Boeing 797 Engines > > New-Core GTF; Bigger Fan, GEnxed LEAP-X; New RR Turbofan

Boeing Patented Airliner Design (Boeing graphics)

Given the planned 2019 entry to service of the Boeing 797, assuming that the Boeing Company will proceed with its development, the three main engine companies have more than 5 years to come out with new engines that will be more efficient than the engines of the upcoming A320NEO, MS-21, Comac 919, Bombardier C300, and Mitsubishi Regional Jet.

This will give an advantage to the Boeing 797 initially, that which can be later integrated to the earlier introduced airliners.

The three main engine companies can do the following:

1. Pratt & Whitney - new turbine core for its GTF series
2. G.E. - larger fans for its LEAP-X with GEnx technology integration
3. Rolls-Royce - a new 3 spool engine with large fans

Boeing Patented Airliner Design (Boeing graphics)

Given this scenario, I will not be surprised if the A320NEO will become the A360, an all new design. It can be similar to what transpired with the A350, that became the A350XWB, but now just called the A350. Airbus has at least 2 years to change its mind.

Boeing 797 - Ideas For Boeing 737 Replacement

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The objective in this exercise is to have the all-new Boeing 797 leapfrog the proposed A-320 NEO with a 15% better profitability.

This will have to mean lower costs and higher revenues.

On the cost side, the Boeing 797 will need

1. Lower fuel costs
2. Lower maintenance costs
3. Lower acquisition costs

On the revenue side, the Boeing 797 will need

1. Cover more city pairs
2. Cover a wider capacity range
3. More attractive to passengers
4. More attractive to buyers

To lower the fuel costs, the Boeing 797 will need to have a more fuel efficient engine. Possibilities are

1. A next version of the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine with a newer core, and optimized gear and turbofan sections.
   
2. A GE engine adopted from the B787 GEnX.
3. A new Rolls Royce 3 spool engine.

The Boeing 797 must use a next generation engine to ones to be used in the planned A320NEO, Comac 919 and MS-21. These new version engines can also later be retrofitted to the other competing airliners but the Boeing 797 will have a headstart.

Better aerodynamics is a given for the Boeing 797 that will integrate lessons from the Boeing 787 and Boeing 747-8 developments. It can also use the latest in computational aerodynamics using the latest in computing power. This is based on the assumption that the Boeing 797 will be the traditional cylinder with wings design.

However, if the Boeing 797 will introduce a new body/wing configuration, it will have to tackle the aerodynamic and other optimization that such a new design will entail. The placement of the Boeing 797 engine is very important based on the possible availability of the very economical open rotor engine by the late 2020's. The Boeing 797 design must be easily adoptable to an open rotor engine, while being optimized for a turbofan engine with which it will initially come out with.

The Boeing 797 will use the latest lighter materials such as composites and the new aluminum alloys. As a result of the success of the Boeing 787's composite materials, the aluminum industry is busy updating their material to remain competitive with the composites. It is important that these new materials must be easy and low cost to maintain given the high availability needs for a high use tempo airliner. This brings opportunities to the Boeing 797 and the upcoming single aisles. The A320 NEO update will surely take advantage of this development as well.

The composite's advantage over aluminum is that it is more amenable to automation and mechanization. This has the possibility of lowering the cost, and increasing the rate of production.

As a high production rate airliner, the Boeing 797 will benefit immensely from a more efficient production system. If it will be a mostly composite airliner like the Boeing 787, the production system will be very amenable to more mechanization and automation that may lead to lower production costs. The lower production costs can mean either a more competitive Boeing 797 price or higher margins or both.

As a high turn-around airliner the Boeing 797 must possess a new efficient gate to gate avionics system that will minimize gate to gate flight times.

Better passenger contentment can also be assured by improving further the Boeing 737 Sky Interior with wider seats and aisle, and better seat placement and configuration.


Airbus can always do an A350XWB move with their A320NEO if it feels that the NEO cannot hack it. It may be a better investment for the EADS cash hoard.

A Low Cost And Low Risk Approach To KC-46A Development

KC-46A refuels B-1B

Boeing seems to have really squeezed its profit margins on its winning KC-46A bid for the USAF tanker competition. With this win, Boeing has effectively:

1. Thwarted the entry of Airbus to a U.S. production base, for now
2. Extended the production life of the B-767 for possibly 300 more aircraft
3. Opened up the opportunity for a B-767NG version based on the KC-46A for passenger and freighter versions
   

For Boeing to convert this win into profits, it must implement a low cost and low risk approach to the KC-46A development.

To do this, Boeing can just USAF-milspeced the Italian Air Force KC-767A tanker. Based on published reports, Boeing needs to modify this Italian model with, among others:

1. Add winglets that is already being done on commercial B-767 versions. The winglets may possibly be also configured to alleviate further the flutter in the Italian Air Force KC-767A.
2. Install a B-787 style cockpit panel which can mean upgrading the B-767-400 cockpit panel to the B-787 level.
3. Enhanced KC-767A fuel boom. This may be simply an enlargement of the boom fuel line barrel or increase fuel line pressure or both, to deliver higher fuel flow rates.
4. Strengthening the cabin floor with lighter materials.
5. Install defensive systems.

KC-767A tanker for the Italian Air Force

Boeing cannot do a Frankentanker approach on the KC-46A now as the cost and risk are higher. It may do this on an enhanced KC-46A version with new engines, if ever.