Extremely Niche: Airbus And Boeing Variants Made For Just One Airline?
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 14 май 2024
- A few weeks ago we made a video covering unpopular Airbus and Boeing aircraft variants. Some of these aircraft were developed in conjunction with one airline and were only ever purchased by that airline. Perhaps it was unfair to call them ‘unpopular,’ as there were probably low expectations for these aircraft to be big sellers anyways. Of course, we can be sure that any additional sales would have been welcomed by the big planemakers! But today, we examine the aircraft variants that were seemingly developed with just one airline in mind.
Our Social Media:
/ simpleflyin. .
/ simple_flying
/ simpleflying. .
Our Website
simpleflying.com/
For copyright matters please contact us at: legal@valnetinc.com 
Развлечения
Kingfisher airlines ordered 5 airbus a340-500s which had been specially modified for even more fuel and large oxygen tanks. This was so they could fly to the US from Bangalore over the Himalayas, where in the event of a decompression descent to safe altitude is not possible so extra oxygen would be needed. Airbus was quoted to have said these were the best performing a340s ever built.
best performing in what way
@@MrEeeaddict In range, since it will be the worst performing in engine power
@@SR_superior_1000 Actually these were the A340-542 variant that used the same RR Trent 556 engines used in the A340-600. SO they had the best takeoff, climb, cruise, landing performance of the entire A340 lineup. 4 are listed as parked atm, 1 in LOS after operating for ARIK, 1 in LDE after operating for HiFly and 2 in Baku in Azal Azerbaijan colors. Not sure where #5 is.
@@bcnwagwu #5 might be TC-CAN, it operates for the turkey government and is an A340-542
The 747-400ER almost never happened with Qantas, as Qantas was always a loyal Rolls-Royce customer. Boeing however only offered the 747-400ER with GE engines, making the six a slight oddball within their fleet.
Another popular aircraft, that got a rare variant, is the 757-200. Out 914 passenger 757-200 only ONE was built as a 757-200M Combi with a side cargo door in the front of the aircraft, so it could either be used as passenger or cargo aircraft. It was built for Nepal Airways, that was the only operator from 1988 to 2016.
In the mid-1980s, there was a long-range version of the 747-200 produced for Cathay Pacific, so that they could fly non-stop between London and Hong Kong. It was used before the 747-400 came into service. The planes were fitted with extra fuel tanks, but they could only operate with a reduced passanger load. At that stage, Cathay used to fly one 747 fully loaded via Bahrain and another half-loaded direct non-stop. They would leave Hong Kong within minutes of each other. I flew on the non-stop once and found myself with sleeping room across empty seats in the back economy cabin.
There's a 737 - 800 version that was built for Brazilian Airline Gol, it's the SFP version (Special Field Performance). It was made because Gol wanted an aircraft capable of performing well using short runways.
But there's already a short field package available for them.
Other airlines have those too. Delta has some that they bought from GOL
@@edwardmyers1746 I'm not sure, but according to what I've read, the short field package became available because of Gol's request, so other airlines bought those too. As I said, it's what I've read, it can be an imprecise info.
@@busfan9874 yes, according to what I read, this version became an option to any airline after Boeing developed it on Gol's request.
India has too in Air India Express.
Had the pleasure of being on 2 flights on Qantas 747-400ER several years ago.
The 747-400ER flies beautifully with a powerful departure out of Sydney and then non-stop to San Francisco.
On the flight I ordered a Bacardi and Coke. About 10 minutes later as the meal was about to be served I said to the Steward that an in-flight meal always tastes better on the Queen. And the Steward replied how did I know the 747 was known as the Queen, did I work in the industry? I said yes I'm an aircraft engineer. So the Steward said to his colleague: This man has ordered a Bacardi and Coke, but now he's having double.
i don't get the last part
Wonderful story Rocco
@@samal6700 I had ordered a Bacardi and Coke shortly before the meal service. And after my complementary comment about the Boeing 747 the Steward told his colleague to give me a double Bacardi instead.
Qantas has a history of requesting specific aircraft models that will cater to its unique range requirements, starting with the Boeing 707-138 in 1959.
Prior to the 707, it originally wanted a longer-range version of the De Havilland Comet 1 but the Comet crashes of 1954 axed that proposal.
I also think of SAS with DC-9-20 🤔
The Boeing 737-700 was practically made for Southwest. Yes other airlines and military variants were made, but Southwest was the true operator.
I think it was just a fortunate match made in heaven really. So many other airlines ordered the -700 and sizeable orders at that.
As soon as I heard the 737-700ER had the wings of the 800, it started to sound a lot like the C-40s built for the military!
I was fortunate to have flown in the 747-400ER, as well as the A350-900ULR. Rare birds in the sky.
747-400ER was very. Common a few years ago
@@odzergaming I think Qantas had the 747-400ER, but yes, a few years ago the 747-400 was everywhere.
@@sainnt i just realised I’m in Australia
I remember Garuda Indonesia had custom Airbus A300B4 with Forward Facing Crew Concept (FFCC). In that era, cockpit crew consist of Captain, First Officer, and Flight Engineer. In FFCC, it eliminated Flight Engineer post, so the cockpit crew only consist of Captain and First Officer. That concept would be a pioneer of modern aircraft which consist only two crew members. And also don't forget about KLM'S Boeing 747-200 SUD as the pioneer of Boeing 747-400.
The SUDs were ‘pioneers’ for the 747-300, not the -400…
@@pjotrtje0NL yeah, but the -300 version is unpopular compared to the -400 version unfortunately.
Another case of this happening is with the CRJ 550. The aircraft was made specifically for United Express.
Was the CRJ 550 ordered by Skywest, Republican or both?
GoJet
CRJ-550 is the CRJ-700 with a different interior configuration afaik
@qwerty112311 50 seater with two classes and a different name and certification because it had to be certified for safety with one less cabin crew.
Worth noting that the 737-700ER airframe, including the extra fuel tanks, was not actually created at ANA's behest. It was first for the E-7 Wedgetail AWACS aircraft, which was first delivered to the RAAF in 2004, and is now in service with a few other Western militaries. The larger 737-800 wing and reinforced structure would not have been used otherwise; they were necessary on the E-7 because of the weight of the sensor array and computing equipment.
Also don't forget the A350 special domestic for JAL, that's the only A350 configured for domestic market. If I'm wrong, please comment below :)
The problem is that it's not officially a variant. Japan airlines just made the a350 have more seats and a reduced MTOW, in short, they just configured the plane for domestic routes. Singapore airlines also did the same thing on a few of its a350's, they added more seats but kept the mtow and engines the same as the standard a350.
There was previously going to be an a350 regional to counter the 787-10, but the idea got scrapped. The potential customers for this variant were SQ and Etihad.
So no, the a350s used by JAL is not a variant, they just optimized them for domestic routes, like SQ did.
Japan and ANA had 747s designed the same way
What about Ryukyu Air Commuter’s (JAL is parent company) Q400 cargo-combi? I think RAC is still the only customer who use this Q400 modified variant.
You missed that SAS had B737-700ER for their Stavanger-Houston route in all business configuration.
That was a wet-lease flight not operated by SAS.
A very nice video about these quirky variants!
I was waiting to hear about the 747-400D and the 767-400 of which only 37 were built. You never spoke about them, and they were niche aircraft. The 787-300 can still be developed to become a true 767-300 replacement, and possibly become the future 787F. This was very interesting to see and still do thank you for this interesting report. Good job.
The 737MAX8-200 Just feels very unique for some reason
Somewhere i saw that EasyJet request AIRBUS to build A319 specifically with 2 emergency exits over the wings, as opposed to the one exit on normal A319's. Interesting to see if it's true 😅.
Great video keep it up!
2 overwing exits on each sides which totals 4 overwing exits. The reason for this is due to the fact that easyjet has more seats that standard a319 operators which means that they have to meet requirements for seating a large number of people which is adding overwing exits. Easyjet is the only a319 operator with this configuration.
I fly with this Special A319-132 by Eurowings from Munich to Lanzarote
It is true. All EasyJet's A319 do have one extra emergency door over the wing to the point that you could instantly sees it when you searched for it on Google images
Saudi oerdered 30 MD-90s and took delivery starting in 1997. These MD-90s had push button overhead panel and 5 instrument display units instead of the standard layout of the baseline model. They also had ovens forward and aft to cook meals for all passengers on each leg.
A much earlier QANTAS special was the B747-SP38 with RR RB211 engines, rather than the P&W engines. This would give a longer range than the thirstier P&W's. QANTAS actually paid for the RR certification and bought 2, a third was built and sold to a Saudi Prince.
I could well imagine there's a second deal that's always connected to these niche contracts. "We deliver you the 6 744ER, in turn you buy X regular 744, paying listing prices" and these deals are then nda'd
Qantas was a pioneer of adapting new aircraft to meet specific needs. Their first Boeing 707 planes started flying in 1959 on trans-Pacific routes - including Sydney - Honolulu-Los Angeles. They had 20 fewer seats than the standard model, but a larger fuselage fuel tank - to fly these long routes. Similarly in the 70’s they ordered the 747 SP, for the same reason (Kym in Darwin Australia - where Qantas 787s flew non-stop from Heathrow during the Covid Pandemic, as we have a large quarantine accomodation centre at Howard Springs).
I thought the 747SP was ordered to be able to fly to Wellington NZ. This was before ETOPS, so they had to use the 707 until they got the 747SP. The "normal" 747-238 was to heavy for the shorter runway in Wellington.
My favourite there is the a350ULR. I hope more of these roll out. If only beleaguered airlines kike SAA could get their hands on some for their routes to New York. By far their best
It would be a good replacement for DAL’s 772LRs and they already operate normal A359.
Apparently the ULR is dead in the water as newer A359s have the same range as the ULRs.
@@thesupersaiyann5424 those could work better I guess
A350-1000ulr made for QF to do Project Sunrise flights Sydney Kingsford Smith airport to JFK and London Heathrow. Additionally it can be ordered by PR to do non weight restricted PR118/119 & PR126/127 Manila to Eastern Time Zone United States and Canada Toronto Pearson and New York JFK Airports since A350-900 HGW gets weight restricted on those routes due to conditions
Can you please make a video on air Algeria purchase of 25 aircraft it was on your blog today. Thank you.
Decades ago, there was one plane called the 747SR. Very interesting domestic Japanese market
The 747SR was also used in Qatars expansion in the 1990s
If we are looking at the future with the Airbus A350-1000ulr.
Air New Zealand with the Boeing 787-10er. Although I doubt they will be the only customer if it does go ahead. It will be very popular.
Is it fair to say Japan Airlines operates an “A350-900 Regional”? Their fleet of a dozen-odd A350-900 aircraft fly exclusively domestic services and all have a lower MTOW than standard, 217 tonnes compared to 283 tonnes for the standard model, i believe.
It's not officially an a350 variant, it was just configured for domestic routes. And the a350 regional variant was scrapped by Airbus.
What about the B747-400D made for the Japanese market as well as the SUD option for the B747-100/200 that turned them onto -300 version 😊
Just imagining if 787-3 is realized and operating today, and 747-400D having newer generation like 747-8 and it's operating.
The DC-9-21 Was a DC-9-10 body with wings and engines from the DC-9-30. 10 where buildt, all for SAS, that needed them in Northern Norway. They caled them the DC-9-Sport.
The customer codes are included in the model number e.g. 747-436 for British Airways, 438 for QANTAS, etc. The airlines are ALWAYS consulted in aircraft design. Analysis of customer needs is paramount in create a product that will be desired.
Even assuming that a low-production niche variant does not earn a direct profit, it can still be seen as a demonstration of the abilities of the airplane and maker, potentially making customers more likely to by other variants.
787-3 in the video was never developed. But there have been two types that were developed and sold for the same mission before this, the 747-100SR and 747-400D, both ultra short range version of the 1970s 747 and 1990s 747 specifically designed for Japan domestic market and ultimately only operated by ANA and JAL.
If I had to guess, Boeing didn't lose money. I would assume the engineering costs were covered by the first customer, and any extra sales would have been gravy.
What about the DC 10-40 for Northwest and Japan Airlines
Next up: A380NEO-2000 for Emirates EIS 2030-ish (we pray)
any idea what happened to those specialized B747-400 ER double decker wide body jets . . . Qantas could use the A350-900 ULR for it's Sydney (SYD) - London (JFK) non-stop route . . . rumors are Air India is undergoing major restructuring & plans are to acquire a fleet of brand new A350-900 ULR . . . furthermore the Indian full service flag carrier is very interested in the A350-1000 ULR as well . . .
QF is using the 1000ULR not 900ULR. They want the extra room for exercise, stretch and lounge areas. Air India also wont get a 350-900ULR or 1000ULR itll probably get the base version as SIA quoted that the range isnt nececerrily needed
@@Alislug Air India is getting the A350-900 ULR & A350-1000 HGW . . .
Qantas had 30 747-400s (inc the 6 ERs) at the fleets peek. They slowly started retiring them from 2013 after the last of the A380s arrived and 787-9s started to be delivered. By 2019, the fleet was reduced to just the ERs, which were just operating the routes from Sydney to Tokyo, South Africa and Chile. They were planned to be retired by the end of 2020, but the pandemic and the related suspension of international flying caused them to be retired in early 2020.
1 747-400ER is now a test bed aircraft for GE, another was sold to a US Cargo carrier. The others were scrapped.
Qantas wants a 4 class long range aircraft for Project Sunrise, able to transport a reasonable payload (around 300 people across all 4 classes) from the Australian east coast to New York and London. The A350-900ULR can do either the payload or the range, it can't do both. SQ has 161 seats on their -900ULRs while they have 253-303 seats on their normal -900s.
Don't forget that McDonnell Douglas made a special batch of only 10 DC-9-21 for SAS in 1968/69.
4:45 So it’s basically the PH-GOV. A 700 with 800 wings and engines. 737 BBJ
Low sales figures wre surprising for some
I want to see an airline custom order a couple of Airbus A318 XLRs and do 14 hours flights in it.
the 737-700ER is kind strange of 737 aircraft version, i think it's possible to built as 737 BBJ instead a sub version of 737-700 which only have 2 plain olders
The only 737 500 version i ever see is West jet was this made just for them or was it just not a good seller
👏👏👏👏👏 good decision!
Anyone please tell me the registration numbers of Saudia 330 Regional? I can’t find them anywhere online except for HZ-AQ11. I took HZ-AQ27 once from Riyadh to Cairo, wonder if I took the regional model.
The HZ-AQ30 is damaged from the fighting in Sudan. It’s in the news.
HZ-AQ11 to AQ30 are the regionals.
When I was doing my 787 type rating at Boeing Gatwick, many of the study materials we were given made mention of the -3 variant. Nobody seemed to know anything about that version. Nice to have an answer.
Indian Airlines had A320s with double bogey landing gears
It's not a variant, they are just modifications that indian airlines asked airbus to implement on their a320's.
It's like the numbers of seats, if I order an a350 with 400 seats, does that make me the sole operator of a 400 seater a350 since no other airlines operate an a350 with 400 seats? Does that mean that my 400 seater a350 is a variant?
@@danielnovitadubin8272 this one is mechanically different, and only 1 airline ever ordered it it's worth a mention, also Royal Nepal Airlines with the sole 757 combi
To bad they don't put that on the 321 sorta make it look like a 757
@@supericeman1 Firstly, the video talks about variants, not modifications, it doesn't matter wether they're are mechanically different, the double bogey gear a320s aren't variants. Secondly, this video also talks about variants that airlines requested boeing and airbus to make, the 757 combi, while only ordered by royal nepal airlines, was not requested by them, boeing already intended to launch a combi version of the 757 regardless of royal nepal airlines' decision.
I belive Indian Airlines had A320s with tandem bogie landing gear
didn't Japan Airlines order the 787-3 as well
The 747ER wasn't built just for QF....Boeing launched the aircraft as a new varient but no.other airline wanted it.
I think it mainly had to do with the negligible range difference with the standard one and jow Australia is far from Europe and the Americas
Sadly Saudia HZ-AQ30 is no longer with us due to the fighting in Sudan.
Didn't Ryanair order a version of the 737-800 that was fitted with airstairs?
Yes all of Ryanair's planes are fitted with built in stairs
There were NG -700s with integrated stairs too.
Dang you're by the Bass Pro Shops lol. I work on Presidents Island lol
From Boeing 737 Max 8 To Airbus A321XLR Makes a Good Niche
We shouldn’t forget the Max200 for Ryanair. It will be the nice variant best-seller
@@JeanGylSaussay That variant has actually got other orders besides Ryanair
MAX 9?
What ist with the Indian A320 with double wheels?
Why not mentioning the XL Beluga and older Beluga and of course the special freighter of the 747 🤔😉
The Belugas and Dreamlifter were not meant for commercial service, nor are they variants of aircraft. They're technically something different and built for a totally different purpose for the manufacturer's use.
The Indian A320 was just modification Indian Airline's requested for Airbus. Not an entirely brand-new plane
You should've included the double bogie A320s for Air India
It's not a variant. It's just modifications that air India asked for.
I thought you were trippin, but damn I never thought that was real. Why did Air India do that?
@@YukariAkiyama It's because the runways and pavements in some airports of India were not as strong as typical runways. By having double bogey gears, the weight of the aircraft can be distributed. They were originally from indian airlines but when it merged with air India, the latter received those a320s. It retired the type in 2019.
Airbus BelugaXL
Hi, hopefully first few
Hi Jaeyden! You are indeed first 😊 🥇
Boeing B757-200M !!
Boeing 747 SR for ANA
Boeing 747SP
Malaysia Airlines have B777-200 ER
Not the only operator of the B777-200ER.
That stubborn Quebec passenger needs to grow up. English is the first language and French is second within Canada. There is no “right” to be pissed at someone when they do not know French. Canada is a multicultural country and he needs to get with the new times.
737 max 8 200
Ryanair
One
🥈 😂
You're second