EVERETT, Wash., March 15, 2001 -- The Boeing Longer-Range 767-400ER (extended range) program has completed low-speed, wind-tunnel tests at the University of Washington.
The tests focused on aerodynamic characteristics of the nacelles that encase the new, larger and more powerful engines being developed for the newest model in the popular Boeing 767 family of jetliners.
"The new engines have a higher bypass ratio than earlier engines, making them more fuel efficient and quieter than engines on today's airplanes," said Mohammad Yahyavi, Longer-Range 767-400ER program manager. "In fact, despite their size, the new engines deliver about 1.5 percent better fuel burn than today's 767 engines."
More than 40 hours of low-speed testing - up to 0.2 Mach - were conducted at the University of Washington Aeronautical Laboratory. More than 200 additional hours of high-speed testing - from 0.4 Mach to 0.97 Mach - was completed last month at the U.S. Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. Those tests focused on understanding the effects of the larger nacelles throughout the climb, cruise and descent phases of a flight.
The Longer-Range 767-400ER's nacelles have been enlarged to accommodate new, more powerful 72,000-pound (32,659 kg)-thrust engines that are being developed by Rolls Royce and the Engine Alliance, a joint company of GE Aircraft Engines and Pratt & Whitney. The Longer-Range 767-400ER will be the first airplane to use the new engines, which also will be used on the 747X family of airplanes.
The Longer-Range 767-400ER is the newest member of the 767 family. While the same size as the 767-400ER, it has equivalent range (6,115 nautical miles, 11,320 km), as the 767-300ER. Seating for 245 passengers in three classes is the same as the 767-400ER; up to 375 passengers can be accommodated in a single-class configuration.
The Longer-Range 767-400ER has a maximum takeoff weight of 465,000 pounds (210,920 kg), 15,000 pounds (6,800 kg) more than the 767-400ER, and has an improved takeoff field length. The airplane needs just 9,600 feet (2,930 meters) of runway and carries an additional 2,145 gallons (8,270 liters) of fuel in the airplane's horizontal tail.
The Longer-Range 767-400ER is intended to replace older trijets such as the DC-10 and L-1011, and it provides a larger airplane for operators whose markets have outgrown the passenger capacity of the 767-300ER.
The first Longer-Range 767-400ER, which will be delivered to Kenya Airways in May 2004, also includes a new, award-winning 777-style interior and a new 777-style flight deck.
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