Saudi arms deal will include Apaches & Black Hawks

On top of a proposed deal to sell 84 Boeing F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, the Obama administration is also poised to sell about 70 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters (made by United Technologies) and up to 60 Boeing AH-64 Apache Longbow helicopters to the birthplace of Islam.  If the deal is pushed through, it would be the largest overseas U.S. arms sale in history, with estimates putting the total cost to as much as $60 billion over 10 years.  The arms package will include flight simulators, spare parts, and long-term support, but the aircraft and rotorcraft involved will not have certain weapon systems installed that U.S. officials deem "conducive to regional stability" or would be seen as objectionable by Israel or Congress.

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New video of first 787 Dreamliner

Here's a link to a neat 3 minute video that showcases the interior of ZA001, the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner to come off the production line.

787 Video

Saudi Arabia to acquire F-15 Fighter Jets

The Obama administration is proceeding with a plan to sell 84 Boeing F-15 Fighter Planes to Saudi Arabia.  The 10-year arms package, which is worth about $30 billion (and is one of the biggest deals of its kind), is designed to help the Saudis check the growing Iranian threat within the Middle East.  The proposed sale has come under a bit of fire from Israel.  However, the U.S. has made efforts to quell Israel's concerns by agreeing not to equip the F-15's with advanced long-range weapons, which Israel had strongly opposed when the deal was first developed.  Along with the F-15's, the deal will also include several dozens of UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters from United Technologies Corp.

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Inmarsat to purchase 3 Boeing satellites

U.K.-based Inmarsat has announced that it will purchase three Ka-Band satellites from Boeing for a total cost of around $1 billion, beating French satellite maker Thales Alenia Space.  The satellites will allow Inmarsat to provide high mobile broadband speeds (up to 20 times faster compared to its existing fleet of 11 L-Band satellites) to its commercial and government clients by the end of 2014.

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Cathay Pacific orders 777-300ER

Today, Cathay Pacific agreed to purchase six 777-300ER aircraft from Boeing (in addition to 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft as well).  The order comes amidst increasing passenger revenue and cargo traffic for Hong Kong's largest airline.

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Boeing to move C-130 & B-1 from Long Beach to Oklahoma City

In what company officials say is a cost cutting move in light of expected cuts in defense spending, Boeing has announced that it will be relocating both its C-130 Avionics Modernization and B-1 programs from Long Beach, CA to Oklahoma City, OK.  The move will begin around the first quarter of 2011 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.  Out of the 800 workers that are currently employed by both programs, about 550 will be relocated, with the rest to be transitioned into another programs within Boeing.

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P-8A Poseidon T3 Completes First Flight Test

Aircraft T3, one of 6 flight-test aircraft for the Navy's P-8A Poseidon program, successfully completed a 2.8 hour flight test from Boeing Field in Seattle, WA.  During the flight, T3 performed various in-flight systems checks including autopilot flight modes and APU and engine shutdowns and re-starts.  Next up for T3 is for it to join sister test-aircraft T1 and T2 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River (located in Maryland) where it will undergo further ground and flight tests.  T3 has been designated as the P-8A program's mission system and weapon certification aircraft.  The U.S. Navy plans on purchasing up to 117 P-8A Poseidon aircraft (which is based on a Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 airframe) to replace its aging fleet of P-3 Orion anti-submarine/maritime surveillance aircraft.

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Emirates offers advice on future of 777

Good read from the Seattle Times about Tim Clark, president of Dubai-based Emirates, whose extraordinary growth has been nothing short of remarkable in spite of the slow global economy.  Because Emirates owns the world's largest 777 fleet (86 aircraft with 46 more on order), they wield significant influence on Boeing's future plans for their 777 family, whether it be improvements to the existing airframe or an all new aircraft type.  Clark's advice to Boeing?  Develop a new family of twin-engine aircraft "bigger" than the largest Dreamliner, using the existing 777-300ER as a baseline.  It also must be able to fly several hundred miles farther than the 777-300ER on a full 55-ton payload.  Boeing does need to make a decision soon on its 777 plans with the Airbus A350-1000 (which is viewed as a direct competitor to the 777) scheduled to come into service within the next decade.  Does Boeing invest billions of dollars to develop a new 777 aircraft just to satisfy one customer, albeit a very powerful and very rich customer???

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American Airlines to purchase 35 737-800s

American Airlines has decided to exercise purchase options for 35 Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft.  The options were included as part of a previous order for 84 737 aircraft that began arriving back in 2009.  American plans on using the 737 aircraft to replace its archaic fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft, which are about 35% less fuel efficient compared to a 737-800.  They hope to achieve a total fleet of 195 737-800 aircraft by the end of 2012.  I've tended to avoid flying American on domestic flights because they mostly fly these old MD-80's with its crappy interiors and cramped seats.  But with these new 737-800s coming into service, I would be more willing to make the switch back to American.

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Qatar Airways announces order for 2 777-200LRs

Yesterday at the Farnborough Air Show, five-star airline Qatar Airways announced that it would be purchasing from Boeing 2 777-200LR Worldliner aircraft.  The total value of the order is around $501 million at list prices.  Currently Qatar flies an extensive 777 fleet that includes the aforementioned 777-200LR, the 777-300ER, and the 777-F, a freighter variant.

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Okay Airways orders 10 737-800s at Farnborough

Yesterday, Beijing-based airline Okay Airways signed an agreement with Boeing to acquire 10 Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft, with an order value of around $800 million at list prices.  Okay Airways is China's first privately owned airline, serving domestic routes near its hub a Tianjin Binhai International Airport.  They are also an all-Boeing operator, with a fleet mostly comprised of 737-800 aircraft.

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Air Austral orders two 777-200LRs at Farnborough

Today at the Farnborough Air Show, French carrier Air Austral announced an agreement to purchase two Boeing 777-200LR Worldliners.  The order is valued at around $501 million at list prices.  The 777-200LR is an ideal aircraft for this particular airline.  With a total range of 9,395 nautical miles, it can connect any two city-pairs in the world nonstop.  In Air Austral's case, it allows for nonstop flights from Paris to the island nation of Reunion, a vacation hotspot located in the South Indian Ocean and Air Austral's base of operations.

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Air Lease Corporation to order 60 737-800s at Farnborough

Another company in the growing aviation leasing market, Los Angeles based Air Lease Corporation, has just signed an agreement with Boeing for 60 Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft.  54 of those planes are firm orders, while the remaining six are purchase options.  Although a relatively new company (Air Lease was just recently founded in February 2010), it has at its helm Steven Udvar-Hazy, a former major player in the leasing industry when he was the head of International Lease Financing Corporation (ILFC).

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Avolon orders 12 Next-Gen 737-800s at Farnborough

Dublin, Ireland-based leasing company Avolon placed an order with Boeing for 12 Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft at this year's Farnborough Air Show.  The order is valued at around $921 million at list prices.  Avolon is a brand new leasing outfit in the aviation sector, having just launched recently in May 2010.  Hopefully this is a sign that the aviation industry is coming out of its cyclic downturn and heading for greener pastures, especially with the number of orders that both Boeing and rival Airbus have been racking up at this year's show.

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Royal Jordanian orders 3 787s at Farnborough

Several more Dreamliners were placed on the growing order book today at the Farnborough International Airshow.  Jordan's national carrier, Royal Jordanian, placed an order with Boeing for three 787-8 aircraft, boosting their entire 787 fleet to 11 planes.  The order is worth about $500 million at list prices.  Jordanian Air (the first Middle Eastern airline to order the 787) plans to utilize its 787 fleet on North American routes, which include New York, Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto.

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Norwegian Air Shuttle orders 15 Next-Gen 737s at Farnborough

Capping yesterday's flurry of aircraft orders at the U.K. Farnborough Air Show is an order by Norwegian Air Shuttle for 15 Next-Generation 737-800s.  To be more precise, the order is an exercise of purchase rights that Norwegian Air had secured way back in 2007, when they had made an order of 42 737's and 42 purchase rights.  The total order is valued at around $1.15 billion at list prices.

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GECAS announces order for 40 737-800s at Farnborough

Chalk up another order for Boeing at this year's Farnborough Air Show in England.  Leasing giant GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) announced an order with Boeing for 40 Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft.  The total order value is around $3 billion at list prices.

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Emirates orders 30 777-300ERs at Farnborough

Today at the Farnborough Air Show in the U.K., Boeing cemented an important order for 30 777-300ER's from Dubai-based Emirates Airlines, one of the most dominant and luxurious airlines in the Middle East.  Emirates is already the world's largest operator of Boeing 777's, and is the only airline to fly every model within the 777 family.

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British Airways places order for 24 787 Dreamliners

On Sunday, 7/18, British Airways announced that it has placed an order with Boeing for 24 787 Dreamliner aircraft.  They will be equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, and are scheduled to enter service around 2012.

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Boeing 737 faces tough challenges from its competitors

Interesting read from BBC news regarding Boeing's 737, the world's best-selling commercial aircraft.  It talks about the lean production system that Boeing has employed to manufacture these aircraft, its current status in the soon-to-be-crowded short-haul commercial aircraft market, and its future (new more fuel-efficient engines on the existing platform, or an all new aircraft design like the 787). 

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Boeing officially submits bid for U.S. Tanker contract

Today Boeing submitted its proposal for the U.S. Air Force aerial tanker contract, at a whopping 8,000 pages and over 1,200 graphic images.  I guess you need that much information so as to satisfy the Air Force's 372 mandatory requirements for their new tanker.  Airbus had already submitted their proposal yesterday.  As expected, Boeing will be pitting their 767-based tanker against Airbus' A330-based one, with a contract award to come no later than November 12, 2010.  Whether the Air Force decides to include into the contest the prickly matter of illegal subsides that the WTO had levied against Airbus remains to be seen.    Here are some fun facts about Boeing's tanker (officially dubbed the NewGen Tanker):

* Based on commercial 767 aircraft
* Digital flight deck
* Electronic displays that are currently used on the 787 Dreamliner
* Advanced KC-10 refueling boom with expanded refueling envelope,
  increased fuel offload rate, and fly-by-wire control system
* 40-year service life
* Burns 24% less fuel and weighs less than A330 tanker
* Saves American taxpayers more than $10 billion in fuel costs
* Supports approximately 50,000 U.S. jobs and more than 800
  suppliers in more than 40 states
* Manufacturing to take place in existing facilities in Washington and
  Kansas

NewGen Tanker Website

New player in U.S. Tanker contract

Looks like there will be a 3rd wheel in the ongoing saga that is the U.S. Air Force Tanker Replacement Program.  On July 2nd, the Department of Defense confirmed that Ukranian aircraft maker Antonov, in partnership with California-based Aerospace Inc., has been approved to enter the contest.  Antonov will offer three models from its product line: the AN-124 and AN-122, which are commercial passenger aircraft currently in use today, and the AN-112, which Antonov states will be specifically designed to meet all of the U.S. Air Force's tanker requirements.  The tankers would be manufactured in the Ukraine and then finished at a new U.S. based factory.  As to where that factory will be located remains undecided.  Now all we need is for a Chinese-based company to enter the contest to make things even more interesting!

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Boeing finalizes 787-9 design

On Thursday, July 1st, Boeing announced that it had finalized the basic design for the 787-9, which is a stretched version of the Dreamliner product line.  With a firm configuration set, Boeing and its network of global suppliers will now be able to begin producing parts for the new model.  The 787-9 can carry up to 290 passengers to distances as far as 8,500 nautical miles (about 4% farther than the 787-8, which is currently undergoing flight testing and FAA certification).  Compared to the 787-8, the 787-9 will have two new fuselage sections added.  First delivery of the aircraft is expected to occur around late 2013.  Meanwhile Boeing confirms that they are still on track for first delivery of the 787-8 to launch customer All Nippon Airways by the end of 2010.

Airbus eats crow after WTO deems Launch Aid to be illegal

The long running trade dispute between the European Union and the U.S. over illegal trade subsidies given to Airbus (called "Launch Aid") reached a significant milestone yesterday. The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that Launch Aid constituted an illegal subsidy, and must be stopped immediately within 90 days.  Launch Aid helped to fund most of Airbus' airplane programs, most notably the development of the super-jumbo A380.  That was deemed to be an illegal subsidy, although similar aid for the A350 (a direct competitor to Boeing's 787 and 777) was ruled to be a legal subsidy.  Check out the case scorecard link below for a list of Airbus programs and related infrastructure for which illegal subsidies were provided.  As to what this means now for the upcoming U.S. Air Force Tanker replacement contest remains to be seen, since Airbus' offering is based on a A330 platform (which was deemed to have received illegal subsidies during its development).  An expected decision on a countersuit against Boeing claiming that it also received illegal subsidies from state governments and the Pentagon is expected to come July 16th.

WTO Case Scorecard

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Can 787 survive a crash landing?

Interesting read from the Seattle times that discusses the 787's survivability during a crash landing.  Because the 787 is comprised largely of composite materials (specifically carbon fiber infused with an epoxy resin), it won't behave like a traditional aluminum aircraft.  There was some initial concern that the 787 structure would shatter into pieces (like a ceramic bowl dropped on the ground) during a crash, whereas an aluminum airframe would bend but remain intact.  Currently the FAA is getting close to certifying the 787 Dreamliner as safe for air travel, so it appears Boeing has figured out how to make the aircraft crashworthy.  But there are some who still remain unconvinced...

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Air China to purchase 20 737-800 aircraft

On Friday, June 25th, Air China announced that it would purchase 20 Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft for around $1.4 billion.  The aircraft will be delivered between 2013-2015, and will be used to help boost Air China's fleet capacity.

787 Dreamliner testing resumes

Last Sunday, June 27th, Boeing resumed flight testing on its 787 Dreamliners after a manufacturing flaw had been discovered on the horizontal tails of two aircraft.  This had led to the suspension of all Dreamliner flight testing while Boeing engineers inspected the problem on all finished and in-production aircraft.  Once the safety inspections were completed and passed, flight testing resumed with ZA003 returning to Seattle from Arizona (where it had remained grounded since June 22nd) while ZA002 completed a roundtrip from Boeing Field to Moses Lake in central Washington.  The horizontal tails are manufactured by 787 partner Alenia, which is based in Italy.

Boeing signs contracts with Russia for 737s & titanium

On Thursday, June 24th, Boeing signed several agreements with Russian-based companies: a 50 aircraft 737 Next-Generation order by Rostechnologii for modernizing the Russian government's aircraft fleet, a purchase agreement for titanium forgings and other supplies with VSMPO-AVISMA for the 787, 777, and 737, and a technology collaboration program between Boeing and its Russian partners called the Skolkovo project.

Boeing to bid on presidential helicopter fleet contract

Today Boeing will announce that they will throw their hat in the ring for the revived controversial presidential helicopter replacement program.  The first program had been thoroughly criticized by President Obama as a prime example of wasteful military spending and poor management, with the cost having doubled from $6 billion to around $13 billion.  In this new go-around, the Pentagon hopes to keep the price for 28 new helicopters firmly around $6-10 billion.  Boeing's plan is to purchase the rights to produce a version of the AW101 (a midsize helicopter) from AgustaWestland, a European company that had partnered with Lockheed Martin for the original contract.  Lockheed will actually reenter the contest again, although this time they will team up with Sikorsky and offer a helicopter based on Sikorsky's H-92 medium-lift aircraft.  Boeing will have a slight advantage since the AW101 had been chosen as the ideal platform during the original program, since it is larger than the Sikorsky craft and can carry more passengers with fewer modifications.  The new rotorcraft are not expected to be ferrying presidents and his/her aides before 2017.  They are also expected to have extra protective measures from terrorist threats, including chemical, biological, and nuclear attacks,

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Boeing will unlikely produce 787-3 variant

Jim Albaugh, head of Boeing's Commercial Airplanes Division, was quoted as saying that he'd "be really surprised" if the 787-3 would ever be built.  The 787-3 was originally envisioned as a short-distance version of the Dreamliner, able to carry as much as 330 passengers to as far as 3,050 nautical miles.  In contrast, the 787-8 (which is currently in production) can carry up to 250 passengers to as far as 8,200 nautical miles.  Launch customer All Nippon Airways had originally placed an order for the -3 variant, but had recently changed it in favor of the -8.  This left the proposed 787-3 model with no firm orders and little to no interest from other potential customers.

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Boeing X-51A WaveRider smashes high-speed record

The X-51A WaveRider, built by Boeing's advanced R&D team Phantom Works and powered by a Pratt & Whitney / Rocketdyne supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) engine, achieved flight history on Wednesday, May 26th.  In its very first attempt, the experimental unmanned aircraft successfully completed the longest supersonic combustion ramjet-powered flight in history, accelerating to Mach 5 (5 times the speed of sound, around 3,500 mph) and reaching a peak altitude of 70,000 feet within 200 seconds of flight.  The event took place near Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, where a B-52H Stratofortress carried the X-51A under its left wing prior to releasing it for its test flight.  After release, the X-51A was initially propelled by an attached solid rocket booster before this eventually detached and the X-51A's main engine took over.  If this technology matures enough, imagine being able to travel from L.A. to N.Y. in under 30 minutes!  It would revolutionize the way we travel in the skies (and even in outer space).  This initial test flight represents one of 4 X-51A aircraft already built by Boeing.  The link below has a neat little 1.5 minute video of the X-51A in flight.

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Dreamliner ZA004 moves on to Colorado

After experiencing the hot climates and low altitudes of Mesa, AZ, 787 aircraft ZA004 has now moved on the other extreme: cold weather temperatures and high altitudes, this time in Colorado Spring, CO.  There the aircraft will conduct high-altitude flight testing for several days.

ANA pilots get a taste of the Dreamliner in flight

On May 12th, two pilots from All Nippon Airways (the launch customer for the 787 Dreamliner) became the first pilots outside of Boeing's flight test team to actually pilot the 787 Dreamliner.  Under the close watch of Boeing's chief test pilots, the two ANA pilots flew aircraft ZA001 over the state of Washington for about 2.5 hours, conducting normal flight maneuvers (takeoffs, climbs, descents, and landings) and even several emergency procedures (single engine operation).  One word sums up what the two ANA pilots felt after flying the Dreamliner for the very first time: "FANTASTIC."  The first link below has some pictures of the flight, while the 2nd link contains a short two-minute video of the experience by the ANA pilots.

ANA Demonstration Flight Pics

ANA Demonstration Flight Video

787 makes debut flight in Arizona

The 787 Dreamliner made another debut last Saturday 5/22, this time in the state of Arizona, where aircraft ZA004 landed at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, AZ.  There the plane will conduct hot-weather testing (makes sense in the 100+ degree weather of Arizona) and low-altitude flights.  Just a friendly reminder to the flight test team traveling to Arizona: bring your U.S. Driver's License and/or U.S. Passport!

Sea Launch to become Russian-owned

Sea Launch's future could just very well have brightened with the announcement that Russian-based rocket engine maker Rocket & Space Corp. Energia has proposed investing $140 million and thus taking an 85% stake in the rocket venture.  This would be part of a bigger plan to help bring Sea Launch out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy possibly as early as August of this year.  Based in Long Beach, CA, Sea Launch is a Boeing rocket launch venture with several European and Russian companies.  It uses a converted oil-rig located in the Pacific Ocean near the equator from which the rockets are launched.  From this location, the rockets take advantage of the Earth's rotation for additional momentum, enabling the rockets to reach orbit faster and hence burn less fuel, which translates to more savings to the customer.  Currently there are no launches scheduled for this year, but it does have 2 scheduled for 2011, with a total backlog of 4 launches.  Interestingly enough, Sea Launch plans on doubling it's employee numbers to 100 in preparation for the 2011 launches, even though the company still has not come out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  Even more interesting is whether Long Beach will continue to have a Sea Launch presence; there is a secondary land-based launch platform based in Kazakhstan.  The thinking is that with majority ownership being transferred to a Russian company, and because the rockets themselves are assembled in the Ukraine, Sea Launch could abandon Long Beach and its Pacific Ocean operations and just use the Kazakhstan facility for future launches.

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Crucial Boeing talent soon to retire

Interesting article from the Seattle Everett Herald regarding Boeing's Technical Fellowship Program, which is essentially the braintrust and cream-of-the-crop of Boeing engineering.  Formed in 1989, it was designed for those Boeing engineers and scientists who were not seeking management positions.  Currently the program comprises less than 5% of the company's engineers and scientists, while 56% are 50 years or older, with the minimum retirement age set at 55.  Suffice it to say, there could be a potential of high-level talent leaving the company due to retirement.  Combine that with the high amount of outsourced engineering that was incorporated with the 787 (though that's being reigned in somewhat) and the recent tendency to layoff young engineers during Boeing's down times in the industry, and you're looking at a big engineering hole that will eventually need to be filled.  And that can't be done just overnight.  Click below to read more on this topic.

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Production begins on 1st 747-8 Intercontinental

Last weekend, production on the first 747-8 Intercontinental (the passenger version of the revamped 747 model) began at the 747 factory in Everett, WA.  I decided to put together some fun facts regarding the 747-8I, which is expected to start carrying passengers worldwide sometime in late 2011.

News Release

* Length: 250' 2" (18.3' more than the 747-400)
* Wing Span: 224' 7"
* Height: 63' 6"
* Range: 8,000 nautical miles
* Seating: 467 in a 3-class configuration (51 more than the 747-400)
* Powerplant: 4 GEnx-2B engines (maximum thrust of 66,500 lbs.)
* Cruise Speed: Mach 0.85
* Maximum Takeoff Weight: 975,000 lbs.
* 16% more fuel efficient than the 747-400; 11% more than the A380
* 30% smaller noise footprint than the 747-400
* 13% lower seat-mile costs than the 747-400; 6% lower than the A380
* 2% lower trip costs than the 747-400; 21% lower than the A380
* 26% greater cargo volume than the 747-400
* Incorporates 787 technology for additional space and comfort and
  improved lighting
* Launch customer: Deutsche Lufthansa AG (20 firm, 20 options)
* Total orders: 32
* Can operate at any airport that currently serves 747-400 flights
* Uses the same pilot type rating as 747-400
* Scheduled delivery date: Late 2011

RwandAir places order for two 737-800's

On May 6th, Central African airline RwandAir (based in Kigali, Rwanda) announced an order for two Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft, which it will use to expand their network across Africa and the Middle East.

Fedex places order for 4 777 Freighters

On May 6th, delivery giant FedEx announced that it has ordered four 777 Freighter aircraft from Boeing.  It will also acquire an additional two 777 Freighters from other sources.  Combined with this latest order, FedEx now operates 38 total 777F's.

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Photo Credit / CC BY-NC 2.0

U.S. Navy to proceed with multiyear F/A-18 purchase

Everybody loves a good sale on big ticket items: cars, 3-D TV's, airfare.  And when it's an unbelievable too good to pass up deal, chances are you're opening up your wallet to make the purchase.  So when the U.S. Navy was able to wrangle a 10% price cut from Boeing for their F/A-18 Fighter plane, the taxpayers' collective wallets were effectively opened up to proceed with a multi-year deal for 124 of this sophisticated fighter jet.  The contract is worth about $5.3 billion, with the price per plane at around $50 million, well short of the $57 million sticker price.  The duration of the contract will be from 2010-2013, with an option for a 5th year.  Will there be buyer's remorse afterwards?  Not so much for the folks at Boeing's F/A-18 production line in St. Louis, which would now remain open through 2013 if the purchase is approved by Congress.  It also provides a fallback option for the U.S. Navy in case problems arise with their brand new toy, the F-35 Lightning II (built by Lockheed Martin), which is expected to replace the Navy's fleet of older F/A-18's and other jets.  I wonder if Boeing published a coupon in the local Sunday newspaper for 10% off on their F/A-18 fighter...

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Photo Credit / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Qatar Airways to order 4 additional 787's

On May 4th, 2010, Qatar Airways announced that they would be increasing their initial order of 787 Dreamliner aircraft from 2 to 6.  Delivery of their new aircraft is expected to begin September 2011.

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Photo Credit / CC BY-NC 2.0

Angola Airlines places order for two 777-300ER's

On April 29, 2010, Angola Airlines (or TAAG Linhas Aereas de Angola) announced an order for two 777-300ER (Extended Range) aircraft, with purchase rights for an additional two 777-300ER's.  Valued at around $544 million, Angola Airlines (the national flag carrier for that African republic) will utilize the new aircraft for route expansion into Europe.  Currently the airline operates 10 777-200ER aircraft.

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Photo Credit / CC BY-NC 2.0

United & Continental to merge

Yesterday, the aviation industry was stunned when it was announced that an all-stock merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines was agreed upon, which would make it the world's largest airline.  The $3 billion merger (which took only three weeks to complete) would result in 10 domestic hubs that serve over 144 million passengers to 370 cities in 59 countries.  The United name will remain, with the new headquarters based in Chicago, but the Continental logo, livery, and colors will still be kept along with Continental's presence in Houston.  Management would be roughly split between the two.  But the deal still faces some potential hurdles.  First, it must pass stringent anti-trust rules, and second, the employee unions from both airlines must agree to the deal.  If everything goes through, the merger could result in more than $2 billion of additional revenue and cost savings.  But for us consumers, this will most likely result in higher fares, with less routes to choose from and more fees.  This is because consolidation would allow both airlines to cut routes and thus reduce seating capacity, which translates to increased fares.  I just hope nothing happens to my hard-earned Continental frequent-flyer miles.

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Proposed names for the new airline: Uninental?  Or how about Continited?

B1 Bomber celebrates 25 years

On June 29, 1985, the first B-1 Lancer bomber entered service at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas.  25 years later (with numerous technological modifications in tow), the B-1 still continues to protect U.S. troops and its allies, delivering precision guided weapons at a moment's notice.  It was originally designed as a heavy nuclear bomber during the Cold War, but as the Iron Curtain fell and the U.S.S.R. eventually dissolved, the B-1 transformed itself into a more conventional role.  With its swept-wing geometry, the B-1 can deliver ordnance at supersonic speeds over long distances.  It can also deliver its payload stealthily due to a special paint on its surface that considerably reduces its radar cross section.  Out of the 100 B-1B's that were produced and delivered to the U.S. Air Force, 66 still remain in active service.  I've had the pleasure of seeing and "feeling" a B-1B take off, and it's an absolutely breathtaking experience.  Those engines sure are loud!

Photo Credit / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Dreamliner undergoes extreme weather testing

Make sure to bring a warm jacket, because at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory (located at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida), the world's largest refrigerated hangar can simulate freezing temperatures up to -65 degrees F (or as hot as 165 degrees F).  That is where ZA003 is currently located.  It will undergo cold weather testing to make sure that all of the plane's systems (hardware and software) can still function at freezing temps.  Once that is complete, the plane will swing over to the other extreme: 115 degree F temperatures, where all aircraft systems will be tested again to see if they still work under the extreme heat.  So whether you're operating out of Siberia or Abu Dhabi, these tests will help ensure that the Dreamliner will start up and perform normally.

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747-8 begins flight test operations in So Cal

On Monday, April 19th, RC521 completed a flight from Boeing Field in Seattle, WA to Palmdale, CA, marking the beginning of the 747-8's flight test program in the sunny skies of Southern California.  The Palmdale facility has excellent test-flight facilities, not to mention the obvious fact that the weather is almost always perfect in SoCal (no dreary Seattle rain and dark skies to encumber the flight test).  RC521 will eventually be joined by the two other remaining flight test aircraft, with the fleet expected to complete approximately 3,700 hours of rigorous on ground and in the air flight testing.  "California, here we come, right back where we started from!"

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EADS to submit bid for U.S. Tanker contract

While they still have not secured a U.S. partner, EADS nevertheless has decided that it will re-enter the U.S. Air Force's Tanker Replacement contest.  They will offer the KC-45, which is based on an Airbus A330 platform, the platform that actually won the previous Tanker contest before Boeing successfully overturned the win.  With this announcement, the Air Force has decided to extend the proposal deadline from May 10 to July 8.  There is also talk of revisions to the draft request for proposals (RFP) with regards to foreign-owned prime contractors (such as EADS), which could make it easier for them to make a bid without a U.S. partner.  Below is a link to Boeing's official response on EADS decision to re-enter the contest.  Let the games begin!

Boeing Statement

News Link

EADS scrambling to find U.S. partner for Tanker contract

After the Pentagon had extended the contract bid deadline by 60 days for the U.S. Air Force Tanker Replacement Program, EADS has been running the gamut of U.S.-based defense companies to see if they would agree to partner with EADS for the contract.  Their original partner, Northrop Grumman, decided earlier in the year not to compete.  L-3 Communications, Raytheon, and BAE Systems have been tapped as potential candidates, although strong political pressure may inevitably keep these U.S. companies from teaming up.  It is highly unlikely that EADS would win if they decided to go it alone.  Aside from the obvious fallout of a European-based company taking away American jobs should EADS actually win, EADS also has very little experience in U.S. defense contracts.  Their largest U.S. military contract so far is the Army's UH-72A Light Helicopter, which is technically less challenging than the proposed new tanker.  Having a U.S. defense company on their side would give them the credibility and technical experience necessary to win the contract.

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Spirit Airlines to start charging for carry-on bags

Next time you're flying out of Florida, and you decide to hop on Spirit Airlines, just make sure not to check-in any luggage at the airport.  Or bring any carry-on bags with you.  In fact, just bring your wallet, phone, and a toothbrush.  That's all you need, unless you want to pay the exorbitant fees that Spirit (based in Miramar, FL) will start charging its customers beginning August 1st.  Here's a price breakdown of the new fees:

Carry-on bag: $45
Carry-on bag registered online or by phone: $30
Carry-on bag for Club Fare members: $20
1st checked-bag: $25
2nd checked-bag: $45

We'll see if there's going to be any backlash with these new fees, and whether other airlines will adopt a similar approach.  Who knows?  Soon you might be seeing coin-operated lavatories on your flight.  Does anybody have change for a dollar???

Ultimate-load wing test on 787 deemed a success

On March 28th, Boeing simulated the most extreme circumstances that the 787 could possibly encounter on its static test airframe.  This involved flexing the wings upward by about 25 ft. and pressurizing the fuselage up to 150% of normal.  After a couple weeks of extensive analysis of the raw data collected, Boeing has concluded that all the requirements of the test have been met, and that the design of the 787's revolutionary airframe has been validated.  You can view a pretty cool video of the static test at the link below:

787 Static Test Video

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787 Charleston site begins to take shape

On Monday, 4/5, workers lowered a 35 ft. long steel girder onto the ground at Charleston International Airport, marking the beginning of construction for Boeing's 2nd 787 production line and transforming the South into a future hub of aviation.  Here are some facts for Boeing's new site:

Cost: $750 million
Location: Charleston International Airport
Completion Date: July 2011
Footprint: 1.2 million sq.ft.
Height: 114 ft.
# of workers: 4,000
Production Rate: 3 787's per month

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Virgin Blue to purchase up to 105 737's

Earlier in February 2010 I had posted that Australian based budget-carrier Virgin Blue was in talks with Boeing to purchase up to 50 Next-Generation 737 aircraft.  Well today, that deal has been confirmed: 40 firm orders for the 737-800 model.  The deal also includes secured delivery positions for an additional 25 aircraft, future purchase rights for 30 aircraft, and 10 aircraft with cancellation rights, bringing the total possible order log to 105.  This is the largest single plane order for Virgin Blue.  Delivery of these aircraft are scheduled to begin in June 2011 up through 2017.  Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oy Oy Oy!!!

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EU bans airlines from Philippines

So for any of you Filipinos out there who've been saving their hard-earned pesos for that summer Euro-trip, just make sure to book your plane tickets from an airline that doesn't fly from the Philippines.  Today the European Union added all airlines based in the Philippines to their most recent blacklist, meaning that they cannot fly or land within the 27 countries that comprise the EU.  The blacklist does get updated at least 4 times a year, so regulators in the Philippines have time to improve their airlines' safety standards up to the EU's requirements.  Time to step up and get your act together Philippines!

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767 line to become smaller, faster, leaner

An interesting article regarding the transformation of Boeing's 767 production line at Everett, WA to a smaller but more efficient one similar to the 777 line.  The change is designed to accomplish two goals: 1.) impress officials from the U.S. Air Force as Boeing vies to secure the Tanker Replacement contract (for which the 767 will be the main airframe), and 2.) free up space for the 787 "surge line," a temporary measure to allow 787 production to continue to run smoothly until the 2nd 787 line in Charleston, South Carolina is fully operational.  Currently, a 767 rolls out the factory doors to the tune of 1 a month, but soon that rate will be boosted to 3 aircraft every two months.  By June 2011, the line will be humming at a rate of 2 aircraft per month.  With 57 commercial 767's still waiting to be delivered, the 767 line is slowly reaching the end of its road, but if Boeing gets the Tanker, then the line will be rejuvenated for many more years to come.

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Ultimate-Load wing test completed for 787 Dreamliner

On Sunday, March 28th, Boeing completed a load test in which the wings of the 787 Dreamliner are bent upwards by about 25 feet.  This is to simulate 150% of the loads that the airframe could potentially experience during flight.  The link below contains a picture of the actual test, and you get to see how far up those wings get bent.  It almost looks like a bird with its wings flapped up.  I'd hate to be in a flight that experienced those kinds of aerodynamic forces.

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WTO condemns Airbus "launch aid"

Today, officials from the World Trade Organization (WTO) have ruled that "launch aid" is unfair and illegal.  Launch aid is a controversial program in which European governments have provided Airbus with subsidies for launching their aircraft lines through risk-free loans that do not have to paid back until aircraft are sold.  While Boeing has had to use its own capital to develop and manufacture its aircraft, Airbus has been using these government loans instead.  The program was designed to help Airbus catch up with rival Boeing in the trillion dollar commercial aircraft business.  And it certainly has worked, with Airbus having seized the title of top aircraft manufacturer from Boeing for the last decade.  Already, launch aid has helped pay for Airbus' massive A380 superjumbo and is currently being used to help fund their 787 competitor, the A350.

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News Link 2

Boeing Statement on WTO Ruling

787 completes flutter & ground-effects testing

The 787 Dreamliner recently completed both flutter & ground-effects testing.  Flutter testing demonstrates the aircraft's stability and its ability to dampen oscillations, while ground-effects testing demonstrates the aircraft's aerodynamic performance at low altitudes, especially close to ground.

Air Berlin to reduce 787 order

Some bad news to report for Boeing and the 787.  Today German carrier Air Berlin announced that they would reduce their current 787 order of 25 planes to 15, at a loss to Boeing of around $1.7 billion.  They also cut their 787 purchase options from 10 to 5 as well as deferring delivery of nine Next-Gen 737 aircraft from 2010-2011 to 2015.  All these moves were to allow Air Berlin to adjust to lower market demand for air travel. 

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2nd 747-8 Freighter achives first flight

Not to be outdone by its more popular and cooler younger brother the 787 Dreamliner, the 747-8 program also achieved a first flight success for one of its test aircraft.  On the same day that the 4th 787 Dreamliner took to the skies (Sunday, March 14th), RC522 completed its first test flight later that evening, taking off from Paine Field in Everett, WA and landing 2.5 hours later at Boeing Field in Seattle.  During the flight, RC522 reached an altitude of 27,000 ft. and an airspeed of 276 mph (240 knots).  The primary focus of this aircraft will be to test noise performance, environmental control systems, and extended operation performance standards.  RC522 is the 2nd of 3 total 747-8 Freighters in the flight test program.

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4th 787 Dreamliner joins flight-test program

On Sunday, March 14th, ZA003 officially became part of the 787 Dreamliner flight-test fleet, having taken off on its inaugural flight from Paine Field in Everett, WA at 10:55AM PST.  It landed safely about 3 hours later at Boeing Field in Seattle, WA.  ZA003 will focus primarily on testing the 787's passenger interior features (such as improved time-dependent lighting, bigger stowage bins, larger windows with electrochromatic shades, and redesigned lavatories).  It will also be used to test the 787's avionics systems, noise performance, flight-deck operations, electromagnetic effects, high-intensity radio frequency response, and extended flight operations (or ETOPS).

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2nd 787 Dreamliner continues flight testing in California

The 2nd production 787 Dreamliner, ZA002, made its way to an airfield in Victorville, CA yesterday.  From there, it will complete a three-week long flight test that will focus primarily on ground effect testing.  Ground effect is an aircraft phenomenon in which the plane actually experiences more lift as it approaches the ground.

Video interview with BCA's Jim Albaugh

Seattle-based TV station KING recently conducted an interview with Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh.  In the interview, Albaugh discusses a wide range of topics regarding BCA's current focus as well as its future goals.  He shares some great insight on Boeing's inevitable plan of replacing its venerable and highly popular Next Generation 737 Aircraft (will the company simply re-engine the current 737, or come out with a completely new design along the lines of the 787?).  He talks about what site will produce this new generation of 737 aircraft (Washington, or perhaps somewhere else?).  He also shares his views on the labor strikes that have plagued his division over recent years, the future of the 777 (will that aircraft need to be revamped to make it more competitive with Airbus' A350?), and the game plan to win the KC-X Tanker Replacement program (which will be based on a commercial 767 aircraft).  So if you've got about 15 minutes of time to kill, click the link below.  I highly recommend it.

Interview with Jim Albaugh

Northrop drops out from KC-X Program

It's official: Northrop has decided not to partner with EADS for the U.S. Air Force's KC-X Tanker Replacement Program.  Click below to read a statement issued by Wes Bush, CEO and President of Northrop Grumman, concerning the company's decision to drop out of the program.  In essence, Northrop wanted out because they felt that the Air Force's new requirements would clearly favor Boeing's smaller tanker offering (dubbed the NewGen Tanker).  The statement also says that Northrop will not protest the final RFP.  No word yet on whether EADS will continue to bid for the contract.

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Boeing unveils NewGen Tanker for KC-X Proposal

Boeing has fired the first shot in the highly contentious KC-X Tanker Replacement Program for the U.S. Air Force.  Today the company announced that it will be offering the new Boeing NewGen Tanker for the contest, and will be based on a 767 commercial platform.  There was talk of Boeing offering the much bigger 777 for its tanker solicitation, but today's announcement has squashed that idea.  Aside from its main role as an aerial refueling tanker, the multi-mission aircraft will also be capable of transporting cargo and passengers.  Boeing will officially deliver its tanker proposal to the U.S. Air Force by May 10.  Here are some of the more important aspects about Boeing's new tanker:

* Digital flight deck taken directly from the 787 Dreamliner
* Electronic cockpit displays that are 75% larger than those on an
  Airbus A330
* New-generation fly-by-wire refueling boom with an expanded
  refueling envelope
* Unrestricted access by aircrews to the full flight envelope of the
  aircraft in lieu of automated computer software that could
  potentially limit combat manueverability
* Low-risk manufacturing process at existing Boeing facilities in the
  states of Washington and Kansas
* 24% less fuel burn that the larger and heavier A330, translating to
  more than $10 billion in fuel-costs over its 40-year service life

To see a video announcement of Boeing's NewGen Tanker, check out the link below.

NewGen Tanker Video

Somon Air places order for 737-900ER

Somon Air, based in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, has placed an order for two Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range) aircraft.  The order, valued at around $163 million, is the airline's first direct aircraft purchase from Boeing.

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A350 vs. 787: Different or unusually similar?

Here's an article I stumbled upon that highlights some of the differences and similarities between Airbus' A350 XWB and Boeing's 787 aircraft.

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Try to figure out which aircraft is the 787 and which is the A350!

Australia to purchase CH-47F Chinooks

The Australian government has approved the procurement of 7 Boeing CH-47F Chinook medium-lift helicopters to the tune of around $666.5 million.  The new helicopters will replace the Australian Defense Force's older fleet of 6 CH-47D Chinooks.  The first helicopter is scheduled to enter service in 2014, with all seven in operational service by 2017.

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With new tanker RFP released, will Northrop still bid?

The final request for proposals (RFP) for the lucrative KC-X Tanker replacement fleet was released on Wednesday, February 24th, with only minor changes compared to the draft version that was released last year.  Boeing and Northrop (in partnership with EADS) are vying for the $50 billion 179 aircraft contract, which will replace the U.S. Air Force's aging fleet of KC-135 Tankers, some of which are older than 50 years.  But Northrop believes that the current evaluation system as specified in the RFP remains biased towards Boeing, and are still threatening to pull out of the competition.  As such, Northrop's political supporters have called for a dual-buy approach, although this could be problematic because the U.S. Air Force envisions an order of 12 aircraft per year.  The dual-buy approach would boost that number to 24, meaning that the Air Force would have to find additional resources to help fund those extra planes.  From Boeing's perspective, they're disappointed that no language was added to the RFP to address the European Union subsidies issue with regards to Airbus aircraft (Northrop's tanker bid would be based on an Airbus A330 platform), but overall they were satisfied with the requirements.

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United Airlines finalizes order for 25 787's

Boeing has finalized a contract with United Airlines to provide 25 787-8 Dreamliners with purchase options for an additional 50 aircraft.  The order is valued at around $4.2 billion.  Having served as the launch customer for the 777, United is most definitely an important customer for Boeing, and this order proves that the airline is still happy with flying Boeing aircraft.  The new fleet of Dreamliners are expected to replace United's older fleet of 747's and 767's that fly mostly international routes.

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3rd 787 Dreamliner takes off

An additional aircraft has now officially become a member of the 787 Dreamliner flight-test program. Today at 11:43 AM PST, ZA004 took to the skies from Paine Field in Everett, WA.  The flight was to last approximately 3 hours with weather permitting.

Virgin Blue to order 50 Boeing 737 Aircraft

Virgin Blue, which is Australia's second largest airline (Qantas being the first), has agreed "in principle" to order as many as 50 Next Generation 737 aircraft from Boeing.  The new aircraft will be used to help boost capacity with their domestic routes.

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Bipartisan group of governors backs Boeing's tanker bid

With the release of the final request for proposals (RFP) for the Air Force Tanker coming soon, congressional supporters are already presenting their case on behalf of either Boeing's or Northrop Grumman-EADS' tanker bid.  Below is a bipartisan list of governors that have thrown their support for the Boeing Tanker:

Chris Gregoire (D-Wash.)
Mark Parkinson (D-Kan.)
Pat Quinn (D-Ill.)
Jodi Rell (R-Conn.)
Chet Culver (D-Iowa)
John Baldacci (D-Maine)
Jay Nixon (D-Mo.)
Ted Kulongoski (D-Ore.)
Gary Hubert (R-Utah)

The Northrop Grumman-EADS team has threatened to pull out of the tanker competition unless significant changes are made to the Pentagon's RFP, which it claims is biased towards Boeing.  In addition, a grassroots campaign (dubbed the "Build Them Both" campaign, a nonpartisan coalition based in Washington, D.C.) was launched yesterday that advocates buying tankers from both companies.  The dual-buy approach did have its supporters, most notably the late Rep. John Murtha and Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), who wielded significant clout as chairmen of the House Appropriations Defense subcommittee and the House Armed Services Air and Land Forces subcommittee, respectively.  But this support has waned considerably with the passing of Murtha, Abercrombie vacating his chairmanship in a bid for the governorship of Hawaii, and pro-Boeing supporters Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) and Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) now having assumed the chair of both committees.

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First production 747-8 Freighter leaves factory

Boeing announced that last Thursday the first production 747-8 Freighter left the assembly line and is now undergoing customer modifications for launch customer Cargolux.  This is the 4th 747-8F built at the Everett, WA plant.  The first three aircraft are involved in the flight test program, but will eventually be converted into commercial aircraft once testing is completed.  As for the passenger version (the 747-8 Intercontinental), Boeing expects assembly to begin sometime in May of this year.

Airborne Laser Testbed destroys ballistic missile

Lasers are so freakin' awesome, especially when it's mounted on the nose of a heavily modified 747-400 Freighter and can shoot down in-flight ICBM's.  That is exactly what the Boeing Airborne Laser Testbed (ALTB) accomplished on February 11th while flying over the Western Sea Range off the California coast, when it successfully destroyed a ballistic missile during its boost phase of flight.  This is the first time that a high-energy laser weapon has ever successfully engaged and destroyed an in-flight ballistic missile.  In fact, the ALTB is the most powerful laser in the world.  This will most likely open the door for a new generation of directed-energy high-precision weapons.  Perhaps bullets and missiles will be replaced by phasers, rail guns, and photon torpedoes.  Captain Kirk would be so jealous.

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Pictures of 747-8 Test Plane

Wired.com has a neat article on one of the 747-8 test aircraft.  It has great pictures of the inside of the aircraft as well as some of the test rigging installed within.  A great way to kill 10-15 minutes of your time, with the added benefit of learning something new too!

Wired.com Article

Chinese spy given 15-year prison sentence

Dongfan (Greg) Chung, a stress analyst at Boeing (and Rockwell International, later acquired by Boeing) who had high-level security clearance, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for stealing over 300,000 pages of sensitive and proprietary information from Boeing and allegedly passing them to China.  The pages he stole included data on the U.S. Space Shuttle, the Delta IV booster rocket, and the C-17 Globemaster III.  Chung becomes the first defendant to be tried under the economic espionage provisions of the United States' Economic Espionage Act (passed by Congress in 1996), and will most likely serve as a precedent for future espionage cases.

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747-8 Freighter makes successful first flight!

Bah, I WOULD have reported this yesterday, but I guess I was still a little bit hungover from Super Bowl Sunday.  Congrats to the New Orleans Saints by the way.  Good for the team and especially great for the city.  WHO DAT??!!!!  Anyways, yes indeed, the 747-8 Freighter did accomplish first flight yesterday at 12:39PM PST, and landed safely back at Paine Field around 4:18PM PST.  The test pilots reported that the aircraft performed as expected, and handled just like a 747-400.  It reached an altitude of 17,000 ft. and maintained a cruising speed of around 264mph.  The official news release from Boeing and a webcast of the flight is available below:

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747-8F First Flight Webcast

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747-8 Freighter first flight set for Monday, February 8

Earlier today, Boeing conducted both low speed and high speed taxi tests on the 747-8 Freighter at Paine Field in Everett, WA.  These taxi tests are essentially the final hurdle before first flight can proceed.  It looks as if the taxi tests went really well, because now Boeing is expecting first flight for the 747-8F to commence next Monday, February 8th, at 10AM PST.  Hopefully Boeing will provide a streaming live link of the first flight, similar to what they did with the 787 Dreamliner's first flight.

Turkish Airlines places 737 order

Today Turkish Airlines (the national airline of Turkey) placed an order for 20 Next Generation 737 aircraft.  10 aircraft will be the -800 model, and the other 10 will be the -900ER model.  These aircraft are expected to be delivered between 2011-2014.  The contract also includes options for an additional 15 aircraft for either 737 model.  The order is valued at around $1.6 billion.

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747-8 takes to the skies... via a flight simulator

Here's an interesting two-part article I found about flight testing that is being performed on the 747-8 through an elaborate flight simulator.  Very insightful and a good read.

We Fly Boeing's New 747-8 (Part 1)

We Fly Boeing's New 747-8 (Part 2)

GOL Airlines receives record-making 737

In December last year, Boeing delivered a Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft to GOL Airlines (based in Brazil).  Now deliveries such as these are pretty much routine for Boeing, but this particular 737 delivery is quite special.  In fact, it's a historic event in the lifetime of the 737 family, because that aircraft marks the 3,133rd Next-Generation 737 that Boeing has built, surpassing the total number of older generation 737 Classics that rolled out of the factory (the 737 Classic family consists of the -100, -200, -300, -400, and -500 models).  In addition, it took the Next-Gen 737 factory (based in Renton, WA) only 12 years to achieve this milestone, compared to the 32 years it took to build the same number of 737 Classic aircraft.  Because of a strong focus on efficiency (dubbed Lean+ by Boeing) and on-going improvement efforts, the factory now rolls out Next-Gen 737 aircraft to the tune of 31 per month, with a single aircraft being produced in just 10 days (compared to 22 days in the past).  I think it's a safe bet that the factory will continue to produce Next-Gen 737 aircraft for at least the remainder of this decade.  Rumors of a replacement 737 aircraft (which will incorporate some of the groundbreaking new features that the 787 Dreamliner currently utilizes, including the use of advanced composites) is still far out.  Boeing is believed to be waiting for a more fuel-efficient engine to be developed first before they begin putting designs on the 737 replacement prototype to paper.

Photo Credit / CC BY-NC 2.0