MURDO MORRISON / SEATTLE
Discussions are under way as Boeing looks to Airbus's Spanish arm for expertise in producing carbonfibre structures
Boeing is in talks with EADS Casa about the Spanish arm of the Airbus shareholder having a role in the development of the Sonic Cruiser.
Boeing has signed up five external "technology partners" to work on research and development of the Sonic Cruiser. Alenia, Hawker de Havilland, Japan Aircraft Development, Japan Aircraft Industries and Vought, are focusing on materials technology - Boeing is aiming for 60% of the structure by weight to be made of composites.
According to Walt Gillette, Boeing's general manager Sonic Cruiser programme, "preliminary" talks are under way with EADS Casa. "We respect their ability to make large-scale carbon structures - they are an expert in horizontal and vertical tails made from carbon fibre. We plan more visits," says Gillette.
The former Casa plant at Getafe near Madrid, which now operates as Airbus Spain, is responsible for producing the horizontal stabilisers for all the Airbus models, including the A380 ultra-large aircraft, and makes extensive use of carbonfibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) technology.
Meanwhile, the manufacturer has finished a second round of talks with potential customers on Sonic Cruiser as it works towards finalising a design next year.
Boeing is relaxed about extending its 2008 entry-into-service target, having already slipped this from 2006. "We will launch it when we and the airlines know what we are going to do and can make a business case for it," says Gillette, who adds that "2008 still represents the best time all this can come together".
The present "notional schedule" calls for the finalising the design in 2003 or 2004, manufacturing to start from 2004 or 2005, and testing to begin in 2006. But there is still a "spread of airline opinion" about the design. "We are currently studying the shape of the aircraft really hard," says Gillette, who adds that 50 changes have been made to the wing design and 12 "tweaks" to the engine pods since it went public with the project a year ago.
Source: Flight International
