Why did the rear-engine phase stop so quickly?
I thought that the clean wing, noise at the rear etc was all a good idea. F28, F100, DC-9, B727, VC-10 etc. Is it the disturbed air behind the wings, or the dirt / water spray behind the wheels on landing? CG problems with a heavy engine so far back?
It would allow larger diameter engines to be fitted without the ground clearance and software problems of the 737MAX.