freightdogfred
Malcontent
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2002
- Posts
- 990
If the 717 was so great, why did they make so few?
They suck.
Au contrare, mon frere, salope ignorant!
The reason according to Wiki is lack of commonality of parts and training within it's family as compared to the A-319/20/21 or next-Gen Boeings 737-700/800/900.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_717
Being as Boeing now owned Douglas it kinda competed for orders with the 737 line so that didn't really make a lot of sense either. The sophistication of the flight guidance system may have had something to do with SWA's desire to unload them as well. It's a great airplane, quiet, efficient, and very reliable now the kinks in the Rolls motors have been worked out. The limited ability to carry cargo could be easily rectified by raising the landing weight from 110K from 104, artificially lowered by FL and Boeing to save on landing fees.
Apparently the deal Delta got from SW was so lucrative, I'm sure you'll be seeing them on the ramp in ATL for quite some time.