Page 15 - AAA JULY - AUGUST 2016 Online Magazine
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FEATURE ENGINES
and A330-900neo, which can seat 256 and out of the first airplane is scheduled this
287 passengers respectively in a three class fall. Flight testing will commence in 2017
layout. Claimed range is 7,500 nautical miles and delivery to the first jetliner is planned
for the -800neo and 6,550 nautical miles for for the latter half of 2018. The 787-10 will
the -900neo. The combination of the new be able to carry 330 passengers in a two
Rolls Royce (RR) Trent 7000 engines and a class layout across 6430 nm. Boeing also
new-wing with composite Sharklet wingtip completed the delivery of its 400th 787 in
devices are key to the A330neo offering a April, four years and seven months after,
14 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency deliveries commenced in September 2011.
over production A330s. Delivery of the first The 787 manufacturing rate now stands at 12
A330neo is scheduled for the fourth quarter aircraft a month. The -10 will have an option of
of 2017. There are no major changes when two powerplants, the GEnx-1B and RR Trent
compared to A330, except that wingspan is 1000. The Boeing 777X family will be the last
increased to 64m (compared to 60.3m). It to enter in service and two variants are on
will have a common type rating with A350 offer, the 777-8 which is designed to carry
XWB and 95 per cent spares commonality 350-375 passengers, a distance of 8,700nm
with A330. The A350-1000 is on track for and the 777-9, which will be able to carry 400-
customer delivery next year and is slated to 425 passengers across 7,600 nm. The 787-9
fly for the first time by the end of this year. is the first variant under development and
It will be able to carry 366 passengers over achieved its firm configuration milestone in
a distance of 7,900 nm. RR will provide the August, 2015. Production of the first aircraft
higher-thrust Trent XWB engines, which will will start in 2017 and the -8 is expected to 2017 marks the start of certification
deliver 97,000 lbs. of take-off thrust. enter production in 2019. The 777X is being testing and flight testing on GE
Aviation’s flying test bed for
Boeing commenced major assembly of designed to deliver 12 percent lower fuel the GE9X programme. Engine
the first 787-10 earlier this year and the roll- consumption and 10 percent lower operating certification is anticipated in 2018
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