So I got thinking from the thread about BlowJet buying the CRJ Next Gen. Looked it up on Bombardier dot com if anyone is interested.

Looks like most of the improvement is in the cabin and no matter how you slice it, it's an awfully cramped place to be unless you're in the 'first class' () section. I suppose any improvement is better than no improvement, but seems like putting frosting on a piece of dog crap if you know what I mean.

Now I fly the CRJ and am after nearly 4 years slowly accepting it. But I only fly the -200 version. I have sat on the jumpseat of the -700 and thought that there were a number of meaningful improvements on that airplane.

- more power
- leading edge slats/revised wing = slower approach speeds, greater stability (or so it seemed from the jumpseat at FL380, a serious pucker factor altitude in the -200)
- simplification of a few systems.


But where could the next generation CRJ be improved from the cockpit perspective?

First I would have to suggest autothrottles. Seems like a luxury and all, but it supposedly does actually reduce fuel burn. And even a 1%-2% fuel burn improvement is significant.

Second, seems like the old-fashioned CRT screens out to be replaced with LCD. LCDs are used in a number of newer machines. It saves weight not only in the screen, but in the cooling and mounting hardware. There must be a couple hundred pounds to be saved with all that hardware and heavy screens.

Third, ????

Thoughts?

BTW, this comes from the fact that it's winter and not much to do on a Saturday afternoon.....