The sad saga of the Boeing 737 Max has been a slow-burning corporate, engineering, regulatory, human-interest and public-relations nightmare for going on six months now—with no end in sight. The magnitude of Boeing’s deadly foul-up is a frequent topic of conversation in airliner cockpits, and considerable ink has been spilled over the subject in both aviation and general media. Now, I’m not an aeronautical engineer, and I have yet to fly the 737, but quite a few of my friends are current or former 737NG pilots at various U.S. and European airlines. The general consensus is that the Max was simply one stretch too many of an airplane that had already been shoehorned into an ever-expanding number of sizes and roles until it barely resembled the well-considered original design.
Boeing 757: A Modern Classic
Key Takeaways:
- Boeing's post-1997 merger decline in engineering excellence is evident in the issues with the 737 Max and 787, contrasting sharply with the robust designs of its earlier aircraft.
- The Boeing 757 is lauded as a prime example of "old Boeing" engineering, celebrated for its unique performance, versatility in demanding routes, and pilot-friendly design, making it an irreplaceable aircraft even today.
- Despite the 757's proven success, its production ended because it was considered economically "too much airplane" and less profitable for airlines, leaving a market gap Boeing has since struggled to fill with a modern equivalent.
- The author urges Boeing to re-prioritize engineering excellence and vision, returning to its cultural roots to innovate and overcome current challenges, potentially by developing a modern successor to the 757.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
