Passenger Planes for the 21st Century

[Lionel]

While NASA works to return its space shuttle program to flight status and develop a new track for space exploration, two commercial airplane developers have come up with their own approach to the future of flight. But the goal is clear -- a long-range passenger jet capable of transoceanic flights.Aerospace and aviation juggernaut Boeing is developing the Dreamliner 7E7 airliner. Though smaller than its 747 jumbo jet ancestor, Boeing designers believe its lightweight construction and increased fuel efficiency will help the 7E7 stand out from other commercial jets. In Europe, aircraft engineers with the Toulouse, France-based Airbus are already in the production stage with the Airbus A380, a behemoth of an airplane so large that its wingspan skirts the edge of acceptable size for some airports. Larger than the Boeing 747, the A380 has already attracted orders from European airlines.

"[The A380] is a perfect fit for the current flight market needs today," Airbus spokesman David Voskhul told SPACE.com . "And it's built in such a way to take advantage of the most up-to-date technology."

A successful 7E7 program would be a boon for Chicago-based Boeing, which has taken some knocks of late. Monday's resignation of Boeing CEO Phil Condit, along with delays in an $18 billion contract with the Pentagon for 100 refueling planes pending, have marred the company's reputation as an aerospace leader. Furthermore, Airbus is poised to claim Boeing's throne as the world's largest commercial jet producer after winning a contract to supply aircraft to Qantas, Australia's largest airline. Qantas formerly kept an all-Boeing fleet.

Both Airbus and Boeing hope their new planes will take the long-range flight market to the next level, serving what is anticipated to be a steady growth in commercial air travel over the next decade.

View: Full Article | Source: space.com