iscover
Pratt & Whitney has completed construction of the first PW4090 90,000lb (403kN) thrust engine to power the B model high gross weight Boeing 777-200 The PW4090 will now enter certification testing, which is due to be completed in mid 1996, with service entry due in early 1997. The PW4090 shares the same 285cm (112in) diameter fan of the 84,000lb (374kN) PW4084 already in service, and because many of the tests to certify the PW4084 were conducted at levels above 90,000lb (403kN), certification is expected to take only a year. The PW4090 also forms the basis of the PW4098 which will power the 777-300 stretch. (P&W)
Newsdesk – Commercial Aviation
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Commercial Vlct Plans Frozen
Studies between Boeing and Airbus partners DASA, BAe, Aerospatiale and CASA into a very large commercial transport (VLCT) have been frozen for the moment due to insufficient market potential. These studies are entirely separate from Airbus’ own investigations into a slightly smaller very large airliner under the A3XX designation which was described in detail in our July (p38) issue. Boeing is meanwhile continuing studies of two stretched 747 designs, the 747-500X and 747-600X. The -500X is a modest 6m (20ft) stretch of the existing 747-400 with seating for about 530 passengers in three classes and a range of over 7000nm (12,970km), while the -600X is a more substantial redesign with a 18m (59ft) fuselage stretch and increased wing span. This version would be able to seat about 600 passengers in three classes or up to 800 in a high density arrangement. As it now stands, the 777-100X is a 250 seater with a maximum range of 8600nm (15,900km), the longest of any existing or planned airliner. The main potential launch customer is reported to be American Airlines, which wants the aircraft to form the basis of its planned expansion into the Asia-Pacific region. Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines are also interested in the aircraft.
Fokker Financial Crisis Worsens
Dutch manufacturer Fokker is in desperate need of fresh capital as it faces record losses. The company has warned that losses for the first six months of 1995 will be greater than the $US290m lost in the whole of 1994, and it is discussing a package of measures with shareholders aimed at strengthening its capital base. Major shareholder Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA) may be forced to make a hefty new capital injection into Fokker, possibly as much as $US310m, or about the same amount it paid for a controlling stake in 1993. Fokker has recently implemented a major restructuring plan which includes the selling of non-core businesses and cutting 1800 more jobs or 20% of its workforce. The company had predicted a return to profitability in 1996 but this is now regarded as being dependent on a rise in the US dollar occurring. On the bright side is the fact that Fokker received orders for 13 turboprops and 29 jets in the first half of 1995, compared with 50 in total during 1994.
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