- A350-900 MSN1 around 3 tonnes overweight – 777X CFRP wing likely to be made in Japan – 777X CFRP wing could be transported to Everett by ship – Thrust for 777-9X’s GE9X engine increased to 102,000lbs – Halting A350-1000′s rise Boeing’s top priority – 777-9X more weight efficient than A350-1000 & has better seat-mile costs – Boeing ups 777-9X’s MTOW to 351,534kg (775,000lbs) from 340,000kg – Boeing ups 777-8X’s …Read More
International Airlines Group entering a new dawn in 2013
It could have been much worse. International Airlines Group (IAG), formed by the merger between British and Spanish flag carriers British Airways and Iberia, posted a €997 million (US$1.29 billion) 2012 before-tax loss, dragged down by a €343 million impairment charge against the intangible assets and a €202 million transformation cost at the beleaguered Iberia unit. Amid a moribund Spanish economy where the unemployment rate has hit a staggering 26.1% …Read More
Boeing 777X to spark mini-jumbo war
GE9X to feature 16 blades, versus 18 on GEnx engines Folding wingtip to be operated hydraulically Folding wingtip to improve lift-to-drag by 12% Folding wingtip 800lbs weight penalty, against 777-200′s 3,200lbs 777X to remain ICAO Code E aircraft on aprons 787-styled tail fin, elimination of overwing exit confirmed Elimination of overwing exit saves 1,000lbs of weight 787-styled larger dimmable windows, lower cabin altitude being studied 777-8X & -9X range boosted …Read More
Boeing 777X & 787-10X unfazed by 787 battery woes
787-10 ‘Gate 4′ formal launch still planned in June 2013 Time between start of final assembly & flight testing on 787-9 narrowed to 4 months Folding wingtip decided for 777X 800lbs weight penalty for 777X folding wingtip, compared to 3,200lbs for 777-200 study in 1995 Folding wingtip contains no moveable parts, to be operated electrically 777X has same wing span as 777-300ER on the ground & stay as ‘Code E’ …Read More
Bankrupt American Airlines tells a familiar tale
It’s a familiar American airline story. Delta Air Lines went through it, so did United Airlines. Now it is Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines’ turn to carry the can. But for American this time, it never rains but pours. Parent AMR Corporation is operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A take-over by the fifth-largest US carrier US Airways is on the cards, while American waits out for a better deal. …Read More
Boeing 787 Dreamliner programme starts to soar
Following the Boeing 787 Dreamliner roll-out in Everett, Washington for the first time on 8th July, 2007, the Chicago-based airframer suffered perennial delays on the game-changing mid-sized, long-range widebody aircraft programme, ranging from delays caused by a delamination in the 787′s side-of-body area to an in-flight fire in November 2010 over Laredo, Texas due to a foreign object debris (FOD) in the P100 electrical panel that prompted a redesign in …Read More
Boeing chooses largest wingspan for 777X
As Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing heads into the future following a better-than-expected 2012 second-quarter net profit of US$967 million, or US$1.27 per share versus the Wall Street consensus of US$1.12 per share, it continues to map out its future widebody strategy that will see new members being added to its popular large twin-engine, long-haul 777 as well as the carbon composite 787 Dreamliner aircraft families. Running ahead in these in-house …Read More