7E7 wird wahrscheinlich in 787 umbenannt
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Boeing 7E7 to die, but 787 to be born
It's all a part of tradition -- and a nod to the Chinese
By JAMES WALLACE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER AEROSPACE REPORTER
The 7E7 jetliner won't fly.
Not by that name, anyway.
The Boeing Co. has decided to stay with tradition and change the jetliner's name to the 787, according to people familiar with the matter. Boeing's last new jet was the 777. It's first commercial jet was the 707.
No official announcement has been made, however, because Boeing commercial airplanes boss Alan Mulally would like to wait until a group of Chinese airlines places what is expected to be the biggest 7E7 order yet -- for at least 60 planes and perhaps more, these people said.
The number "8" is considered good luck in China.
In Mandarin, the main language of China, as well as in Cantonese, the pronunciation of "eight" sounds the same as the word to make money.
In China, people want -- and pay money for -- license plates that end with the number 8, or phone numbers that end with the number. Weddings are planned around dates that include the number.
The China Olympics will begin at 8 p.m. on 8/8/08.
Boeing would be showing just how much it values China as a customer and partner if the 7E7 name change coincides with an announcement by China that some of its airlines will buy the 7E7 -- in time to fly passengers on the Boeing jet to the Beijing Olympics.
No Chinese airline has ever been the launch customer for a Boeing or Airbus plane.
Boeing won't confirm that a decision has been made to change the 7E7 name but has acknowledged the matter is being discussed.
It is not clear if the name change will be announced this year if the Chinese 7E7 order is still pending.
The timing of airplane order announcements by Chinese airlines are nearly impossible to predict, because the government has final say about aircraft purchases in that country. Politics can often delay announcements even when airlines have already made a decision to buy new jets.
So for now, Boeing's plane is still known as the 7E7 (the "E" standing for efficiency).
It is not unusual early in a Boeing aircraft development program for the name of a proposed new jet to have a letter sandwiched between 7s.
What became the 757, for example, was initially known as the 7N7.
But with the 7E7, Boeing has waited until well into the program to consider a name change. Company executives have said they wanted to carefully weigh changing the jetliner's name -- and might not do so -- given the successful worldwide marketing and branding associated with the 7E7 name.
But tradition -- and the prospect of making a good impression with China -- apparently carried the day.
While the number 8 is considered lucky in China, the number 7 has been good for Boeing. Since the 707, all new Boeing jetliners have been named in succession -- 727, 737, 747, 757, 767 and 777.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/203750_boeing15.html