Newsdesk — Commercial Aviation

The ILFC order for the A330-200 is the first for the recently launched long-range shortened development of the A330 which is designed to compete with the Boeing 767-300ER. ILFC is also the lead customer for the A319. This order was the second big airliner order from a major leasing company in as many months, GE Capital Aviation having recently ordered over 100 737s and five 777s. Airbus used this A310 for cold weather trials in Yakutsk in the Russian Republic of Sakha, Eastern Siberia recently. The aircraft restarted after a 16-hour overnight cold soak in temperatures approaching -50°C. Note the condensation cloud from the exhaust of the auxiliary power unit.

Another Concorde Record

Concorde has set another point-to-point record, this time breaking its own transatlantic mark between New York and London. Taking advantage of a 150kt (280km/h) tailwind, the British Airways Concorde (G-BOAD c/n 210) flew the journey (from takeoff to touchdown) in 2hr 52m 59sec at an average speed of 1088kt (2012km/h). This was about 15 minutes faster than the previous record set in April 1990.

747 Stretch Near

Launch orders for the stretched Boeing 747-500X and -600X are reportedly close, with British Airways, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines currently negotiating with the manufacturer. A meeting between Boeing and the three airlines is to be held this month (April), Boeing hoping that it and others which are scheduled will help define the new versions with a view to launching them before the end of the year.

Of the two new models, the -600X will probably feature a 7.6m (25ft) fuselage stretch and capacity for about 503 passengers in a three-class layout, while the 420 to 450-seat -500X is intended as a more moderately stretched successor to the current 747-400. Both will feature a new wing of 74m (243ft) span (basically a scaled-up 777 wing) and a maximum weight of between 590 tonnes (1,300,000lb) and 680 tonnes (1,500,000lb).

The -500X will have a range of 8200 to 8500nm (15,200 to 15,700km) and the -600X will travel around 7200nm (13,300km), swapping range for additional payload. Powerplant choice has yet to be made, although Boeing is looking at the GE CF6-80E1, the P&W PW4168, and the Rolls-Royce Trent 700 (all current A330 offerings). Boeing predicts it can sell 368 747-500s and -600s between 2000 and 2014.

MD-11 Future Planned

There has been considerable industry speculation over the future of the MD-11 trijet airliner over the past couple of years, but now McDonnell Douglas is close to defining two new versions of the aircraft which will more directly compete with Boeing and Airbus in the 747-100/200 replacement and very long-range markets.

MDC says it recognised the need to make some significant changes to the MD-11 to enable it to compete with the Boeing 777 and Airbus A340, and according to Douglas Aircraft design and technology vice president Allen Haggerty: “We have not come to the end of the line, or rolled over on the MD-11. We are now engaged in an aggressive set of trade studies and we are doing wind tunnel work”.

Fundamental to the planned changes is a new wing, the current MD-11 wing being similar to that fitted to the DC-10. A modest fuselage stretch is also planned in the version intended to compete with the A340-8000 and longer-range 777 derivatives, allowing about 20 more passengers to be carried. Another version will probably feature a fuselage stretch of at least 9m (30ft) and maximum weight will rise from the current 286 tonnes (630,500lb) to about 305 tonnes (672,000lb). If launched quickly, the new MD-11 variants could be in service before the end of the decade.

Itpn Rj Project Speeded Up

Indonesia’s IPTN is planning to bring the in-service date of its proposed N-2130 80 to 180-seat regional jet forward by two years to meet expected local demand and to beat rivals. Originally planned to enter service in mid-2006, a first quarter 2004 date is now the target. Fabrication and assembly work is now planned to start in 1998 after a formal launch in 1997. The prototype is scheduled to fly in mid-2002.

There will be an overabundance of Asian regional jetliners in the 100-seat category next century if all plans come to fruition. Apart from the N-2130, there is the Chinese-backed AE-100 and the Japanese JS-X. Add to that existing and planned 100-seaters from Western manufacturers (Avro RJ, Fokker 100, MD-95, 737-600, Canadair RJX, a mooted Airbus 100-seater, etc.) the market looks as if it might be somewhat overcrowded!