Will the Fokker 100NG use the GTF of Pratt & Whitney?

In the latest web issue of Flight Global magazine (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/03/06/339155/fokker-resurrection-scheme-secures-loan-for-prototype.html), it says that NG Aircraft is to receive €20 million ($27 million) loan from the Dutch economics ministry. The loan will be used to modify an existing Fokker 100 airframe to the Fokker 100NG standard, this year.




NG Aircraft is the successor company to the Rekkof company that has been attempting for the past years to restart production of former Fokker aircrafts like the Fokker 50, Fokker 70 and Fokker 100. If the Fokker 100NG is successful, it will follow the tale of the Twin Otter, the Dornier 228 and the Nomad planes whose production are also being restarted. (http://planetalks.blogspot.com/2008/07/return-of-rural-transports-twin-otter.html)

For the Fokker 100NG to be successful, it must be able to compete with existing regional jets such as the CRJ1000, Embraer E190, Sukhoi Super Jet, and the ARJ21; and the up and coming Bombardier CSeries, Mitsubishi Regional Jet and the Comac 919. Furthermore, NG Aircraft has to develop marketing and maintenance chains. Rekkof has good record already on the MRO of Fokker planes but may have to build-up its marketing muscle.

For the Fokker 100NG plane to compete, it must have at least 15% better operating economics than its predecessor Fokker 100. Fokker 100's reputation of a weight-efficient structure is a very good start.



Marrying this with a new design efficient engine such as the Pratt&Whitney PW1000 GTF will pose a very competitive product even against the new-build MRJ and the CSeries. The Pratt&Whitney PW1000 GTF engine design has the potential to eclipse other present engine designs in the market once its reliability has been proven. Further improvements on the turbojet parts of the GTF engine in materials and design, will make it even more competitive.

Other possible Fokker 100NG improvements that can be done includes

1. Weight reductions

2. Aerodynamic tweaks

3. New Avionics

4. More efficients seats and seating configuration

5. Flight optimization software

With these modifications, the Fokker 100NG will be ready to compete with the newer regional jets, like the 40 year old Boeing 747 design with the 747-8 version in the Very Large Aircraft sector.