The Boeing 7E7 is Taking Shape

In December, the Boeing Company shelved the Sonic Cruiser in favour of a super-efficient airplane, the 7E7 [see our report]. Now, about half a year later, the company has unveiled some further facts about the new concept. Airsider takes you on a preview of the new flagship. A report by Michael Meier.

When Boeing announced the 7E7 concept in December 2002, not many details were known. The new airframe should fill the gap between the 757 and the 767. Furthermore, the plane is planned to be very efficient, Boeing said it will need about 20% less fuel than its direct competitors.

Today, the company has released further information and new design sketches of the 7E7. The exterior of the plane has already seen some recognisable changes since the old drafts. The new image shows a distinctive nose shape, new wing tip concepts and a sculpted vertical tail structure.

The newest sketch of the 7E7

"The basic shape of large commercial jet airplanes has remained essentially unchanged since the introduction of the Boeing 707 nearly 50 years ago," said Mike Bair, senior vice president of the 7E7 program. "There's a good reason for that. The shape is optimal for achieving lift, fighting drag and producing efficient, comfortable flight."

Subtle touches, however, can be added to produce a more unique shape without affecting the performance of the airplane. Engineers are studying these touches for consideration on the new 7E7.

"We are using this concept similar to how automobile designers use concept cars, to stretch our imaginations, to consider new possibilities and to help us design the best possible product for our customer," Bair said. "The conventional image that we have shown the world for the past four months is very much our baseline design. But we want to go beyond baseline to something that people will know by sight -- like the way we all know a 747 when we see one."

Designers will continue to consider alternative design features through the summer and finalize the airplane configuration by the end of the year.

"Airplane designs change during development," Bair said. "I don't expect the 7E7 will look exactly like either the baseline image we've shown since January or this concept image. I expect we will take the best of both to come up with something unique that meets the needs of our customers and satisfies the flying public."

The 7E7 will carry 200-250 passengers on routes between 7,200 and 8,000 nautical miles (13,334-14,816 km). Boeing still favours the point-to-point concept with more flights between secondary cities while Airbus is placing its newest product, the Airbus A380 in the hub-to-hub market.

Beside the long haul routes, the Boeing 7E7 concept is also an alternative for the aging fleets of Boeing 757s, 767s or even Airbus A300. It is currently rumoured that Boeing will offer up to three variants of the plane in the beginning.

Advanced Technology

In addition to bringing big-jet ranges to mid-size airplanes, the new airplane will provide airlines with unmatched fuel efficiency, resulting in exceptional environmental performance. The airplane will use 15 to 20 percent less fuel for comparable missions than any other wide body airplane. It will also travel at speeds similar to today's fastest wide bodies, about Mach 0.85.

The key to this exceptional performance is a suite of new technologies being developed by Boeing and its international technology development team.

Advances in materials are allowing the team to evaluate new composite and aluminium possibilities to find the best solutions for durability and cost. Major materials selections are expected to be made beginning in mid-2003.

An open architecture will be at the heart of the 7E7's systems, which will be more simplified than today's airplanes but offer increased functionality. For example, the team is looking at incorporating health-monitoring systems that will allow the airplane to self-monitor and report maintenance requirements to ground-based computer systems.

Boeing is working with General Electric, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce to develop engines for the new airplane. It is expected that advances in engine technology will contribute as much as 8 percent of the increased efficiency of the new airplane, representing a nearly two-generation jump in technology for the middle of the market.

Another improvement in efficiency will come in the way the airplane is designed and built. New technologies and processes are in development to help Boeing and its partners achieve unprecedented levels of performance at every phase of the program.

Development on the Fast Track

Boeing is pushing the project forward. They want the bird in the air as fast as possible. The company expects to offer the airplane in late 2003, with the first firm offers being made to airlines in early 2004. Production will begin in 2005. First flight is expected in 2007 with certification, delivery and entry into service occurring in 2008.

According to the analysts at Boeing, the market potential for a new airplane of this size is forecasted at up to 3,000 units over the next 20 years. The company expects to formally offer the new airplane to customers in early 2004.

We will certainly keep an eye on the program development and keep you updated.

Michael Meier

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Photo Copyright: Boeing