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Originally posted by Figher Master FIN
Great news... Maybe the Europeans can do something after all... Still my money is on then 787...
Boeing decided to create a radical new plane that offered some crucial advantage over the A330, the Sonic Cruiser,
They claimed that their Lithium aluminium fuselage would perform better and would not have maintenance issues like composites would. However Airlines did not buy this
the new A350 a new design that resolves the issues of the revamped A330 (the first A350). it has a bigger fuselage, larger use of composites (after Airbus discredit them).
The fuselage it's still made of Lithium Aluminium, that means it won't be as efficient or light as a carbon composite like the one of the 787. It won't have the enormous windows of the higher cabin pressure... It is still an old plane, it would be just bigger.
And what is worrying for Airbus is that it is the second time this happens. With the A340 they bet on four engines. Sure it did well while the 777 wasn't there. But with the arrival of the 777, sales drop in free-fall.
But that is not all, here it comes the A380, they made a huge bet on the theory of Hub to Hub travel. The whale plane drained a huge amount of resources that need to be recovered. The resources needed to create the A350 and more importantly, the A320 replacement, their biggest source of income. And now with the departure of Bae from Airbus they loose Britain and their subsidies pocket.
In conclusion Airbus is on the verge of disaster. if the A350 doesn't convince Airlines and they pull more resources to a projects that doesn't work, and airlines abstain from the A380 because the point to point flying trend wins, and Boeing betas them with their 737 replacement, we are seeing a perfect storm situation.
Well the thing about airbus Chief did occur*, it wasn't a real position, but a sales position to discredit the 7E7. Obviously they had to change their mind and start to talk about the wonders of composites later on.
the Lithium Aluminium fuselage is high tech, obviously, but it cannot offer some advantages that a composite one can, such as a higher cabin pressure and bigger windows,
About the A340 my point was that Airbus could have developed a two engine Aircraft, instead of four. They miscalculated this one, the technology was there to do it.
bout the A380, they need to recuperate the money from the investment on the project. I wasn't arguing that it was a failure, but that the project hasn't turn profitable yet.
And about the 737 the project is called internally Y1. It is known to be in development,
Originally posted by carcharodon
it has a bigger fuselage, larger use of composites (after Airbus discredit them). However one must ask, is it too little, too late?
Originally posted by carcharodon
I don't know if EUf governments want to pay for the A350 and the A320 replacement when the money for the A380 that was promised to be paid back, hasn't...
Airbus to Spend $10 Bln on New Plane as Orders Sag (Update2)
May 10 (Bloomberg) -- Airbus SAS, acknowledging that the proposed redesign of the A350 plane is a failure, plans to spend 8 billion euros ($10 billion) to develop a new 300-seat plane, said three people with direct knowledge of the matter.
European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co., the parent of Toulouse, France-based Airbus, gave initial approval in mid-April and will make a firm decision this month, said the people, who declined to be identified until a decision is announced. The new plane will cost twice as much as the redesign of the A350.