answer=42 (post 43) -
What I don't understand is why, when Boeing launched the 737NG, they didn't opt instead for a 757 shrink + re-wing. The 757 had a newer basic design than the 737-3/4/500. At the time of the NG launch, the 757 appeared to have a good future: the 757-300 development was, as far as I remember, about the same period.
If Boeing had updated/shrunk the 757, would they not be in a better position now? What am I missing? (Just an SLF here).
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Due to cost of re-engineering and Southwest's influence on keeping the changes (no 757 cockpit/nose on NG
) to a minimum. It was cheaper to update the 737 than it was to shrink the 757.