Quote:
Originally Posted by 3.0L
This sounds reminiscent of the B-737 Max. I think Boeing went too far with this airframe to the point they had to use software tricks to make it
fly like the original 737. Event the undercarriage is looking inadequate for such a stretch.
Boeing should've designed a new replacement airframe instead.
|
Not remotely the same. Max had a single issue (MCAS) that Boeing got stupid on-- but it didn't have the rampant graft and corruption that the KC-46 did, nor does it have the utter incapability of mission that the tanker does. It does however, have a ton of parts commonality, a common type rating, and ease of training-- all of which the airlines LOVE.
I agree with you on going too far on the airframe though-- personally, I think the -800 is the sweet spot and they should have quit there. The -900's are pigs (GW limits of an -800 but overall weight of an ER), and the -900ER's are just a pain to take off and land due to tail clearance issues (you drag the tail on rotation at 9.2 degrees w/ F1-- that's fun).
The Max however *does* really sip gas-- which increases payload and/or range. But it's a dog in the climb-- it's freakin' *painful* to get to altitude in it. It's super-efficient though-- I have to give it that.
Gear-wise, you might be thinking of the Max10-- that variant will have a bizarroland articulated gear. I've watched the demo video on it probably 20 times and I **still** can't figure it out. The Max8/9 gear is more or less the same as the -700/-800/-900 (although the brakes are ~15% more effective). That's why they had to move the Leap 1B motors outboard-- they couldn't stretch the gear anymore to make additional ground clearance.
Boeing didn't want to invest in a SNB (Small Narrow Body), as it design through certification would have cost upwards of a billion dollars. That seems pretty cheap in comparison to the costs incurred with the Max debacle.
Full disclosure: I have a couple thousand hours in the 737-300/500 (the Classic) and am a current/qualified Check Pilot on the 737-700/800/900/900ER (NG) and Max8/9.