B 7E7: Dem Aussehen Treibstoffersparnis geopfert?

[Alex330]

Mit Gruß vom Alex

 

Kurze inhaltliche Zusammefassung:

 

Boeing muss das Design der neuen 7E7 überdenken, nachdem Kritik von Okögruppen und Airlines laut geworden ist. Boeing möchte mit der 7E7 eine wiedererkennbare Marke aufbauen und "den Zauber des Fliegens" zurückbringen, daher das besondere Aussehen mit der spitzen Nase und dem geschwungenen Leitwerk. Es scheint aber, dass gerade diese Merkmale für erhöhten Treibstoffverbrauch sorgen.

 

First Choice, einer der Launch Customers, übt jetzt Durck auf Boeing aus, das Aussehen des Flugzeugs noch zu verändern. Boeing scheint bereit zu sein, das Design zu überdenken, wenn die Airlines dies wollen. Vor allem das Leitwerk könnte noch Änderungen erfahren.

 

 

DREAMLINER'S FUEL NIGHTMARE FOR BOEING

 

8 July 2004 / The Times

 

By Ben Webster

 

Boeing is being forced to rethink the design of its new jet after

admitting that its distinctive shape would waste fuel.

 

The company had claimed that the 7E7 Dreamliner, expected to make its

maiden flight in 2007, would be the most eye-catching aircraft in the

skies. But First Choice, the holiday company that yesterday revealed

it was ordering six Dreamliners, said that it would be pressing

Boeing to redesign the plane.

 

Chris Browne, managing director of First Choice, said that passengers

did not care what the plane looked like as long as fares were cheap

and the interior was comfortable.

 

She added: "Aerodynamics are far more important than the appearance.

While it might be nice to look different, the key issue is to reduce

fuel consumption."

 

As a launch customer, First Choice has the right to negotiate with

Boeing over the design of the Dreamliner.

 

The present design has an elongated nose and a tail fin that curves

out of the fuselage rather than jutting upwards. It looks sleeker

than existing snub nosed aircraft, but tests by Boeing's engineers

have shown that it causes more drag and therefore increases fuel

consumption.

 

Boeing has already been criticised by environmental groups for

sacrificing efficiency for the sake of appearance.

 

Lord Faulkner of Worcester, chairman of the Parliamentary Sustainable

Aviation Group, has written to Sir Michael Jenkins, Boeing's UK

president.

 

In the letter, he accused Boeing of "deliberately and calculatedly

manufacturing an aircraft with less than optimum fuel consumption".

 

He added: "Do you not agree that we need new aircraft that reduce

exhaust emissions to an absolute minimum if we are ever to get air

transport's climate change contribution under control?"

 

Jeff Hawk, Boeing's director of environment, said: "There is a trade-

off in the design, in which we lose a little in terms of overall

efficiency. We wanted people to recognise the plane so they could

identify with the brand."

 

But Randy Baseler, Boeing's head of marketing, said that the

manufacturer would be prepared to reconsider the design if airlines

raised concerns. "Airlines are saying to us, 'We want to bring back

the magic of flight'. They want something recognisable, but we

realise they don't want to pay a big fuel penalty for it," he

said. "The tail is being studied very carefully and it could have

some changes."

 

Mr Baseler said that aspects of the Dreamliner's design, including

extensive use of composite materials, would make it 20 per cent more

efficient than existing airliners.

 

Boeing also claims that the Dreamliner, which will have between 200

and 300 seats, will be more fuel-efficient than a 550-seat Airbus

A380.