After years of reading (by “experts” here) how obsolete the 767s are, I wonder what FedEx’s reasons are?
Well, the 767s as we know them today are in fact obsolete, and would have been at the end of their useful live if the U.S. Air Force had not selected them as their future Tanker. The Air Force procurement will mean the 767 stays in production for a lot longer (25 – 30 years), and it will also mean that money is available to redesign parts of the aircraft that are becoming a bit “tired” – all paid by Uncle Sam – Boeing would be fools not to let the technology “slip” onto the civilian side!
The Air Force procurement will mean that there will be a new wing on the aircraft – the New Generation 767 – 300 will have the same airfoil as the unpopular 767 – 400. It will mean basically the same airfoil as the 777. The 767NG will also benefit from new, more fuel efficient engines, the cockpit upgrades introduced on the -400 will be standard on the 767NG and so on and so forth.
With the product Boeing is offering, I´m not the least surprised that FedEx have bitten the bullet and ordered some.
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