SINGAPORE 2010: Boeing examines extending 737 nosegear to accommodate new engine [en]

Titlu: SINGAPORE 2010: Boeing examines extending 737 nosegear to accommodate new engine [en]
Sursa: flightglobal.com
Autor:: Jon Ostrower
Data: 04.02.2010

Citat :

Amid increasing industry speculation about the imminent launch of re-engined narrowbodies, Flightglobal has learned how Boeing could engineer the tricky installation of an advanced turbofan under the wing of the 737.

To provide additional clearance under the wing to accommodate a larger engine nacelle, Boeing is examining the feasibility of raising the 737's nose landing gear, say industry sources. According to those familiar with the plan, an extension of the nose landing gear of 15cm (6in) would yield an estimated 5cm of additional diameter in the fan.

One internal industry assessment of the feasibility of a re-engined 737 seen by Flightglobal says that the aircraft can currently handle a 1.6m fan without any modification.

A new engine with a 1.6m fan would yield an approximate 12% improvement in specific fuel consumption, before any other airframe modifications are incorporated says the assessment. An engine with a 1.7m fan combined with a "modest increase" in landing gear height would yield fuel burn similar to a re-engined Airbus A320.

Any increase in the length of the nosegear is likely to require a larger wheel well, and by extension would reduce space available in the aircraft's forward avionics bay.

It was once believed that extending the 737's main landing gear would provide the required clearance. However, increasing the size of the main landing gear would yield a significant weight increase and complicate stowage.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice-president marketing Randy Tinseth recently confirmed to Flightglobal that Boeing had competed a successful technical feasibility study into the installation of a new engine on the 737, but that the modification would require "a lot of work".

The leading candidates for the re-engining are CFM International's Leap-X advanced turbofan and a possible offering from International Aero Engines that is likely to be based on partner Pratt & Whitney's geared turbofan.

P&W's commercial engines senior vice-president sales Bob Keady says that IAE is the "preferred route to market" for new engine offerings for either Airbus or Boeing single-aisle aircraft, but adds that P&W has been "doing some work" with both airframers about installing the GTF on their existing aircraft.

"We think we can have an effective installation of the GTF on the 737," he says.

Alex

Good old 737... cate liftinguri va mai suporta? Cum ii vor zice NNG?
Suntem in 2010 si Boeing continua sa modifice un fuselaj conceput in 1950...

Alex_tm a scris:

SINGAPORE 2010: Boeing examines extending 737 nosegear to accommodate new engine

Imi aduce aminte de F-4K/M (Royal Navy) care si el avea nosegear inaltat dar din alte motive.

Sau ar putea monta motoare deasupra aripilor

Se pare ca baietii si fetele de la Boeing au cam ramas fara idei. Motoare noi pe 737, "noul" 747-800 care e un 747-400 lungit si cu motoare noi...noroc cu 787-le care e chiar nou... Si totusi cele mai optimiste estimari ptr Leap X vorbesc de certificare in 2015 si EIS prin 2018-2020. Dar daca cei la Airbus schimba motoarele, trebuie sa o faca si Boeing-ul, ca pana iese Y1 mai e mult...

P.S. Acuma stau si ma gandesc ca ei care au vrut sa remotorizeze 1-11-ul cu RR Tay chiar au avut o idee buna. Pacat ca nu s-a putut pune in aplicare...

Titlu: Boeing expects decision on re-engined 737 this year
Sursa: Flightglobal.com
Autor:: Jon Ostrower
Data: 11.02.2010

Citat :

Boeing CEO James McNerney has targeted 2010 for a decision on re-engining the 737, the first clear timeline the company has provided on the future of its narrowbody family of aircraft.

"That will be a call we make this year, it will be a mid-decade intro, if we do it," says McNerney, speaking at the Cowen and Company Aerospace/Defence Conference.

"What it finally gets down to is how big is the productivity and performance leap that's available throughout re-engining for our customers. If you try to force a re-engining and it doesn't provide enough productivity or performance for your customers all it does is suck orders out of your current airplane, and yet if it does provide a big enough leap, it will be worth it," he adds.

"We're studying it very seriously," McNerney emphasises.

McNerney also appeared to further reinforce the fact that Boeing is seriously expanding its offering on the 737 from its sole-source CFM International CFM56-7B engine to an option from Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce that could take the form of an offering by International Aero Engines.

"The engine guys, they are pushing very hard," says McNerney. "They are very convinced - virtually all three of the major ones are convinced - that they have the technology that will give us enough, but I think we've got to vet that and I think we've got to spend a lot of time talking to customers this year, but this will be the year we make that call."

Boeing recently announced that it had planned to make additional research and development resources available for the future of 737 and 777 product development, while appointing two teams to study advanced product development for both airframes.

Speaking recently at the Singapore air show, Airbus chief operating officer customers John Leahy said that he hoped a decision on re-engining the A320 would be "sorted out" prior to the Farnborough air show in July.

"Obviously What our competitor does will bear on our decision and Airbus sounds very aggressive on re-engining. I think we're both taking it very seriously," says McNerney.

McNerney says that the short term options for the 737 include re-engining the airframe or waiting to do a clean sheet design, and adds that his company remains keenly aware of the coming competition in the narrowbody market, especially from the 100 to 149-seat Bombardier CSeries.

"If we can offer between 12-15% productivity, I think you can't sit on a lead as you've got the Canadians and the Chinese, and the way we're going to win is though innovation. If you milk a product too long, you invite competition. I think building on a lead and sustaining innovation, is the best long term answer to keep us competitive. You'd rather obsolete yourself a little bit than have someone else do it."

Alex