Boeing's Big Bite, The 797

Boeing has started then stopped and then started the 797 talk over the last several years. Western sensibilities want an aircraft centered on passengers and it luggage requirements. Asian wants are centered on both passengers and freight. The Boeing Company first researched a viable mid-range middle of the market aircraft that became everything the 787-300 was supposed to be but had not enough takers for the concept. That was back in 2010 when the 787-300 went up in smoke.

Now comes the 220-270 type mid-range aircraft were Asia or China holds immense clout over Boeing's design parameters. The 797 is in a holding pattern while Boeing engineering is trying to please both western and eastern sensibilities. China wants the freight function and Boeing wants its 797 design motif to remain intact of a smaller hold than typical. 

China wants passenger density that the 797 concepts is offering, but is squeamish over the Boeing conceptual freight capacity from Boeing's first designs having a smaller freight space than what western sensibility desires with Boeing's initial proposal. This brings the matter to a head. Having a two-body model type 797. One called the "E" and the other called the "W" type 797. 

If Asia can commit to a 250 seat dual aisle 5,000-mile range holding enough freight space they will get an "E" ticket 797 for any Eastern type. If American and United have influence with Boeing (I think they do) then expect a 250 seat slim bodied 797 type called the 797-W for western sensibilities. If Boeing can easily build both types sharing 797 commonalities using same technologies for both types then both types could be built by snapping together its barrels according to the work order submitted at its assembly plant. 

What's taking so long for Boeing to announce the 797? Well, it's going to commit to building what the customer wants or needs first and they must assure themselves it can do it without costing another money pit like the 787 program created with its deferred costs of almost $30 billion. 

The west is west song comes to mind when thinking about this matter. Asia would have to order at least 400 797-E's before Boeing gives in while having a like number 797-W's also in the books from "other" customers like United. Plastics and computer modeling is the answer and that is what is taking Boeing so long. It can and will do the 797 but the order book it has collected on the 797 is governing the manufacturing headache it now faces.