Tuesday, August 19, 2003
7E7 panacea to Boeing's problems?
2003 has simply got to be one of the worst years on record for Boeing -- an annus horribilis of sorts. Airbus has not only caught up, but seems to have overtaken Boeing in terms of orders for 2003. Furthermore, the Airbus 380 will be ready to fly to soon, killing the 747's monopoly on "jumbo" jets. And there seems to be a fair degree of enthusiasm among airline companies for the A-380, unlike the reception handed out to the sonic cruiser. Technology Review reviews some of these problems and suggests that the new Boeing 7E7 might prove to be the way out for the aviation giant.
At first glance, the 7E7 will be a rather conventional-looking mid-size plane that carries between 200 and 250 passengers. But Boeing says it will burn 20 percent less fuel than today’s similarly sized commercial jets. What’s more, built of lightweight composites and packed with sophisticated electronic controls and diagnostics, the 7E7 could cheaply and efficiently travel an ocean-hopping 14,800 kilometers, demonstrating the same range and speed as large jets, like the 747. In other words, the 7E7 could get you from Paris to Minneapolis without a stop and, company officials say, do it less expensively than any large commercial jet flying today.
You can get more details on at the 7E7 website.
At first glance, the 7E7 will be a rather conventional-looking mid-size plane that carries between 200 and 250 passengers. But Boeing says it will burn 20 percent less fuel than today’s similarly sized commercial jets. What’s more, built of lightweight composites and packed with sophisticated electronic controls and diagnostics, the 7E7 could cheaply and efficiently travel an ocean-hopping 14,800 kilometers, demonstrating the same range and speed as large jets, like the 747. In other words, the 7E7 could get you from Paris to Minneapolis without a stop and, company officials say, do it less expensively than any large commercial jet flying today.
You can get more details on at the 7E7 website.
