Back in 2015 it was written about the gap filler going from the
single aisle to duo aisle using the 787-300 concept.
Winging It references:
Now it is time to revisit the whole topic with a replay of what
was said. The Boeing SUM or known as the Super Utility Modality. AKA the 757SUM.
"Boeing
couldn't build the 787-300 before it built the 787-800. Its common sense,
establishing the benchmark first before defining a cross-over model. A 787-300
had nothing to hold it up like a book-end. No need for a cross-over in 2005.
When considering an off-road vehicle or a rugged extra wide cab ranch
pickup truck while first building a crossover wouldn't make any sense. How can
you make a crossover for suburbia without a trail rated jeep coming first?
Boeing is building a single aisle 737-900 NG-Max for the urban
sensibilities, until the ultimate inter urban transporter is made. It must look
and act like the 787, while becoming the 757 Super Utility Modality known
as SUM, and act like a compliant business tool. It’s the SUM of all its parts
from Boeing that is what's missing! The venerable 757 is going to the scrap
heap in a workmanlike manner. Boeing accidentally tapped the inter-urban SUM
market a long time ago and it mis-identified the big opportunity by cancelling
the 757 in 2005. Now it’s faced with a European knock-off jet in the likes of
an A321. Boeing, having no articulation on the subject other than "we're
good with the 737 and current 787 line-up".
I give Boeing three slaps in the forehead, and three consecutive
expletives of "Come On" awarded in a row with its 757 public
sentiment. Outstanding, missing how the much loved the 757 is and was! Boeing
doesn't need another 757 for its replacement. It needs the abandoned 787-3 remade.
A twin aisle replicator for passengers who are dependent on business and
pleasure rewards. The airplane crossover concept is a brilliant reminder of
soccer moms and grocery getting in the ground world. Big enough to haul the
neighbors to school and awesome enough to go on vacation, looking somewhat like
the newly Iconic looking 787-9.
Crossing over from single aisle two duo aisle isn't hard to do,
"Neil Sedaka". Boeing needs this gap filler taking off from medium
sized airports going all the way to San Jose while queuing the music along the
way. South West Airlines are you listening? It could take you all the way to
South West of Hawaii.
The assigned spot is 220 seats, the assigned range is 6,000 miles.
It’s a crossover from single to dual aisle. It has the quaintness of single
aisle gawking and the room of seven across for urban sensibilities. It hangs
100 million on the airline customer for each replication it purchases. It
crosses-over everything good about Boeing's manufacturing conceptualization
even though it is not as wide as the 787-8 or its counterpart. It’s very roomy
for the number of seats, and it makes money for everyone even the passengers
having sensibly priced tickets for the same commonalities with the 787 family.
Having it bigger than the 737-9, doesn't mean the 737-9 extra-long
single aisle is dead. Nor does it threaten the 787-800. The 787-3 has the 787
aggressive design signature for long haul, yet providing the inter-urban
frivolity for city hopping, in high density 1-5 thousand mile routes. This
crossover is what an airline makes of it, as it defines the low cost of
operation.
“It was once stated the 737 single aisle would not benefit from
the lighter weight frame of plastics for the offset of development cost
compared with the efficiency gained from new technological advances on metal
frames. It was also observed at the time, the 787 was still unproven concept,
and the risks were too high to go with all plastic airplane models top to bottom.
Wise people thought the 787 must matriculate to its completeness and
demonstrate performance maximums, before proceeding to the next model. This is
witnessed with both metal 737 Max and Partial metal 777X models. Boeing's
approach is cautious on technology implementation since its "787 Moon Shot".
They have the Golden Fleece in hand with the 787, and will should
not go hunting for another overhaul of design and airplane evolution in my own
life time.
A 787-3 “new version” for medium body design will have added
manufacturing tooling cost for both the supplier and Boeing. But it's not
groundbreaking, thus less expensive than doing a 787-3 in 2005. It has all the
carry forwards from both the MAX, 787, and 777X programs. It has all the
designs lessons learned from the last 10 years. They have the opportunity of
repaying already sunk cost on advance technology needing repayment. Boeing
could use a crossover program development accessing paid for technology, which
it installed in the 787. Engine technology keeps getting better every day. A
down sized 787-8 and up sized Max-9 has a 1,000 airplane sales target which
would turn a profit for Boeing and compliment both models. All Boeing has to do
is find charter customers from China to San Jose within in the Pacific Rim to
make it so.
It becomes a financial shim wedged in, securing both new models
from the Airbus nit picking on the edges. It's why they call it, the 757 the
Gap filler for so long. Now that the 767 has stopped commercial passenger
production and the 787 replaces it. The Gap must be addressed before further
market erosion occurs. Go ahead, call it a "Gap Filler", cannon
fodder, or a lost production leader. The gap must be filled! It’s just as
important as the front line players when churning out numbers. My own opinion
within is just an "I told you so" effort for Boeing, and having said
so, I can sleep better tonight. A 787-3 is an investment for selling all models
of aircraft at a higher rate, rather than compartmentalizing a 787-3 as a no go
because it doesn't stand on its own. This is a false assumption because Boeing
is a SUM of all its parts! A 787-3 revised model then becomes the SUM of all
Boeing's parts making the corporation more successful. But make it a mid-body,
two aisle inter- urban, and hub busting mover. Ryan Air’s expansion is a plan solved
with the 787-3.”
