BOEING is expected to abandon plans for its sonic Cruiser -capable of flying near the speed of sound – after leading airlines cast doubt on the project. Executives from some of the world’s top carriers who went to the US for a preview of the designs have told the plane maker that they are not interested in an aircraft that offers only a small speed advantage over conventional designs.
The decision will come as a major blow to Boeing and will be seen as a vindication for Airbus, which cast doubts on the project from the beginning. The Sonic Cruiser was announced with a fanfare 19 months ago just after Boeing failed to win a single order for its version of a super-jumbo jet and airlines opted for the Airbus version.
By: KabirT - 12th November 2002 at 09:50
RE: Boeing to scrap sonic cruiser idea!
couldnt have said it better!:)
By: mongu - 11th November 2002 at 18:50
RE: Boeing to scrap sonic cruiser idea!
Very ironic.
Cast your minds back to the fanfare of Concorde…
Boeing: Speed is expensive, we are going to go for size instead.
Boeing were correct, and Airbus learnt the lesson. But Boeing forgot their own lesson!
By: KabirT - 11th November 2002 at 09:14
RE: Boeing to scrap sonic cruiser idea!
I dont think its the right time to build something like the Concorde, i dont think airlines would buy it much. What they need to do is bring out a totally new design as suggested above.
By: Ren Frew - 10th November 2002 at 23:39
RE: Boeing to scrap sonic cruiser idea!
How about concentrating on a viable SST to replace Concorde ? Shorter long haul times are what we want, don’t we ?
By: Dazza - 10th November 2002 at 22:14
RE: Boeing to scrap sonic cruiser idea!
Wysiwyg I think your right about the 737NG, with Airbus launching the A318 it is bound to rob sales from Boeing for ultra modern short haul aircraft, the 747 as well is fundamentally an old design and they can’t continue to rely on various tweaks and fuselage stretches to generate sales, they really need to pull something out of the bag, and soon.
Regards, Dazza.
By: wysiwyg - 10th November 2002 at 21:37
RE: Boeing to scrap sonic cruiser idea!
Dazza, I agree that Boeing got a shock with the volume of orders for the A380 but I believe their major mistake was the NG versions of the 737. They should have developed a new short haul aircraft using modern technology, a mini 777 if you like. What on earth they were thinking of when they adopted the 717 god only knows!
By: Dazza - 10th November 2002 at 21:31
RE: Boeing to scrap sonic cruiser idea!
Lets face it, Boeing dropped the ball by not developing a credible alternative to the A380, I think they got quite a shock with the interest shown when the A380 was launced and finally realised too late there is a market for this type of airliner, I bet theres a few concerned people over in Seattle right now.
Regards, Dazza.
By: Saab 2000 - 10th November 2002 at 19:21
RE: Boeing to scrap sonic cruiser idea!
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 10-11-02 AT 07:22 PM (GMT)]I don’t think this comes as too much of a shock, I have doubted from the start whether or not the Sonic Cruiser would ever fly.Total waste of time.
I think Boeing seriously needs to come up with a new product.Their sales are down and they are seriously banking on new versions of the 737 and 747 which don’t seem to be success they used to be.The 777 being the exception.
It really does seem to me like the company left their brains in Seatle when they moved…
By: wysiwyg - 10th November 2002 at 19:18
RE: Boeing to scrap sonic cruiser idea!
Agreed, they’ve got to do something quickly. Whatever it is, it shouldn’t just be another revamp of an existing type. I remember saying in another thread that I didn’t think a 60mph speed increase would be enough to make the Sonic Cruiser worth it.
By: KabirT - 10th November 2002 at 15:47
RE: Boeing to scrap sonic cruiser idea!
Shame…..now Boeing needs to do something quickly to survive in the market.
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November 10, 2002 at 3:44 pm