DailyTech - Boeing 737 MAX Reaches "Firm Concept" Stage

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Science Boeing 737 MAX Reaches "Firm Concept" Stage
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - November 21, 2012 9:20 AM

20 comment(s) - last by sorry dog.. on Nov 27 at 6:56 PM

New aircraft will (hopefully) be delivered in 2017

Boeing has announced that its 737 MAX aircraft has reached the firm concept stage. The program is now set to transition to finalizing configuration details by the middle of 2013. The aircraft is on track to deliver the first model in 2017 to carriers around the world.

The 737 MAX will be a single-aisle aircraft and will use new LEAP-1B engines from CFM International. The aircraft also has a redesigned tail cone and Advanced Technology winglets. Those changes and others will allow for up to a 13 percent reduction in fuel use.

In addition, Honeywell will supply the electronic bleed air system for the aircraft, while Rockwell Collins will supply four large-format displays for the flight deck.

The Boeing design team has also defined the high-speed aerodynamic lines for the 737 MAX using analysis and testing conducted in both high and low speed wind tunnels. A further refined shape for the aircraft eliminated the need for small bump on the nose gear door that was seen in early designs.

Source: Boeing

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Interesting

By Gurthang on 11/21/2012 10:08:10 AM , Rating: 2

I normally don't care for airliner designs but those winglets in that shot look nice and the lines are very sleek for something that is essentially a bus with wings.

RE: Interesting

By Voldenuit on 11/21/2012 10:52:28 AM , Rating: 3

Check out the unfaired landing gear. It's something of a hallmark of the 737 series, there because the original 737 "jurassic" model made in the 60s didn't have space for landing gear covers.

737 is one of the most (if not the most) successful aircraft types in history, with over 10,000 units ordered so far. Not bad for a tiny little airplane.

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RE: Interesting

By jconan on 11/21/12, Rating: 0

RE: Interesting

By seamonkey79 on 11/21/2012 12:51:14 PM , Rating: 5

The 737 is part of the reason all the other airframe builders got out of the business. The design was as close to perfection for the time as it could be, and with the updates over the years have just improved it. One of the most popular because of its strengths, not because of a lack of competition.

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RE: Interesting

By knutjb on 11/21/2012 3:32:40 PM , Rating: 3

Both wrong. The Douglas MD-80 series was in the same category as the 737 but congress allowed Boeing to buy out the competition. The MD-80 is a very good aircraft too. Both are better, in my opinion based on friends who have worked on all three brands, than the Airbus competition. No, the Airbus isn't bad just not as easy, in general, to work on.

The 737 is an amazingly good design for short-medium haul jet. Cleaning up a simple, common aircraft makes a lot of sense. You keep a fair amount of common parts and and learning the differences is usually easier than learning a new, different aircraft. All of that saves money for the end user.

Winglets: http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/KC-135/HTML...

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RE: Interesting

By Samus on 11/21/2012 4:15:42 PM , Rating: 2

Exactly, it's all about compatibility. Southwest Airlines flies 737-400 and 737-700's exclusively because their entire fleet can be maintained inexpensively that way. The reliability and serviceability are definitely superior to the Airbus 300's.

However, I feel the Airbus is quieter and smoother than the 737, but I appreciate the 737's extra overhead storage capacity and bathroom design.

Sometimes I just hang out in the bathroom to get away from everybody so it's nice to have a cozy atmosphere with a wall to rest your head on!

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RE: Interesting

By sorry dog on 11/27/2012 6:56:06 PM , Rating: 2

The free "business" class seat...

at least until the airline or TSA installs a hidden camera in the ceiling for the flight attendants to snicker at...ya know for safety reasons...

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