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Aviation History
1989
1989 - 0479.PDF
The first McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is nearing completion at Long Beach seeks MD-11 partners Bill Messecar, director of MD-11 marketing, says that interest in an MD-11 stretch has intensified over the last six months, as the programme has begun to gain momentum and a broader customer base. Next month Douglas is to hold a major configuration review in Long Beach, to which it will invite both existing MD-11 customers and airlines who have expressed interest in the stretch concept. If the company decides to grow the aircraft, Messecar says that the basic stretch will be the first configuration offered, with first deliveries aimed for 1994. He says: "We .have not pinned down when we are going to launch it yet, because we are still completing some internal studies related to manu facturing capacity and the precise introduction date. We are targeting 1994 [for first deliveries], but it could be earlier if possible. We are in the final stages that a manufacturer goes through to establish that we have the aeroplane that the airlines want." The re-winged Super Stretch would follow introduction of the basic MD-11 Stretch, but Messecar says its launch could be delayed beyond the end of the next decade. The enormous development costs associated with designing a new wing means that Douglas is unlikely to launch the project alone, although Messecar says the company has not determined whether it is looking for a risk- sharing partner or a subcon tractor to produce the wing. Far East interest "All of the major airframers and most of the engine manu facturers are forming partner ships," says Messecar. "We have a number of foreign partners on the MD-11 programme, and we think that it is a good way to do business. Our Canadian factory [McDonnell Douglas Canada] produces the MD-11 wing, and it is possible that someone else could supply us with a new- technology wing. There are a number of people in the Far East that are interested in that, but we have not settled with anyone yet." Messecar says that both Delta and American Airlines, the only two major US passenger airlines to order the MD-11 so far, are both interested in the stretch concept, although he will not reveal whether either carrier has agreed to convert some of their later MD-11 options if the Stretch becomes available. i ] < ORDERBOOK 3 Polaris leases Boeings Polaris Aircraft Leasing has completed two sale-leaseback transactions, worth almost $150 million, for eight Boeing 727-200s and three 737-200s. The 727-200s were purchased : rom then leased back to USAir, with a similar arrange ment with Denmark's Maersk Air for the 737-200s. 3 French A310-300 order Europe Aero Service, based at Perpignan, southern France, ias signed a preliminary agreement to buy two Airbus A310-200s with options on two more. The airline oper ates charter services within iiurope, North Africa, and the Vliddle East. 3 Polaris buys MD-80s talaris Aircraft Leasing has ordered three McDonnell Douglas MD-83 twinjets, and taken options on an additional three. Deliveries of the first two aircraft will be in August 1990, with the third following in October of that year. • Philippine 360s Philippine Airlines has ordered a seventh Shorts 360. The aircraft are used in all- passenger and all-freight configurations. O New England 360s Shorts has sold another four SD360 regional turboprops to Business Enterprise, the New England carrier, in a deal worth $20 million. D Portuguese ATPs Portuguese airlines Servico Acoreano de Transportes Aereos (SATA) has ordered three Advanced Turboprops (ATPs) from British Aero- • space in a contract worth more than $40 million. Airbuses for three continents New Airbuses seen in the air together during recent test flying are (top to bottom): an A300-600R for American Airlines, an A310-300 for Royal Jordanian Airlines, and an Airbus A320-200 for Ansett Airlines of Australia. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 25 February 1989 25
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