Leeham News and Analysis
There's more to real news than a news release.
There's more to real news than a news release.
Leeham News and Analysis
- Boeing unlikely to meet FAA’s 90-day deadline for new safety program April 18, 2024
- Focus on quality not slowing innovation, says GKN April 18, 2024
- Boeing defends 787, 777 against whistleblower charges April 17, 2024
- Dissecting Boeing CEO’s statement next new airplane will cost $50bn April 15, 2024
- Bjorn’s Corner: New engine development. Part 3. Propulsive efficiency April 12, 2024
Airbus, the NEO program and an interview with John Leahy
Airbus held a media day today about the A320neo; we were scheduled to go to Toulouse for this event but circumstances required we stay in Seattle, so our partner at AirInsight, Addison Schonland, made the journey.
He obtained an exclusive interview with John Leahy, COO Customers. Here is his report. Addison will have additional reports later in the week.
Flightglobal has confirmed your report that Airbus will bring forward the release of the NEO program by 6 months. They also say that that A319 will be the second NEO variant, not the A321. Have they actually sold any A319 NEO’s yet?
Airbus has not sold any A319neos, says Addison Schonland of our affiliate AirInsight, who asked this very question in Toulouse. However, knowing John Leahy as we do, we would not be the least bit surprised if he has a deal in the works for some, justifying the plan to advance the A319neo.
The fact that Airbus brings forward the A319neo by a year by advancing the neo-pgramme by 6 months and introducing the A319neo ays the 2nd variant shows that the CS300 is the main reason behind neo.
We exchanged emails with John Leahy; he says the A319neo was advanced because doing the neo for this sub-type, which has the same wing as the A320, is easier than on the A321, which has a slightly different wing. Thus, the schedule for the A321 remains the same.
Could a reason also be, that Airbus want to “beef-up” the A321, and spend a little time to fine tune this to be a real competitive 752 animal?
++++ BREAKING NEWS ++++
Wreckage of the Air France Airbus A330-203 plane (flight AF 447) found
http://news.discovery.com/human/air-france-plane-located-110404.html
Hopefully this will finally answer the questions about the cause of
that crash.
The plane went down roughly midway between Brazil and Senegal on
June 1, 2009, killing all 228 people on board.
It was the deadliest crash in Air France’s history.
As the wreckage is now located precisely on the sea floor, most
probably the black boxes (flight recorders) of AF 447 will be
recovered soon for analysis.
(Big,White) Sharklets in lieu of winglets?
Aren’t they already giving the A321 sharklets? Personally I find the A319NEO speed up a bit surprising because in my opinion, I think the A321 is the plane that has the most to gain from all the NEOing.
Lower angled for span extension.
ref: 787 .. or more like it A350XWB
If the structure takes it extending
span is still the best path to reduce
drag.
Also on the A350, I think P&W have mentioned the potential of the PW1000G to be scaled up to provide 100,000lbs of thrust without much issue, so I should guess if Pratt really wants to, they could be the 2nd engine on the A350.
That would be tripling the A321 thrust requirement (33,000lbs).
( Is 33klbs the highest GTF rating firmly requested? )
A weekend job for a bunch of interns at Pratt 😉