The Airbus document examines the Boeing 787-9 stretch variant that is due to enter service in 2012 with launch customer Air New Zealand.
Airbus believes Boeing will design significant performance improvements into the -9 that will then be incorporated into a major block point change around line number 100 for the baseline -8.
Airbus cites two "Boeing Proprietary" presentation slides titled "787-9 Configuration Features" that claim that a revised aft-body join, new floor beams, seat tracks, composite wing ribs and structural fuel vent stringers, as well as a "revised structural architecture" for the horizontal stabiliser will all find their way into the 787-8 and -9.
The combination of supply chain woes, design changes and production forecasts are all central to what Airbus believes is the "conundrum" for Boeing's 787 programme: "Either wait for the 787-9 design spin-offs to limit number of low-value 'wave one aircraft'... or ramp up fast to recover delay in deliveries to customers."
Yet, almost paradoxically, Airbus concedes that the "787-9 design [is] on hold pending availability of 787-8 ground and flight-test data". Adding, "ground and flight loads data [is] essential to calibrate [finite element method] models" and "aero[dynamic] and engine performance data [is] essential to determine need for additional weight savings".
Source: Flight International
