Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES
McDONNELL DOUGLAS (MDC) plans to reveal the first technical details of its MD-XX tri-jet derivative family at a conference being held this week in Long Beach, California, to which up to 60 airlines have been invited to attend.
"The schedule has accelerated dramatically," says Douglas Aircraft (DAC) division vice-president of engineering and chief engineer Allen Haggerty, who revealed the re-winged MD-11 study exclusively in February (Flight International, 14-20 February, P10).
The manufacturer received funding approval for an intensive study phase in April from MDC chief executive Harry Stonecipher following the completion of initial studies. "We have a tremendous amount of effort going into the study. We have reviewed it with 11 airlines so far and are getting an enthusiastic response for what appears to be an exciting pair of aircraft," says Haggerty.
The MD-XX combines two basic versions formerly known as the MD-11LR (long range) and MD-11 Stretch. Although DAC has studied stretched MD-11 variants for several years, the MD-XX is a much larger commitment than before as it revolves around the development of an all-new wing, replacing what is now a direct derivative of the DC-10 design.
DAC believes that the economics of the new, more-swept, wing, combined with improvements to the fuselage, will make the MD-XX Stretch a rival to the Boeing 747. DAC believes that the LR version would also have the edge on longer-range versions of the Boeing 777 and Airbus A340 families.
DAC appears to have won solid support from the MDC board for the study, unlike previous attempts to launch new widebody projects in recent years, most of which focused on MD-11 baselines.
The MD-XX study is now at the start of a projected ten-phase programme, timed to have the first aircraft ready for delivery in 2000. Phase II, which further refines the configuration of the aircraft and incorporates airline requirements, is set for July. The programme could then be launched by December, with concept definition expected to follow in October 1997.
"The market will tell us which of the two versions to do first," says Haggerty. "We will probably do the stretch first," he adds. The company is studying a modular-assembly process with new tooling which would enable all three tri-jets to be built alongside one another.
Full details of the MD-XX are due to be outlined at a briefing at the end of May, which is expected to reveal that the stretch will be around 10m longer than the current MD-11 and carry 375 passengers on routes of up to 13,300km (7,200nm). The MD-XXLR will be virtually the same length as the present aircraft, but, with the larger wing, will be capable of carrying up to 305 passengers for ranges of more than 15,700km.
MDC pours cold water on efforts by Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA) to lure the group into a partnership on the Airbus A3XX project, although it confirms that overtures were made when DASA chairman Manfred Bischoff met Stonecipher for talks in Washington DC in April.
See feature, P36.
Source: Flight International
