This sounds true, as for pure entertainment value, it's fun to watch the LH A340 depart PHX for FRA on a hot summer day....the pilot has to have big huevos and extreme confidence in his machine as he watches 24th Street get rapidly closer. Finally, the beast rotates and climbs ever so slowly.

the A342/343 have CFM56 engines, which look ridiculously teensy. the Trents on the 345/346 are enormous. the "new" 343 still uses the CFM56 engines, only they're uprated over the older ones.

dunno why NW is so hung up on PW engines...

and hey, the 346 is one sexy-looking plane http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Smaller engines, ceteris paribus, lower fuel burn, lower cruise speed, slower climb, etc. ... right B747? Maybe Airbus is trying to win the mileage derby ... there an inline 4, a V-6, and a V-8.


[This message has been edited by Eidetic (edited 08-18-2003).]

<<dunno why NW is so hung up on PW engines...
>>

Actually NW has GE/CFM 56's on the A319/A320 fleet and GE/CFMs on the DC10-30 fleet having retired the PW DC10-40s.

Given that PW was only original choice for 727 and DC9 which they inherited and the PW on the 707/720/320x not surprising PW influence.

Not sure I understand what you mean... NWA has PW on the 757-200, 747-200 and the 747-400, and is the launch customer for PW-powered 757-300 and has PW on the A330-300 too. Only a/c it does not have PW on is the A319/320 family and the DC10-30 (which has the CF6-50 engines). So NWA has pretty much been a PW airline...

I agree that NW probably wants to operate a mixture of Airbus and Boeing aircraft… but it’s worth noting that NW has purchased only two Boeing aircraft since the late 1980s/early 1990s.

The B753 being delivered today are part of an order that was deferred in 1991 (although they were upgraded to B753 in 2001) … the B744 delivered in 1999 were part of an order also deferred in 1991.

1) NWA is not getting rid of the 744s. They are one of the premier jets around, and Boeing still has them in production.

2) Just because there has been an increase in NW Airbus orders doesn't mean they will choose the A340 to replace with the 742s. The 777 is also a strong candidate.

tekelberry - please read all the responses, your comments have already been addressed.

IMHO, NW might strongly consider acquiring used 744s in its next fleet update. There are quite a few airlines which are eager to dump their 744s, and it could make sense for NW to pick them up provided the cost of acquisition is relatively low.

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All those who fly Continental Airlines, raise your hands.
The rest of you, raise your standards.

Acquisition costs of used B744 may be low, but there are numerous other factors that make such a purchase unattractive – especially when it’s a buyer’s market. Realistically, NW will keep its B744 fleet status quo or add a small number of new/used birds (perhaps exercising its two options). Eventually, when the company considers itself healthy enough & traffic within the Pacific arena picks up, NW will likely choose between the B777/A340 and shift current and future (perhaps DTW-HKG, DTW-ICN or – since we like to dream – LAX-SYD again) routes among the A332, B777/A340 and B744.

Does Air Canada have GE engines on their 744s?

What does AC have to do with it? Anyway, AC's 744s are comb is which are neither fish nor fowl, and thus have horrible resale prices. Yes, they are PW.

FWIW, only 3 of AC's 744's are Combi, they also have 4 full passenger 744's.

If NWA did not jump at the United 744s, don't look for them to be interested in AC's birds.

The next plane they will order will be the 773.

Craig
MKE


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My Las Vegas Page - http://www.viva-vegas.com

Those are from CP (-475s, AC proper ones are -433M). Most of the -475s, if not all, have left the fleet.

747-400 Combi (74E) - Number of Aircraft: 3
http://www.aircanada.com/about-us/our-fleet/au302i.html

Boeing 747-400 - Number of Aircraft: 4
http://www.aircanada.com/about-us/our-fleet/au304c.html


Craig
MKE

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My Las Vegas Page - http://www.viva-vegas.com