Big vs small, Europe vs United States, Airbus vs Boeing
The battle is still there: Europe and the United States permanently fight to be better than the other one and they keep a pacific struggle that involves agreements, money, power and technology... even in the air.It is very notorious that this is exactly the kind of struggle that we can notice between Boeing and Airbus. The latter, is very proud of producing and launching the biggest airplane in the world, which is able to carry 555 passengers and can fly for 15,000 km (this means, approximately the distance between New York, USA, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) without the need of refueling. Immense, surprising. In fact, the biggest commercial aircraft in the world. But what is Boeing doing in the meanwhile? Just stand back, watch and try not to get involved?
I don't think that's the case. Boeing is already assembling a new generation of commercial jets, which are slightly different than the A380: I'm talking about the Boeing 787-Dreamliner family, from which, for example, the 787-9 Dreamliner, scheduled for its first flight in 2007, will be
a medium sized aircraft designed to carry a maximum of 290 passengers and to fly about 16,000 km (like about the distance between New York City, USA, and Jakarta, Indonesia) without refueling. According to Boieng, an important advantage that this airliner offers is the fuel efficiency, as this airplane utilizes 20% less fuel compared to other "similar missions", being also able to fly as fast as 0.85 mach (similar to the fastest jets available).So what do you think is best? medium size, high fuel efficiency; or more passenger capacity to fly less flights? Your choice!
More information about these models in the following links:
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/787family/index.html
http://www.airbus.com/en/aircraftfamilies/a380/
posted by Eddie @ 9:14 PM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
Yesterday I saw the Airbus 380 in Düsseldorf/Germany. No doubt this will be the future. The Boing 747 seemed to be an little museum-exhibit. I have never seen such an imressive take-off. A big heavy airplane but there was no noise - so elegant. Before I have been quite critical but this was because I didn't really now I was talking about. Everybody around me felt that this is the begin a new chapter of aviation. Nothing compares to this airplane and this is just the begin. The extended version A380-900 will have a capacity of more than 900 passengers. Boeing787 and Airbus 350XWB don't really compete in this line of business. In one year public opinion will realize this.
Faster, more fuel efficient, point to point is the way to go--Time is money and comfort
Boeing is right on- point to point. Who wants to be on a 800 passenger monster and then go thru an airline's sclerotic hub whether Frankfurt or Singapore or London.
I would rather fly direct and spend more time on the ground doing business or my many girlfriends
It's ironic that the USA, which spurned and derided Concord, in favour of its own large and slow Boeing-747, is now playing the smaller and faster card. Concord was very popular with businessmen where time was money. Holiday makers, however, seemed more obsessed with wining and dining in the air and couldn't give a damn how long they were 'up there'. Whether it's the AirBus or the DreamingLiner, the days of London -> New York in 3 hours will never return.
Oh yes... I agree in that - the good ol' times when it was possible to fly from NYC to London won't return... unless any of the big aircraft assemblers manages to design a similar plane, but more environmentally-friendly and less noisy. Let's not lose hope!
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