China cancels all new Boeing Orders!

 Hitting back at U.S. Tariffs?

Boeing itself could soon become history, because of Chinese rejection of new sales, for more European types such as the Airbus A350-900/100 that is now taking over long-haul operations around the world, but it will be loss of sales of the Boeing 737-MAX-8-200 that will knock the U.S. and the Chinese influences on SE-Asia!

Europe can also offer China their new Airbus A321-200NX to compensate the Boeing MAX and other sales from Russia, with joint developments mean no one will need American aviation in the civil market, and for now the U.S. will just have to depend on the military market for its Jets and systems, but for how long?

U.S. Leading the way in the new Super-Sonic Age!

 Smaller business class Jets?

Britain, and France lead the way with the one-hundred seat Concorde until a crash in France twenty-five years ago ended a most successful trans-Atlantic affair, meanwhile only Singapore airlines operated the type and the Soviet-Russians operated their Tupolev TU-144 between Moscow and the far east, but the demand was not strong and the type was retired too!

On the other hand the U.S. has gone it alone with several larger Boeing concepts, but this new type will allow a one third version to be built more so for private and business flights and to be employed world wide, the secret to this type is perhaps alternative fuel, speed and operational costs being much lower than the original types?

One will just have to wait and see what will happen, or is this another red herring, pink elephants ect, that we will never see the light of day as so many went before!

Boeing sales Down!

 Poor build and management?

People are no longer wanting to travel on the Boeing 737-MAX, after various accidents and incidents and no one wants to buy, since Embraer and Airbus are taking the market with better more reliable aircraft that meets the needs of most airlines.

Meanwhile Boeing is holding its ground with the 787-8/9/10 Dreamliner, and 777X for their long-haul capabilities matching the Airbus A.330-900 and the A.350-900/1000 respectively.

But despite the popularity of the airbus 320/321N/NX, Embraer is taking the market with its E190/195 jets?

The military market for Boeing is doing well with the MR Posidon and Embraer with their EMB-390 transport, but Airbus holds the ground in air tankers based on the A330.

What China has to offer in civil Aviation?

 MC-21/C919.

These two new types will start to take the market world wide this year, if Boeing cannot get is act together? 

Russia has already grounded many of its Boeing fleet for its own types, such a the TU-204/14 and Sukhoi SU-100/200, while considering these new Chinese types.

China is progressing with firm orders already in place and even Embraer is suffering because of its links with Boeing over poor build quality and other electrical computing failures?

China does not have those issues and it has a good aviation history of safety, as well as well built aircraft and their own computer systems, much of which they share with Russia! Sales may not exceed those of the U.S. but many aircraft meeting the needs of the Asian continent will be met, with India, Iran and others!

What ever happened to the Boeing 797?

 Boeing 737-MAX and no replacement for the 757?

Boeing has shelfed the 797/757 replacement to further develop its popular 737-MAX and extend others such as the 777X, 787-8,9,10 Dream liners and keep the 767-400 going?

Since they believe this is the future as they face stiff competition from Airbus and Embraer, since both are cheaper and more reliable, if not a better safety record than Boeing and are way ahead in the neo-fuel and NX next generation technology.

Boeing has several concepts, such as a Supersonic business jet, but we have been here before with that one and it came to nothing, where Europe is considering the wing concept and are progressing with it?

On the military front Boeing is doing well in it's C-17 Globemaster-III transport, but Embraer is catching up with their C390. Weapon systems always do well and the MR variant's of the 737 air frame are now entering British and NATO air forces after another long technical wait!

In the Biz jet market and short haul Embraer is taking the lead with their popular range of craft and military sales are good with smaller nations military and civil.

Embraer a Brazillian Success?

Taking the World Market!

Like all things we can rule the nest for a while but then find ourselves undone by either the older or a new upstart? Embraer has slowly developed both its civil and military divisions from the C-23 to the 110/111 and on to its commercial jets EMB-135 to the E-Jets EMB-195.

It has had a long success with the Tucano advanced trainer counter-insurgence two-seater and various version of the Maritime EMB-111, but now it has become a threat to Boeing with the KC-95 medium transport?

Embraer is able to fill a gap that the more expensive Airbus and Boeing has failed in, many countries have opted for the 170, 190 and 195 to counter the Airbus A319, 320/321 and the Boeing 737-600/700. But Embraer has also successfully taken on the business jet market with the Legacy 100 and 500, while the smaller jets have been welcomed by many rich Arab nations!

What the future holds is the slow progress with the E-Types that will counter the Airbus A321LR and neo!

A changing aviation Market?

Airbus A380 and A350-100 at a loss!

The world wants smaller aircraft, rather than larger ones and in the civil commercial airline market one does not get any bigger than the Super-Jumbo and the Extra-wide bodied? 

New aircraft such as the Bombardier C-series are more desirable, Embraer has taken the market with its E-Jet series and new comers from Russia, China and Japan are quickly following suite with their own versions!

Boeing has kept to a tight ship in its developments, staying with the 747-8bio-fuelled and struggling with the Dreamliner? But it has given up on the DC-9/717, for the expansion in the 737-800/900 and MAX, all of which is in demand around the globe.

Airbus has taken on the C-Series with reluctance, because it clashes with the A321-neo and similar designs that will be forthcoming?

Happy New Year 2017.

New Aircraft!

China has two top brand aircraft coming on to the commercial market for 2017 onwards the COMAC ARJ-21 and C919.

These two will be a threat to Boeing and Airbus in China and the far-east in the years to come, but Japan is not to be left out with its Mitsubishi MRJ business jet?

Canada has the Bombardier C-Series, while Airbus its A350-900 now entering service and Boeing plans for the 737-900 and MAX.

What is making these new types attractive is new computing systems, fuel efficiency and improved materials. Embraer and Sukhoi have hit the market with professionalism and there are many more to follow with the business size commercial airliner filling in on the shorter routes?

Corperate and Commercial Jets. Part-Two.

Not a new concept, but perhaps Improved.

The McDonnel-Douglas DC-8 and the Boeing 727-1/200 in the past have met the mark for many corperate heads such as Donald Trump. People really want space to move and live in while on long haul flights, it has been the Royal Saudi family who have taken to large commercial airlines and converted them in to their private business aircraft.

The Boeing 777-2/300 has met that demand today over the probal only alternative back in the day of the Boeing 747-1/200, and SP versions.

What does the future hold?

Private Airbus A380-8 or Boeing 787-8/9 or the new entry Airbus A350 may be the large coperate jets of the years to come, but the Gulfstream, Dassualt, Cessna and Beeches, Bombardier, Embraer, IAI, Mitsuibishi will remain wanted by the rest of us.

Meanwhile the plentiful of the Airbus A320' and Boeing 737-6/7/8's will still be meeting requirements along with their Russian equivilants Tupolev TU-204, Sukhoi Su-1/200 SuperJets?

Military transport Aircraft. Part-Two.

Enter the Giants.

The United States have a choice of three heavy transports from the C-141 Star lifter, C-17 Globe master and the enormous C-5 Galaxy. This has proven invaluable for them as a world superpower over the years.

Initially the Soviet Union and now the Russian Federation to have developed their three types, but all from one manufacturer Antonov with the An-22, An-124 Ruslan and the An-224 Mirya (Dream).

Both superpowers have also the back up of their own large civilian commercials such as the Boeing 747-2/400F' and the Ilyushin IL-89/96.

These dominate heavy lifting capability around the world, in the moving of missile systems, radars, and extra warheads, The Boeing 747-400 and the Russian Antonov An-224 were adopted and developed for both the NASA Space shuttle and the Soviet Buran to piggy back between landing and relaunching.

Most of the aircraft are capable of the movement of between 150 to 250 fully laden combat troops, with essential equipment from vehicles to artillery. Apart from Surface to Surface missiles, there is of course the need to move medium range mobile carriers for Nuclear ICBMs.

Today some of these aircraft also work with the United Nations in medical and food relief to disaster zones.

Space and Under the Oceans.

The race is on?

The need now to develop a replacement of the U.S. Space shuttle is now well underway with Boeing taking the lead, all of this is based on British ideas from forty years ago of designing a re-usable space plane. The former Space shuttle was a great spacecraft, but it became a glider on return, Soviet Russia developed a totally robotic version known as the Buran, but it was also technically a glider on return to Earth.

Britain and Europe were working on a rocket aircraft that was manoeuvrable going up and coming down and could be diverted if the weather was causing problems. Meanwhile there are many new underwater developments, which are connected as much to future space travel to planets and Moons in our solar system, which may have oceans worth investigating either with robotic and eventually manned missions.

Air Freighters. Part-Four.

The 1970's onwards.

From the 1970's and the advent of the McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 to the 11F, Lockheed Tristar and the rise of the Jumbo jet, Boeing 747-100/400 the age that we live in has now occurred. From day one these aircraft had the potential and the Boeing 747, MD-11F soldier on with many specialist airlines operating all around the world.

Apart from post and parcels (DHL, UPS, FexEx, TNT) many are employed in the movement of military equipment of various type. Airlines such as Kalitta, Atlas, Gemini, Air Bridge cargo, Aerologic all carry sometimes unlisted loads using the above mentioned types.

Meanwhile the Boeing 757, earlier 737's and the newer 777 are now converted fro this role. The European Airbus manufacturer has also used its older types for freight, Post and general cargo. Some of these types were intially offered in the combi-configuration, especcially the Boeing 747-200. it looks like that his will continue to be the case.

Air Frieghters. Part-Three.

Enter the Jet Age.

The 1950's was the start of real cargo flying, this was for two reasons the first being that aircraft were now much larger and second the Jet age had began.

Many World War-II aircraft continued to be in demand such as the C-47/C-46 and there civil versions DC-3/4. Many were to find their way to the outback and remote location workings in Australia, Canada, Africa and South-Central Americas.

From the outset of the British Comet, French Caravelle and early Boeing and McDonnell-Douglas aircraft cargo could now be moved much faster on trans-ocean crossings. Meat, flowers and medical goods were able to arrive fresh in the same 24-hour period.

The Airbus Story. Part-One.

From A300 to A350.

The beginning of the Airbus story started in 1965, when British European Airlines proposed a 200 seat aircraft to compensate on the United States Boeing model 747. But it was not until the 28th October 1972 that the A300B2 took to the skies on its first test flight.

In 1970 eight European airlines and their national aviation companies from Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, France and Spain met to start the development of a total European joint built commercial airliner. 

The 28th June 1973 saw the A300B2 enter production, with the first delivery to Air France on 30th may 1974. This gamble paid off very quickly with orders from forty airlines in twenty-nine countries.
The A300 was reliable and cheap to operate, it could accommodate three crew and 336 passengers, was powered by two General-Electric CF6-50C1 engines.

Cruising speed 911km/hr at 9450 metres and a range of 5375Km. Other airlines to operate the aircraft were Air India, Saudi and Thai Airways.

Sukhoi 100 v Boeing 737 family.

Small to medium Commercial jet airliners.

Without a fact no one can say 'that Boeing has not had commercial success with its 737-100/900 family over the last forty years. Airbus has over the last 25 years, starting with the A330 done and equality good job in competition and taking the market from the Americans with its ever expanding new smaller jets.

But here we want to look at what Russia, post Soviet Union  is doing to take their own place in the groving competative stance of world aviation industry. The Sukhoi 100/200 is the equivalent to the Boeing 737, which the new Russia has employed in great number to replace its own ageing fleet's. 

This aircraft if successful will fill a needed gap, replacing the out dated and long lived Tupolev TU-134/154. There are many other Russian design bureaus such as Antonov with their designs, but Sukhoi has the appeal to western airlines who may want something to replace their favourite DC-9's and the ill fated Boeing 717-1/200's.

The biggest market for such an aircraft is that of package holiday tourism, which will now expand in Europe, as the EU expands into Eastern-Europe and the Caucasus?

Aircraft Carriers. Part-Two.

Many of the worlds developing navies have sought over the years to top off their fleets with an aircraft carrier. They believe that it is an essential part of any advanced navy to have such a vessel in service. The aircraft carrier could then be described as a sea naval air power system, giving that nation an great advantage over the lesser. But is that really true? 

Israel has one of the most sophisticated and advanced navies in the world, yet it has no need of a sitting duck.

Many nations have sought to build dedicated carriers just for V/STOL aircraft and helicopters, even now the U.S. Navy is starting to think on those lines, with its Wasp class. 

The development of the Boeing-Bell OV-22 Osprey has lead to a much improved delivery system?

A380 V B747-8.

Today the U.S. Boeing 747-8i and European Airbus A380 are two largest civilian passenger carrying aircraft in the world. 


But which one is better than the other? 


These super large aircraft were developed to carry large numbers of people over the huge distances and to have less refueling stops or as in the case today none. I suppose it is the preference for the operators in choosing which aircraft that suites or can meet their needs of comfort and facilities.


It looks like that both types have further potential if needs do demand and will they both will be developed and improved with time. 


But it is the A350 and B-777 that looks more promising and competitive in the near future.

Glorified Tri-jets?

There are many new types of commercial aircraft now coming out of China and Russia, like the C919, MC-21 and Sukhoi Su-100. But are they what they seem or just clever copies of the DC-9, Boeing 717-100/100?


And the question that could be asked are they as good as western designs from Europe and Embraer in Brazil.


What markets are the Chinese and Russians after, when most countries are drawn to Brazil, Airbus and the extensive U.S. Boeing families of aircraft.

Cracks...

A380 Wing Cracks.

It is now reported that all 29 European Airbus A380's have been grounded, after hairline cracks were found in their wings. 

We have been reassured that its not serious. But I think it is very serious, because it is usually those small things that lead to big disasters. 

Does the problem lie in the design or the workforce at the Flintshire factory in Wales? 

Another question is do we today still need such giant passenger aircraft, such as the A380 and the Boeing 747-8?

The Monotony of Design.

The Monotony of Commercial jets.

Where has design in the aviation industry gone? 

Fifty years ago every new aircraft that was produced had a different shape, but now everything seems to have gone boring with all the same. 

Please will some one wake-up and do something different?