Engine Development. Part 5. The Turbofans go High Bypass

Subscription Required By Bjorn Fehrm Introduction September 15, 2022, © Leeham News: Last week, we looked at how Pratt & Whitney’s JT8D turbofan came to dominate short-haul airliners while the JT3D had the long-range market. The introduction of… Read More

Industry stands together on safety

By Scott Correa Special to Leeham News  May 27, 2021, © Leeham News: Forty-two years ago this week, I puked at work. On May 25, 1979, an American Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10 crashed on take off from Chicago’s… Read More

Pontifications: A330-300 could be great deal ahead

May 10, 2021, © Leeham News: The COVID-19 pandemic prompted airlines to ground more than 8,000 aircraft at the peak. Among widebodies, no aircraft was hit harder than the Airbus A330ceo. Traffic within China, the US and Asia… Read More

Pontifications: Recertification flights for Boeing 737 MAX appear close

June 29, 2020, © Leeham News: Boeing may be set to begin recertification flights of the 737 MAX as early as today, The Seattle Times reported last week. Testing will take three days, if all goes well. But… Read More

An accelerating widebody fleet streamlining, Part 1

Subscription Required By Vincent Valery Introduction   June 1, 2020, © Leeham News: As airlines slashed capacity in the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak, some took the opportunity to accelerate aircraft retirements. Older generation twin-aisle aircraft, notably the Airbus… Read More

Pontifications: The 747 revolutionized air travel

Feb. 11, 2019, © Leeham News: Few airplanes truly can be called revolutionary. Most are evolutionary. The Boeing 747 was one of those that falls into the former category. Just as the Boeing 707 revolutionized air travel, so… Read More

Pontifications: Horizon Q400 theft spurs thoughts about solo pilot idea

Aug. 13, 2018, © Leeham News: The bizarre theft of a Horizon Airlines Bombardier Q400 at Sea-Tac Airport Friday night by a 29-year old employee will take some time for investigators to unravel. The employee, a ramp agent,… Read More

Pontifications: Uncontained engine failures are rare but not unknown

April 23, 2018, © Leeham News: Last week’s engine malfunction on a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 was another in a rare, but not unknown, uncontained engine anomaly in recent years. All recent similar failures didn’t cause a loss… Read More

Pontifications: 49 years ago, the first 747 rolled out

Sept. 30, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Today is the 49th anniversary of the roll-out of the Boeing 747-100. On Nov. 7, United Airlines operates its last 747 flight. Delta Air Lines ends it 747 service this year. Afterward,… Read More

Pontifications: Revisionist history

Sept. 25, 2017, © Leeham Co.: The US Department of Commerce today is scheduled to release its decision on whether to impose tariffs on each Bombardier CS100 delivered to Delta Air Lines, starting this year. (The public announcement… Read More