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The First Example of Boeing's New 737 Family - The 737-700 - Is Due to Roll Out From Boeing's Renton Factory This December, With First Flight Planned for February Next Year. The Three Members of the New Family Are the 108 to 132 Seat 737-600, the 128 to 142 Seat 737-700 and the 160 to 189 Seat 737-800. (Boeing)
Newsdesk — Commercial Aviation
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Commercial Sees New 777 Variant?
Boeing is expected to announce the development of a new ultra-long-range version of its 777 widebody twin this September, possibly at the Farnborough Air Show. The company has been examining various options for a longer range 777, the 777-100X “shrink” with 250 seats, a shorter fuselage and 8,500 nm (15,745 km) range or the -200X which retains the standard fuselage length but has an increased gross weight and 8,100 nm (15,000 km) range. The 777-200X offers an 8-9% lower seat-kilometre cost than the -100X and is already attracting interest from some operators. It would not, however, be available until 2001, two years later than the smaller aircraft assuming a go-ahead this September. More time is needed to design and certify the -200X to take more powerful engines in the 95-98,000 lb (425-439 kN) thrust class, similar to those being developed for the stretched 777-300.
Boeing Out Of China Air Express
China’s decision to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Europe’s Aero International (Regional) consortium with a view to the joint development of the AE-100 regional jetliner (refer p9 6/96 AA) has caused Boeing to concede defeat on the project and to seek alternate partners to develop a similar airliner. Although the China/AI(R) deal is yet to be formally announced, Boeing has decided it is now out of the running on the project and is looking elsewhere. It is reported that one of Boeing’s problems with the project was that it wanted to restrict the AE-100’s seating capacity to a maximum of 120 so as to avoid conflict with its own 737-600, while China wanted to develop a family of aircraft in three fuselage sizes with the largest seating 140 passengers. The current strained relations between Washington and Beijing are also thought to have contributed to the scenario, although Boeing’s submission also involved a lower technology transfer component and lower investment compared with AI(R)’s. The AE-100 Air Express project involves Aviation Industries of China (AVIC), Singapore Technologies and by the look of it, AI(R). Korean industry is also a possible member of the consortium, although it is continuing plans to develop its own 100 seat regional jet.
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