Yet another aviation thread.

The biggest joke of all may be Putin's entry into the airplane market's most profitable niche.

Quote: Fleastiff

The biggest joke of all may be Putin's entry into the airplane market's most profitable niche.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100, (Russian: Сухой Суперджет 100) is a modern fly-by-wire twin-engine regional jet with 8 (VIP) to 108 (all economy) passenger seats. With development initiated in 2000, the airliner was designed and spearheaded by Sukhoi, a division of the Russian civil aerospace company (UAC), in co-operation with several foreign partners.

With fewer than 400 orders very few of which are for VIP configurations, you can't be talking about this regional jet as the most profitable niche,

NOPE.

The MC21 a/k/a MS21 comes in two models, seats about 165, range of 4000 miles, fifteen percent operating cost below A320 is claimed.

Quote: Fleastiff

... fifteen percent operating cost below A320 is claimed.

So far only Russian airlines have ordered any.

Quote: Aussie

The biggest joke is when some carriers imposed a fuel surcharge in the days of USD100+ per barrel but never bothered to remove it when the price of oil plummeted.

I find the info on fuel as part of the cost endlessly frustrating.

On the one hand, when divided by the full complement of passengers, even when fuel prices are high, it doesn't account for much as a percentage of ticket price. On the other hand, the minute oil goes up, all carriers raise their fares or add fees, plus they charge for checked bags because of the fuel it takes to move them. And on the gripping hand, flights are slower and longer as compared with two decades ago, because slower speeds make for better fuel efficiency.

So which f#$%&!ng is it?

Quote: Nareed

And on the gripping hand, flights are slower and longer as compared with two decades ago, because slower speeds make for better fuel efficiency.

So which f#$%&!ng is it?

So your share of a 500 mile flight is probably 10 gallons. How much gas do you burn on a bad day driving around Mexico City?

I need a movie!

Quote: Pacomartin

So your share of a 500 mile flight is probably 10 gallons. How much gas do you burn on a bad day driving around Mexico City?

I don't know.

On a common week, assuming not having to go too far on work-related errands, I use up one tank and accrue perhaps 350-400 kilometers. On slow weeks I use up half a tank for about 300 km.

Quote:

I need a movie!

I didn't imagine the Motie Engineers quite that ugly (the engineers are brown, if memory serves)

Google the word "aeroloft," and you should get info on a Boeing product for its 747-8i. It's cabin space located above the main cabin, near the tail past the upper deck. The idea is to have 8 sleeping berths and a changing room. So far, it's been added to private jet versions of the plane exclusively, and then only a few.

It gets one thinking: can that space not be used for more passengers? I mean, put up regular economy seats. But with the idea of making the rest of the economy cabin more spacious and compensating that with extra seats above.

Well, not easily. As I understand it, that space is taken up with galley storage in airliner versions of the plane. Which makes sense for a long-haul plane where you have to feed hundreds of economy passengers twice.

Just the same, a new clean slate plane could incorporate such passenger spaces and ease crowding in the main cabin (that'll be the day)

On related news, JAL has reconfigured its regional 777-200s for 9-abreast seating. It's a bit odd, as the configuration is 3-4-2, rather than the expected 3-3-3. I assume there's some reason behind it, but regardless it beats the 10-abreast 3-4-3 that has become standard for cattle class in most 777s. The premium economy cabin has real leg rests and a 2-3-2 configuration. Business class remains a sybaritic, overpriced dream.

3-4-2 is more passenger friendly in that there is only 1 seat per row where the passenger has to climb over 2 others to get to the aisle. In 3-3-3 there are 2 per row.

Quote: Aussie

3-4-2 is more passenger friendly in that there is only 1 seat per row where the passenger has to climb over 2 others to get to the aisle. In 3-3-3 there are 2 per row.

My thinking ran more along the lines of how people in the region travel in groups. Your thinking makes more sense.

BTW, I may be wrong, but I think JAL also offers 8-abreast seating on the 787. I am sure I read somewhere 8 seats per row was Boeing's original design.