Industry they would be wise to retain it.

As far as I know, and its only from people within Boeing that I have contact with have told me, the new aircraft will be of composite construction and will dovetail into the 787 program with commonality for cockpit operations. Understandably they are reluctant to reveal too much detail, so there will be lots of surprises.

A390 · Post by **A390** » 12 Sep 2006, 21:19

The one that will make a new generation replacement for the 757 will be a winner: the market really needs such an aircraft. So, the one that will lauch a 320/737 successor capable of this has a definite competitive advantage.

PYX · Post by **PYX** » 12 Sep 2006, 21:38

If there is such a demand for a 757 type/size of aircraft why did Boeing stop production of the 757?

cageyjames · Post by **cageyjames** » 12 Sep 2006, 22:20

PYX wrote:If there is such a demand for a 757 type/size of aircraft why did Boeing stop production of the 757?

The only thing I can come up with is airlines were using them incorrectly. For long thin cross atlantic or to hawaii service, the 757 is wonderful when full.

Also the early 2000s were tough on Airlines so I'm guessing the orders for the 757 were light enough to drop the plane. I'm sure right now though airlines would buy an updated 757 in a heartbeat. We got a couple 757-300s from ATA that were probably worth more in 2006 than they were when delivered.

PYX · Post by **PYX** » 13 Sep 2006, 02:16

Thank you for the reply.
Do you think Boeing might be planning to fill the gap with the 787-3 or 787-8?

cageyjames · Post by **cageyjames** » 13 Sep 2006, 02:31

PYX wrote:Thank you for the reply.
Do you think Boeing might be planning to fill the gap with the 787-3 or 787-8?

They theory as explained to me is that the 739 would take the low end and the 783 the high end. But then you are using two very different airplanes to cover one model.

In the end though the 787-3 is a much larger aircraft than the 757-300 and the 737-900ER has not the range of the 757-200 nor the capacity (including freight). Airbus misses the mark too with the A321.

TexasGuy · Post by **TexasGuy** » 13 Sep 2006, 05:18

cageyjames wrote:
PYX wrote:If there is such a demand for a 757 type/size of aircraft why did Boeing stop production of the 757?
The only thing I can come up with is airlines were using them incorrectly. For long thin cross atlantic or to hawaii service, the 757 is wonderful when full.

Also the early 2000s were tough on Airlines so I'm guessing the orders for the 757 were light enough to drop the plane. I'm sure right now though airlines would buy an updated 757 in a heartbeat. We got a couple 757-300s from ATA that were probably worth more in 2006 than they were when delivered.

Dont you mean 757-200's? I thought Continental got the 757-300's. The 757 is a great airplane thats large and able to take off and land at any airport that a 737 can. Very powerful twin engine single aisle jet. Even with all of those great things, i will and have GONE OUT OF MY WAY to avoid flying on one of those planes across the Atlantic. For tran-atlantic crossings, Wider is better!

cageyjames · Post by **cageyjames** » 13 Sep 2006, 07:33

Yea I meant 200. The 57s we got from ATA were 757-200s. ETOPS ready though

Yea wider is better. The A321 is 6" wider than the 757 so even a smaller plane is wider.

No airline in the world flys more A321s than US. Ours have larger fuel tanks than most as we need them to make it across the country. The first one we got couldn't do that we US cancel their order. Airbus fixed the problem and we got 28 of them with more on order.

Actually no airline has more Airbus aircraft than US Airways.

PYX · Post by **PYX** » 13 Sep 2006, 07:39

cageyjames wrote: Actually no airline has more Airbus aircraft than US Airways.

One good reason to avoid flying US Airways.

cageyjames · Post by **cageyjames** » 13 Sep 2006, 15:01

PYX wrote:
cageyjames wrote: Actually no airline has more Airbus aircraft than US Airways.
One good reason to avoid flying US Airways.

Oh there are bigger ones than that.

Think baggage!

David747 · Post by **David747** » 14 Sep 2006, 02:45

Boeing is looking at a 2 plane replacement for the 737. It will tackle to 90 to 120 market to 200 seat market.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlein ... &type=qcna

This could be the 757 replacement as well