Page 14 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2016 Online Magazine
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FEATURE SINGLE AISLE
ABOVE: The 737MAX will The 2011 package for the 737 was called The drag reduction, Murphy says,
feature Boeing’s latest Sky the 7BE - the “E” being for Evolution. It consisted of aerodynamic-shaped anti-
Interior and Space Bins (option), reduced fuel consumption by 0.5%, lowered collision (AC) lights, refined wing control
that deliver a 50% increase
in baggage carrying capacity. maintenance cost by up to 4% and addressed surfaces, spoiler trailing edge gap
Space bins are available as a hardware durability issues to improve reduction, ski-jump wheel-well fairings and
refit on older 737NG models performance retention. Both upgrades were environmental control system (ECS) inlet/
retrofitable to engines post 1998. exhaust modulation.
OPPOSITE PAGE: The Airbus
A320 Family has exceeded the Over its production life CFM56 has Both upper and lower red AC light assemblies
combined sales of every other improved fuel burn by more than 8% and were replaced with a more aerodynamically
European commercial aircraft thrust by over 20% from -3 (737 Classic) to -7 designed shape to reduce drag.
and commercial aircraft sales models on the 737. Murphy said that Boeing reduced the
of erstwhile airframers Douglas
and McDonnel Douglas (except In 2008, Boeing offered carbon brakes for thickness of the spoiler trailing edge to
the C-47) the 737NGs reducing weight by 700lbs (320kg) reduce drag caused by the aft-facing step on
which is equal to three passengers or a 0.4% the trailing edge of the spoilers. “The trailing
reduction in fuel burn. And carbon brakes last edge’s extruded aluminium filler has been
three times longer than steel brakes. replaced with a machine-tapered filler.”
As part of the 2011 CFM International Other tweaks have been to cut drag by
upgrade Boeing also took a hard look at the reducing the gap between spoilers 2, 3, 4,
aerodynamics of the 737 and launched an 9, 10 and 11 and their respective flaps and
extensive clean up that achieved a further to re-contour the five aft wheel-well fairing
1.5% gain for an overall 2%. assemblies to smooth the airflow near the
“Elements of the PIP were introduced main landing gear.
gradually on the 737 since early 2011,” Murphy The 737NGs ram air inlet system was
says. modified to reduce drag and a new modulated
14 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA
