Grumble

Someone, for the love of God, pour salt in the guppy breeding pond.

"Among the options Boeing has considered is shortening the smallest version of the 787 or stretching the longest version of the 737 Max. Speaking to investors in May 2014, Boeing chairman and chief executive Jim McNerney appeared to endorse taking that approach, saying the aircraft would be based on the "mature technologies we've got".

Read, innovation is hard. Let's just keep building the same crap. I give you, the 737-900

UAL T38 Phlyer

I tried to make a digital drawing of this, but wasn't familiar enough with the program to manipulate it:

I am convinced that SWA will ask Boeing to make one final version of the Guppy.

Using "mature technology," (double-deck, introduced by the Boeing Stratocruiser and then again in the 747), Boeing will offer a double-decked 737.

It will come with either a 777 wing/engines (but no gear doors), or a biplane arrangement, using two sets of -900 wings.

OR:

It will be a twin-fuselage arrangement, like the P-82 Twin Mustang. This one might require a different type rating, as it would have three engines.


The beauty of their plan, in addition to sustaining SWA's business-model:

1. Most of Boeing's jigs are still used.
2. The upper/lower deck can still park at conventional gates.
3. Approach speeds will still be 169 knots.
4. You still won't be able to walk under the fuselage.
5. You won't have to buy pesky cargo bins or loaders...still a baggage free-for all.

bigfatdaddy

All of that AND, you will have to leave half the customers behind because of the icing hit.

Scrappy

Only applies to the 12 straight 737-900s in the fleet. Very rarely do the 737-900ERs (or other NG) 737s have weight restriction issues.

Was weight restricted on an A320 this past summer from DEN to IAH. I suspect this was probably due to an MEL issue. If you see a NG 737 weight restricted (sans the 12 -900s), it's probably some type of non-standard issue like the A320 had.

Scott Stoops

Disagree. Happens all the time into Denver on the 900er. In fact, the new g/a procedure is only for the 900er per the procedure.

bigfatdaddy

flew the guppy for 2 years....had several instances of leaving pax behind....all on ERs. Well acquainted with the guppies shortcomings, as well as its strengths.

Scrappy

Never saw it and I flew it 9'ish years. Into DEN multiple times. Not doubting you but did not happen to me that I can recall.

bigfatdaddy

Better to be lucky than good as they say. It was an extremely embarrassing situation walking past the customers when they already knew we were weight restricted. Sounds like the new procedures will make that a rarer situation.

Scrappy

Agree...as was when we were restricted on the A320. Pax definitely weren't happy.

svergin

Same here. We leave people behind all the time on the 737-900 ER. All the time.