Delta is getting A350-900 to replace their 747s they got from the NWA merger. Was announced last year. The same plan we have for our A350 orders.

 

The 787 was designed for different reasons with a different mission than either the 777 or A350. The 787 is designed specifically to maximize revenue on long, thin routes like Asian destinations.

The 777 and A350 are designed for a heavy lift Europe, ME type scenario....one of the major reasons the 787 won't be based on the East coast anytime soon and vice versa.

 

The 787 is 8 across in coach. The 350 is 9 across. The 777 is 9 across, or 10 if you want to squeeze them in. Most 777's are now sold 10 across. They are all similar range.

Airbus is now offering the 350 with 10 across. 16.3 inch seat width. Yikes. I have been in a few 10 across 777's (16.7 inch). It sucks.

They all do about the same thing, with about the same range. The 787 has 13% less seat capacity. And they break a lot. And worse, they attract scabs.

 

You are probably right and agree with your assessment but my prediction WILL come true because we are United Airlines (at least with Jiffy Jeff at the helm)

 

Yeah, who knows what will happen. We just get to sit back and watch.

 

I will spring for popcorn - Saigon Red and haircuts all around

 

It's not just about width and range, it's about length as well. It turns out size does matter.

In Sept 2001, L-UAL had 9 airplane types, 10,500 pilots, and 10 pilot domiciles. The long term plan was to reduce to 4 airplane types: A319/320, B757/B767, B777, B747-400.

Today we have 6 airplane types, 12,500? pilots, and 9 pilot domiciles. The long term goal is to reduce to 4 airplane types: B737, B787, B777, A350. I highly doubt we will buy any new A319/320's or B767's. I'm glad to hear about the used A319's, but they are a stopgap measure.

If you look at L-UAL at the dawn of the wide body era in the 1960's we had 4 jet types: B727, DC-8, DC-10, B747. Pretty much the same mission. Oh yeah, we also had RJ's, but we called them B737's and they were flown by United pilots.

If you look at the size and mission of the 5 airplane types they are remarkably similar: "RJ", Small, Med-Small, Med-large, and Large.

When the manufactures try to stretch airplanes to meet two different missions they end up with POS airplanes. The B737-900 is the first Boeing I've flown that I've been ashamed to call a Boeing. For those of you who have flown the B757-300 or B767-400 are those any different?

 

The 757-300 is actually easier to fly than the -200, in my view. Longer moment arm from the tail makes control forces lighter for rotation and flare. It seems more speed-stable on approach, which I am chalking up to inertia....it's heavier.

It is great to Hawaii. It can't fly the Atlantic.

The 767-400 is a great plane. I haven't flown the -300 or -200 for comparison, but it has power, range, speed, comfort, and stopping ability. The difference from the uber-Guppies? More thrust, and more wing, than the 767-300.

I think the main gear may have been stretched, too, because the -400s always look a little nose-low on the ramp, compared to -300s. I know that the inability to make it sit higher is a major issue with the 737-stretch and rotations/flares and potential tail-strikes.

 

The main gear struts on the 767-400 are the same struts as used on the 777 which is why the nose sits lower. They needed to raise it up a little for tail clearance. It also has 777 cabin windows.

 

I don't wander back to coach very often, but the 787 was 9 across last time I checked.