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Aviation History
1997
1997 - 2229.PDF
COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT launched a further stretched model, the -400ER, which has already been ordered by Delta Air Lines and Continental Airlines. The insertion of two plugs will stretch the fuselage by a total of 6.4m and increase two- class seating capacity to 303, from 269 for the -300ER. MTOW will be increased to 204,000kg. The wing will have aerodynamic improvements, increased span (to 51.9m), new longer landing gear, using 777 wheels and brakes, and a new auxiliary-power unit. After initially planning to introduce winglets, Boeing has now decided instead to use a new wingtip design which saves more than 1,000kg over the winglets, and reduces the span increase. Boeing plans to freeze the 767-400ER design in September, leading to a first flight in late 1999. Boeing plans three flight-test aircraft for the GE-powered version ordered by Delta. Certification and first delivery is due in 2000. Production The 767 is assembled at Everett, Washington. Some 44 aircraft were delivered in 1996, and production is running at the rate of four aircraft a month. Ordered 764 Delivered 663 777 Launched by Boeing to challenge the Airbus A330/A340 and MDC MD-11, the 777-200, flown for die first time in June 1994, entered service with United Airlines in June 1995. Offered widi all the "big three" engines, an intermediate-growth variant, the -200IGW, had its first flight in October 1996, and was put into service by British Airways in February' 1997. A stretched derivative, the 37O-seat-30O, which is 10m longer than die -200, will have its maiden flight in October 1997. This variant is aimed at the 747 Classic replacement market. Boeing is now focusing the very-long-range performance for the next developments of the 777 family, under the designation -200X and -300X. With further increases in gross weight, a fuel-capacity increase, and engines widi thrust levels in excess of 450kN, the -200X would offer a range of up to 16,000km. The similarly configured -300X should be able to fly distances of more than 12,000km. Malaysia Airlines has already signed a letter of intent for 15 777-200Xs, and Boeing is seek ing to launch die X-models if it can secure more "blue-chip" customers, to enable the design freeze in May 1998, widi certification and first deliveries of the -200X in the latter half of 2000. The -300X would enter service in 2001. The studies follow work on a short-body - 100X variant, which have been dropped in favour of the improved seat costs of the -200X. Production The 777 is built at Everett, Washington, and some 32 aircraft were deliv ered in 1996. Production is peaking at seven a month this year, and will drop back to five a month from die second quarter of 1998. Ordered 323 Delivered 76 Out-of-prodnction MDC types, such as the DC-10 (above,), are included under the MDC banner • •MlldlMJrfiUllMHiU'MllJMi Following Boeing's merger with McDonnell Douglas (MDC), all of die latter company's cur rent airliner models are marketed under the Douglas Products division banner. MD-80 A major derivative of the DC-9, the MD-80 series began as die DC-9 Super 80, and the 155- seat one-class (135-seats two-class) basic ver sion, dubbed the DC-9-81 (since renamed the MD-81), entered service with Swissair in September 1980. Asimilarly sized "hot-and-high" version, the MD-82, entered service in August 1981, fol lowed by the extended-range MD-83, which was certificated in October 1985. The short- fuselage 130-seat(l 14 seats in two-class layout) MD-87 entered service in late 1987, but pro duction has now ceased. The latest version, dimensionallv identical to the MD-81/82/83, is designated the MD-88. It has an upgraded cockpit, wider use of compos ite materials and a redesigned passenger cabin. Delta Air Lines put the MD-88 into service in January 1988. With the backlog for the MD-80 dwindling, its long-term future under Boeing ownership must be in question. Production Final assembly is undertaken at the former Douglas Aircraft plant in Long Beach, near Los Angeles on a joint line shared with the MD-90. An assembly line also exists in Shanghai (see SAIC). Thirty-six MDC rwinjets were delivered from the Long Beach line in 1996, including 12 MD-80s and 24 MD-90s. Production is run ning at about three aircraft a month. Ordered 1,170 Delivered 1,149 MD-90 The MD-90 is a slightly stretched, re-engined development of the long-body MD-80, pow ered by IAE V2500 engines. The aircraft also has an upgraded EFIS flightdeck, a redesigned passenger cabin and carbon brakes. The MD- 90 had its maiden flight in August 1993, and entered service with US carrier Delta Air Lines in April 1995. MDC has been studying an all-new wing for the MD-90, designed to provide the type with transcontinental range. A longer-range MD- 90-30 derivative has been proposed, die -50, which has a higher MTOW, increased fuel capacity, and more-powerful engines. A high er-capacity version, the -55, has also been designed. This aircraft, although dimensional- ly identical, would incorporate additional exits to allow increased passenger numbers. \0 orders have been announced for either model. Meanwhile, flight testing of Honeywell's Pegasus advanced FMS on an MD-90 is on schedule for first delivery to Saudi Arabian Airlines in November. As with the MD-80, the -9()'s future is unclear given that it is a direct rival to the 737 models. Production See MD-80 Ordered 145 Delivered 49 MD-95 The MD-95 was launched in October 1995, following an order from Valujet (to become AirTran) for 50 aircraft. The initial MD-95-30 will seat 129 passengers in a single-class layout, although in a more-typical (two-class) configuration, seating capacity would be 106. In June 1997, the first MD-95, the T-l test aircraft, was stood on its landing gear for the FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 3 - 9 September 1997 45
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