Originally Posted by
OldnGrounded
I suppose anything is possible, but it's a bit difficult to imagine engineers saying, "We can't lengthen the main gear, because the (optional/aftermarket) airstairs wouldn't be long enough. Let's move the engines, significantly changing the aerodynamics of the airplane, and play around with an add-on to STS."
I was informed by a mutual friend on the Renton flight line that this was one of the reasons that the air stairs would have to be changed, plus jet bridges at airports, so that’s what I am passing on.