Graham Warwick/SEATTLE
Boeing expects to be in a position to take orders for the Sonic Cruiser by early next year when definition of the initial high-subsonic airliner is planned to be complete. Several combinations of size, speed, range, technology level and service entry date are being discussed with airlines.
Configurations being studied range from a single-aisle 100-seater to a twin-aisle 300-seater, with cruise speeds between Mach 0.95 and 0.98, ranges from 11,100km (6,000nm) and 18,500km and service entry dates between 2006 and 2008, depending on the level of technology incorporated. "We are trying to come up with the right compromise between time to market and the level of technology," says Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice-president, business strategy and marketing, Mike Bair.
A 2006 Sonic Cruiser would be a metal aircraft using Boeing 777-level technology, including engines, flightdeck and systems. A 2008 development would have some composites, derivative engines and advanced flightdeck and systems. The advantage to airlines of waiting, says Bair, is that the 2008 aircraft would have lower direct operating costs (DOCs).
Bair says the cash DOCs (excluding purchase costs) of the 2006 Sonic Cruiser are equal to the Boeing 767-400ER's, for a 13,900km-range aircraft. Cash DOCs for the 2008 aircraft are lower.
The baseline configuration is a 767-sized 250-seater with 16,700km-plus range. This would allow the aircraft to fly Singapore-Los Angeles and save 3h over the Mach 0.85-cruise Boeing 747, or fly Singapore-London and save 2h. Increasing range to 18,500km would allow the aircraft to fly London-Sydney non-stop, saving up to 5h compared with the current one-stop service. An 18,500km-range Sonic Cruiser would be limited to around 225 seats, says Bair.
Boeing is putting together an airline advisory group to help define the initial aircraft, and Bair says the company is besieged by requests from carriers to join the group. "By the end of this year or early next we should have a good handle on the specifics of the configuration," he says. "We would look for first orders in the same timescale, but we have not talked to airlines yet about signing up."
Boeing is also getting ready to brief airlines on its plans for further improving the 747, after shelving a scheme for the larger 747X in favour of the Sonic Cruiser.
The upgraded 747 would have an increased gross weight of 431,000kg (950,000lb), a range of 15,400km, higher thrust engines, wing aerodynamic improvements and 777-technology flightdeck and interior. Passenger capacity would not be increased, but the new wing planned for the 747X could come later, says vice-president marketing, Randy Baseler.
The aircraft needs more powerful engines than the current 747-400, but not as large as the General Electric/Pratt & Whitney Engine Alliance GP7000s offered for the 747X, says Baseler. Wing refinements would include trailing-edge wedges and 767-400ER-style swept wingtips.
Boeing sees continuing demand in the 400-seat market for 24-30 747s a year. Baseler expects a freighter version of the improved 747 to follow soon after the passenger aircraft is launched. The company is already working on a freighter version of the 413,000kg 747-400ER launched in passenger form last year by Qantas.
Source: Flight International
