Originally Posted by
sailingfun
The 757 is a expensive jet to build...
What Delta is trying to do I think is push Boeing to go for a new clean sheet aircraft based off the 787 technology. Really looking at well after 2020 for those jets. Still if a all new jet is announced it puts Delta in a good place verses many other airlines. We will be in the cycle to replace our current jets vice stuck with jets that are still new but not up to the efficiency of a clean sheet aircraft.
True, but the 787's technology has not been validated. The replacement of traditional systems with an all electric airplane might not be such a great idea. For starters, no one has built the perfect relay. At 235 volts, any increase in resistance will generate a lot of heat.
Boeing has repeatedly said the electric tech does not scale down in cost or size for a 737 sized jet.