Newsstand - Boeing plan: catch up to Airbus within 2 years

Wonder what the Vegas oddsmakers would give as odds on that happening? :D Anyway:

http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=15938

MADRID - U.S. plane maker Boeing Co. will reach equilibrium with its European rival Airbus in two years thanks to a recovery by U.S. airlines, a Boeing executive said in an interview published on Monday.
Randy Baseler, vice president for marketing

Well Boeing's sales and management staff have gotten much more aggressive in their pursuit of orders with both existing and new customers, and the benefits have certainly paid off so far this year with 239 orders.

We can expect additional 787 orders, and possibly 777-200LR/LR-F orders and the 737 program is seeing very strong strength so there will probably be more orders there, as well.

And India is up next (with Boeing considered the inside track for the widebody order and Airbus for the narrowbody), so Boeing might very well easily make their targets.

and possibly 727-200LR/LR-F orders

They're bringing back the 727 program? And as the 727LR. Wow!! So will that enable LAX-LHR routes now on the 727? Sorry, couldn't resist ;) :p

They're bringing back the 727 program? ;) :p

:D Must be Monday. ;)

They're bringing back the 727 program? And as the 727LR. Wow!! So will that enable LAX-LHR routes now on the 727? Sorry, couldn't resist ;) :p

727 = CRJ equivalent?

:p

They're bringing back the 727 program? And as the 727LR. Wow!! So will that enable LAX-LHR routes now on the 727? Sorry, couldn't resist ;) :p

Yup. It will use three 777-spec engines at the back and cruise at about Mach 1.5. It will be an all-First suite configuration, with luggage stored in the back. The lower bay will be nothing but fuel cells, allowing a 9K range even at those speeds. Expected to do very well in the Business Jet role, and PrivatAir and AA have both noted they want the first three years of production. :D

(Ah, if it was only Monday...)