Guy Norris/LOS ANGFELES
McDONNELL DOUGLAS is studying the launch of three new products over the next 18 months, including a stretched MD-95 and two re-winged variants of the MD-11.
Douglas Aircraft vice-president and general manager John Feren says that future milestones already include delivery of the first MD-11ER and, in 1998, the first flight of the MD-95-30.
"In the 1996 to 2000 period, however, you will see the arrival of new aircraft on the scene," says Feren. The MD-95-50, expected to be launched in 1997, will be a 3,150km (1,700nm)-range aircraft, capable of carrying up to 145 in all economy seating, or around 126 in two classes.
The two MD-11 variants, revealed exclusively in Flight International (14-20 February), differ from many earlier study derivatives of the tri-jet in having a new wing. "We're in the study phase right now and we aim to complete those in the next few months. We could be offering those in the marketplace by the end of the year," says Feren. The studies, are expected to be completed, by mid-April.
The MD-11 Stretch is expected to be defined as a 375-passenger aircraft with a range of 12,950km. MDC is aiming it at the Boeing 747-100/200 replacement market. The longer-range MD-11LR, which will be able to fly 15,700km, or routes such as Los Angeles-Singapore, is MDC's proposed competitor against the Airbus A340 and Boeing 777 for the emerging long-range market. The MD-11LR would also embody a slight stretch of the current MD-11 fuselage, to extend seating capacity by around 20.
MDC hopes that reviving market conditions, and the availability of the -11ER variant, will keep the line open until the re-winged tri-jet is available around 1999. Much of the company's optimism is centred on the cargo business. "The hidden jewel for us on the MD-11 has turned out to be the freight market," says Feren. The company has commitments for 51 MD-11F/CFs, of which 27 have entered service. In addition, the company expects to see some work coming from DC-10 freight conversions, for which it forecasts a potential market of around 50 aircraft.
Narrow-body business, although not exactly booming, is expected to be buoyant with orders collected in 1995, for 51 MD-80/90s and the MD-95 launch order from low-cost airline ValuJet.
Source: Flight International
