Keeping your options open
 

I wonder if pitching this as the 'replacement' of the A320 or B737 sets the right tone.

Looking out 20 years, it's quite likely that Airbus and Boeing will not replace the A320 and B737, respectively, on a like-for-like basis. If Airbus and Boeing believe their own projections for traffic growth, it's not clear that one aircraft type could or should replace the A320 or B737, in my view.

On the engine side, there could be opportunities for several engine manufacturers and several types of engine technology.

Meantime, the A320 NEO looks like a very good strategy for Airbus to pursue, regardless of whether it's quite as good or slightly better than the B737.

this patent just updated...perhaps the 737 replacement

United States Patent 7,621,482
Sankrithi , et al. November 24, 2009

Weight optimized pressurizable aircraft fuselage structures having near elliptical cross sections.

United States Patent: 7621482

Check the images....

Airbus kills Boeing (Part IV)
 

My friend,
You are as credulous an observer of Airbus on this forum as you are on others.
Airbus is a worthy competitor to Boeing, but it is hardly dominant.
Nor does Boeing dominate Airbus.
These two companies have divided the mainline narrow-body market between them for many years.
Their relative order numbers have been based largely upon availability.
Airbus is no more poised to chase Boeing from this market than is Boeing set to chase Airbus from it.
Forget the usual Airbus hyperbole about "Neo", and ignore what Boeing says for the consumption of you and I as well.
Both of these companies, as well as their customers, the airlines, have information you and I don't.
Airbus has a good soloution on the table.
Boeing has already tabled one with the decision makers who matter, and they aren't posting either here or on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

I just opened a thread on this ECR-20 concept.

http://www.pprune.org/tech-log/44530...ts-700-nm.html

Reporting at Flight Global claims that Boeing is shopping two basic designs around to potential customers: a traditional 3-3 single aisle or a 2-3-2 twin aisle.

I know that economy always dominates these decisions, but imo the 2-3-2 767 cabin is the most comfortable economy cabin currently in service and I really hope that this layout makes an appearance on more planes. I literally jump for joy every time I'm picking my seat and I see that I'm on a 767.

Boarding and deboarding goes super fast, 86% of all seats are either a window or an aisle, and you are never more than one seat away from an aisle. And on my favorite seats, the inside aisle seats, you only have half of a person that needs to climb over you when they want to get out (because they could go the other way half the time).

According to all the industry reports and speculation that I have been reading, there is doubt as to whether this new plane will be a direct replacement for the 737's passenger capacity. Between the A320neo, Bombardier C-Series, and other new entrants from China, Russia, Japan, and probably Brazil, it might be in Boeing's interest to aim at a little bit higher passenger capacity. Dominate the market for higher volume domestic routes. 150-220 pax.

For the sake of every airline passenger's comfort, I hope that the combination of slightly larger passenger capacity than the current 737 with the faster turnarounds possible with a twin aisle will convince Boeing to build the twin aisle 2-3-2 layout.

Exactly. If the 737/A320 was the sweet spot over the last couple decades, I would think that pax volume will increase somewhat and a slightly higher pax plane will be the sweet spot over the next 50 or so years.

As far as engines, there will be 3 engines available around the 2020 new Boeing launch: CFM Leap-X relatively conventional twin spool, PW geared fan, and a new Rolls triple spool. Smart money says that Boeing will pick two to partner with. And one will probably be the Leap-X due to more conservative design.