Pontifications: NASA pulls the plug on electric airplanes

Some odds and ends after three weeks on the road. NASA pulls the plug on electric airplane research. NASA and Boeing’s Transonic Truss Brace Wing contract. Engines and the TTBW. July 18, 2023, © Leeham News: When NASA… Read More

Boeing’s Calhoun: Be patient for a new airplane

By Scott Hamilton June 1, 2023, © Leeham News: Boeing CEO David Calhoun remains upbeat about the company’s future despite occasional setbacks and a struggling defense unit. But in a media briefing on May 30 in advance of… Read More

Pontifications: “The need for radical fuel improvements will only increase over time.”

May 30, 2023, © Leeham News: “The need for radical fuel improvements will only increase over time.” That’s the definitive conclusion of Arjan Hegeman, GE Aerospace’s general manager of advanced technology. GE is working on Performance Improvement Packages… Read More

HOTR: United likely can cancel A350 order with little penalty

By the Leeham News Team Dec. 5, 2022, © Leeham News: United Airlines appears on the cusp of ordering as many as 100 Boeing 787s, multiple news outlets report. Airbus hopes to sell more A350s to United to… Read More

Pontifications: A lost decade for new airplanes

By Scott Hamilton Subscription Required Dec. 5, 2022, © Leeham News: In September 2020, LNA wrote that commercial aviation was facing a “lost decade.” The impetus for this prediction was the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. “Commercial aviation is facing… Read More

How Boeing can pursue new airplane sooner than 2030 decade

Subscription Required By Scott Hamilton Nov. 7, 2022, © Leeham News: Boeing is methodically working through the full return of the 737 MAX to service, a process that will continue to early 2025 to clear the stored inventory…. Read More

For next new airplane, Pratt appears to trail CFM for next new engine

Subscription Required By Scott Hamilton Feb. 21, 2022, © Leeham News: As Boeing ponders whether to launch a new airplane program and industry consensus seems to be that this must happen in 2023 or 2024, Pratt & Whitney… Read More

CFM’s Open Fan targets mid-2030s for entry into service

Subscription Required By Scott Hamilton CFM RISE Open Fan. Credit: CFM. Feb. 1, 2020, © Leeham News: GE Aviation appears confident the CFM open rotor engine—a concept that was flight tested back in the 1980s—is an engine whose… Read More

Pontifications: Does Embraer’s turboprop design foretell what Boeing needs?

Aug. 23, 2021, © Leeham News: Could Embraer’s new turboprop design have formed the basis for the 100-150 seat Boeing single-aisle aircraft had the joint venture proceeded? A former Boeing engineer thinks it might have. The aft-mounted, open… Read More

Pontifications: A deeper hole for the Boeing 737 MAX market share

Aug. 9, 2021, © Leeham News: Boeing’s 737 MAX market share vs Airbus is in a deeper hole than may be generally realized. Aviation Week last week complied a list of the top seven low-cost carrier airlines in… Read More