Originally Posted by
CurtainTwitcher
The Max problem could be fixed aerodynamically, but it comes with a time cost and a likely increase in TODR, which can be mitigated, but takes some curious aero to do. The current low speed issue is associated with the flow around the wing from the nacelle and vane. There is good understanding on the effect of the vane on the wing and that could be adjusted to return to compliant stall behaviour. Doing so would affect CLmax for that section of the wing, but that can be improved, as although the flaps are a nice design, there are other things that can done to make them better, returning the CLmax to levels near or above the current levels, but increasing the Cm of the section in a beneficial manner. That is simple aero to apply. Peter Randolph should go chat with J. C. Lin, and then go chat with Doc Rose. Just dropping the vanes results in a structural problem as much as a performance one, the wing bending moment goes bad so the CLmax has to be massaged without the Cm that exists from the nacelle. FWIW, we happened to fly this particular aero device on a B737 over 5 years ago, for other reasons, but that is what is possible.
Or stay with MCAS.