GE’s Foam Engine Wash Aims to Restore Efficiency, Improve Fuel Burn and Durability
General Electric unveiled a foam‑based engine wash to clean turbine deposits that erode performance over time. The biodegradable foam penetrates blade surfaces, dissolving fouling that accumulates especially in sand‑laden regions. GE estimates the treatment can recover roughly 2% of lost fuel efficiency and add about 10% more component life for engines operating in harsh climates. The service is slated for rollout to airlines in the Middle East and other demanding markets beginning Q3 2026.
Airbus’ 27 Year March to a New Airplane
Airbus has spent 27 years building a new wide‑body platform, leveraging the complex A400M program to sharpen its engineering muscle. While Boeing’s 777X is treated as a fresh design, Airbus abandoned a direct A330 replacement but still sold roughly 800...
777X Change Incorporation Will Take Years to Complete; Boeing Mum on Details
Boeing says incorporating structural changes into the 777X will take several years, while remaining tight‑lipped on specifics. The company resolved the 1 % shortfall in the ultimate‑load test through finite‑element analysis rather than a physical retest, a stance echoed by the...
The 777: The Art Form at Its Peak
The Boeing 777 program, launched in 1990 and certified in 1995, marked the pinnacle of Boeing’s pre‑production change‑incorporation discipline. Leveraging full digital design, the aircraft earned simultaneous ETOPS‑180 clearance at entry‑into‑service, a first for commercial jets. United Airlines’ $11 bn order...
The 747-400: Derivative Programs Apply the Lessons
The Boeing 747‑400, rolled out in January 1988, marked a major evolution of the “Queen of the Skies” by incorporating six‑foot winglets, a two‑crew glass cockpit, new engine choices, tail fuel tanks and an extended range. The shift to a...
Reader Comments-Open Forum, Week of May 11
Leeham News Agency (LNA) has launched a weekly Open Forum that lets readers comment on any article, including pay‑wall previews, under a newly introduced moderation policy. All submissions will be held for review to enforce civility and compliance with updated...
Defense Growth Drives Record First Quarter for Embraer
Embraer posted a record first‑quarter with $1.4 billion in revenue, up 31% year‑over‑year, and adjusted EBIT of $94 million, yielding a 6.5% margin. The Defense & Security unit drove the surge, delivering $227 million in revenue—a 63% jump—and improving its EBIT margin to...
The 767: A Cockpit Crisis Creates the Template
The Boeing 767 was originally built for a three‑person flight deck, but rapid advances in digital avionics enabled a shift to two‑pilot operation. After early production, the FAA granted two‑crew certification, igniting a fierce engineering and political battle within Boeing....
The State of Alternative Propulsion Aircraft? Part 10.
Hydrogen can power aircraft either via fuel‑cell electric systems or by direct combustion in a gas turbine. The article examines the latter, highlighting that burning hydrogen retains the turbine’s high power‑to‑mass ratio while using a lighter fuel than conventional jet...
Part 2: Solving Workforce Shortages: Bumping Along or Soaring?
The article argues that decades of government‑led studies have failed to fix aviation and aerospace workforce shortages, and that a fragmented network of nonprofits, industry programs, and schools already exists but lacks coordination. It calls for a professionally managed central...
Resources: This Is Your Industry Speaking: By the Numbers: Workforce Shortfalls
A wave of workforce shortages is crippling the aerospace and defense sector, with Boeing alone reporting $5 bn in losses from halted production. Oliver Wyman projects a shortfall of up to 48,000 aircraft‑maintenance technicians by 2027, representing a potential $39‑$58 tr annual revenue...
Part 1: Workforce Shortage Stunting Industry Growth, Costing Billions
The Leeham News analysis warns that a chronic workforce shortage is crippling the U.S. aerospace sector and could reduce the country's share of global air travel to roughly 10% by 2040. China is producing up to 5 million STEM graduates each...
Boeing’s Long Arc From Disciplined Rework to Distributed Chaos
Boeing’s change‑incorporation process, which pushes pre‑production aircraft into the line before FAA certification, has repeatedly backfired. A 30‑airplane cockpit rework on the 767 and a supplier‑driven configuration scramble on the 787 illustrate how rushed integration drives costly delays. The company’s...
Change Incorporation on Boeing 777-9s Will Take “Years”, CEO Said
Boeing has more than 30 unfinished 777‑9 jets stored at Everett that must undergo a lengthy change‑incorporation process before they can be delivered. CEO Kelly Ortberg said the effort, which updates each aircraft to the latest FAA‑approved configuration, will take...
Bjorn’s Corner: Blended Wing Body Airliners. Part 8
Leeham News continues its deep‑dive into blended‑wing‑body (BWB) airliners in part 8, outlining the latest aerodynamic gains, structural innovations, and projected operating cost reductions. The article cites independent studies showing up to 30% lower fuel burn and highlights recent wind‑tunnel data...