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Scramble 467
The first Boeing 737, a 737-100, was built at Boeing Field in
Seattle in 1967. In the early 1970s Boeing moved the produc-
tion of the 737 to a new facility in Renton (WA). At Renton
Boeing builds the wings for the 737 and assembles complete
737s, as many parts of the 737 are built at different locations.
The 737’s fuselage is built by Spirit Aerosystems at Wichita
(KS) and transported by train to Renton. The 737’s CFM
56-7Bs and CFM-LEAP-1Bs engines are built by CFM at plants
in the USA and France.
Bombardier
CL-300/350
Bombardier has announced some achievements for their
CL-300/350 series aircraft. Over the year 2017 deliveries
reached 56 Challenger 350s, claiming 53% of the midsize
segment market. Since introduction in 2014 the programme
also passed the 200+ delivery marker in 2017, marking the
success of the design. Late February 2018 the series also
received their short-field operation certification, enabling
the CL-300/350 to operate from airports with short runways,
like London-City.
Dassault
Falcon 6X
Following the deception of the Falcon 5X programme can-
cellation, Dassault launched the Falcon 6X programme on 28
February 2018. Based on the newly selected Pratt & Whitney
Canada Pure Power PW800 engines this new Falcon family
member will step into the gap left by the Falcon 2000 series.
Inspired by the Falcon 5X fuselage this twin jet platform will
carry up to nineteen passengers over a range of 5,500 nau-
tical miles (10,186 km). This will enable direct flights from
Paris to Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, Hong Kong
and Tokyo at a cruise speed of M0.85. From the Falcon 7X/8X
series aerodynamic profiles have been tweaked and the third
generation EASy (Enhanced Avionics System) III all digital
flight deck continued its presence. Dassault expects the pro-
totype to be ready for its first flight early 2021 with first cus-
tomer deliveries in 2022.
EMBRAER
EMB190-E2
On 1 March 2018 EMBRAER received the type certificate for
the Embraer 190-E2 from the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency
(ANAC), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), paving the way for nearing
first customer deliveries. In 56 months, gaining 2,000 test
flying hours, the entire process of certification and valida-
tion has been completed with the aspect ratio of the new E2
version being 75% different compared to the classic E190 jet.
The engines, wings and landing gear have been redesigned in
order to meet the improved specifications, allowing opera-
tors to fly further, faster and leaner with less costs per mile
flown.
Launch customer Widerøe will receive their first of three
ordered E2s at any moment and start their first flights with
them in April 2018. The first crews are currently undergoing
their type rating in the Netherlands.Irkut Corporation
MC-21-300
On 25 March 2018 Irkut Corporation unveiled their second
prototype of the MC-21-300 narrow body airliner. Input
and evaluations of the first prototype and flight test pro-
gramme have been integrated in the second prototype. After
this prototype two more flight test airplanes will be added
to the programme this year in order to complete and gain
the type certification. Number three is in the assembly stage
while number four is gathering parts prior to assembly. At
the moment the first prototype has joined the static loads
test programme at the Flight Research Facility at the M.M
Gromov institute located at Zhukovsky airport.Textron
Skycourier
Captured by surprise Textron revealed a programme update
on their Cessna Skycourier mid-March. The programme has
been in full swing since it launched November 2017 and the
prototype is already in the wind tunnel for aerodynamic
testing and evaluation. The first flight of the twin engine
turbo prop, deemed to complete the success of the Ce208
series and compete with the Viking/DHC-6-400, has been set
to Q2 2019 and an entry into service in 2020. Two versions are
developed, the passenger version for nineteen passengers
and a freight version carrying three LD3 containers trans-
porting six tons of payload over 900 nautical miles.Emirates’ A380 A6-EUB was painted in Paris St. Germain colours in February 2018. (London-Gatwick, 17 February 2018, David Long)