Bucking Bar

Last time fuel got expensive Boeing looked at an aft turboprop design - 7J7. I would not be surprised if both major manufacturers waited for a Un-Ducted Fan, or Geared Fan, design to work their designs around. You can't add efficiencies, but if an airframe contributes to 15% less cost and an engine another 20 to 30% less fuel burn the combination might hit very near Boeing's stated 20 to 25% improvement.

I could not find a picture of the Boeing 7J7, but it looked very similar to the design from Long Beach.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0947367/L/

Ottopilot

My comments are not about quality. Boeing makes a great product and I'd rather fly Boeing than Airbus. The 737 is an old design from the airframe to the cockpit. The new "Hoover" engines barely fit on the plane. It's too low. You have to turn on the ignition for takeoff, landing, turbulence, icing. This happens automatically in any other airplane from a newer Boeing to RJ's. The same thing goes for the electrical system, pneumatics, "six-pack" warning system, etc. Very old systems/cockpit design. I never have to do packs or bleeds off takeoffs in the 757. The 737 does all the time (hot/heavy and shorter runways).

The 737 is a fine flying airplane. All Boeings are very similair, but the 737 is decades behind in advancements (even the NG's). I realize the 737 is the most successful commercial aircraft in history, but it's not because of the cockpit.