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    peter of Australia

    June 30, 2014

    It has always bemused me as to why, with so many brand new energy saving engines available now, being produced by the best engine manufacturers in the World, compared to 25 odd years ago, we do not fit them to older current production plane designs, obviously with some modifications, to be able to save fuel, & have quite interiors, & travel further for cheaper costs, similar to fitting new engines in older cars, as some now do, retro fitting new engines with savings could give new life to designs like the extended Boeing 747 Jumbo Aircraft.
    Obviously, others must have thought about this, but what does the Manufacturers & Airlines think?
    It would be interesting to hear what they might say on this matter, after all everyone has their favourite plane they have flown on,what do you all think?

    Editors' Comment

    In actual fact this is done quite often as with the Douglas DC-8 that was re-engined with CFM56 engines in the 1970s. So was the military 707. Also designs such as the 747 are updated with the latest engines. The latest 747 model the -8 has Boeing 787 engines fitted. A good example of manufacturers using the latest engines is the 737. It started life with a Pratt and Whitney engine and then the CFM 56 was fitted. Now the Leap X (CFM) has been developed for the 737 MAX. However for many designs such as the 727 it is simply not possible as there are constraints on size of newer engines. Also the wing / pylon / engine engineering is a very art. Get it wrong and the fuel burn soars so for many existing designs newer engines just don't work.
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