Samwise Aeronautical Mechanics
Friday, July 17, 2026
Boeing Completes Anti-Icing Tests as 737 MAX 7 Approaches FAA Certification
Boeing has completed all anti-icing certification work for the 737 MAX 7, placing the program 95 percent through its regulatory deliverables with FAA type approval now expected before the end of July. The fix centres on a turbulator—described by Boeing’s 737 program manager as “literally a washer and fastener”—installed circumferentially around the engine inlet to swirl incoming air. The device reduces temperature at the anti-ice system’s critical point by 93°C (200°F). Boeing also replaced the original perforated forward fan case with a hard-walled design. All testing, laboratory work, analysis, and certification flying are now complete.
Sources: FlightGlobal Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Boeing 777-9 Fatigue Rig Doubles Design Service Life as Certification Flying Begins
Boeing’s 777-9 structural fatigue rig has logged 63,000 ground-air-ground cycles—double the aircraft’s 36,000-cycle design service goal. The rig uses 190 actuation systems, including hydraulics, weights, and pulleys, to simulate up to 160 cycles per day, subjecting the airframe to loads representative of a full commercial service lifetime. The first flight-test aircraft, WH001, is now ready to begin certification flying; WH002 will join “in a couple of weeks.” Testing is currently in Transport Integrated Aircraft stage 5. GE Aerospace is redesigning mid-seals on GE9X turbofans, though Boeing says the work will not delay 777-9 certification. First deliveries are targeted for next year.
Sources: FlightGlobal Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Boeing, Lufthansa and Rolls-Royce Test Reduced-Length Engine Inlet on 787-9 ecoDemonstrator
Boeing, Lufthansa, and Rolls-Royce have begun testing a Next Generation Inlet—a reduced-length engine nacelle with advanced acoustic treatments—aboard a Trent 1000-powered 787-9 at Boeing’s Glasgow, Montana site. Tests run through mid-August under the FAA’s CLEEN Phase III program. The inlet’s shorter design is intended to reduce weight and drag while enabling integration of more fuel-efficient engines onto future platforms. The aircraft, earmarked for Lufthansa delivery, is also demonstrating Intelligent Operations flight path procedures. Boeing Chief Technology Officer Lane Ballard is cited in the announcement, which describes the inlet work as supporting future aircraft integration.
Sources: Boeing Newsroom Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Boeing Has Not Ruled Out Open-Fan Architecture for Its Next Clean-Sheet Aircraft
Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive Stephanie Pope has declined to rule out an open-fan engine architecture for the company’s next clean-sheet aircraft design, though Boeing’s public posture signals preference for a lower-risk conventional propulsion approach for an eventual 737 successor. The company also opened a new North Line production facility at its Everett, Washington plant on July 10 as part of a broader effort to increase 737 output. The propulsion choice for Boeing’s next narrowbody pits the GE Aerospace and Safran CFM RISE open-fan program against conventional geared turbofan architectures backed by Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce.
Pratt and Whitney Commits to Evolved Geared Turbofan for Next-Generation Narrowbody
Pratt & Whitney is developing its NextGen2 Geared Turbo Fan as its engine candidate for the next narrowbody airliner, staking a clear position against open-fan propulsion. While GE Aerospace and Safran advance the CFM RISE open-fan architecture, Pratt & Whitney argues that the next clean-sheet single-aisle will be powered by a conventional turbofan rather than an unducted design. Rolls-Royce is taking a similar position with its UltraFan, also a conventional nacelle-equipped geared turbofan. The propulsion choice for the next narrowbody is one of the most significant unsettled questions in commercial aircraft development, with each architecture carrying distinct trade-offs in efficiency, noise, and certification complexity.
Sources: Leeham News Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
FAA Proposes Airworthiness Directive for Bombardier Global Jets Over Cooling Risk in Power Distribution Units
The FAA has proposed an airworthiness directive for certain Bombardier BD-700-2A12 airplanes after finding that protective film covers on secondary power distribution assemblies may not have been removed. The film blocks holes in the mesh designed to allow cooling airflow, adversely affecting SPDA cooling performance. The proposed directive would require an inspection of each SPDA for the presence of the protective film and any necessary corrective action. The FAA has assigned this rulemaking docket FAA-2026-7221, citing mandatory continuing airworthiness information MCAI-2025-01377-T. Comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking are due August 31, 2026.
Sources: Federal Register Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Horizon Aircraft Delays Full-Scale Cavorite X7 Demonstrator to Spring 2027
Horizon Aircraft has pushed its full-scale Cavorite X7 demonstrator timeline to spring 2027, roughly one quarter later than previously planned. The Canadian startup attributed the delay to its decision to prioritize certification readiness over the fastest possible path to first flight, while continuing to advance subsystem integration. The Cavorite X7 is a seven-seat aircraft designed to cruise at approximately 250 mph with a range of about 500 miles. The demonstrator program is intended to validate the aircraft’s design concepts before the company pursues type certification. Aviation Week reports Horizon is targeting spring 2027 for demonstrator assembly completion.
Sources: Aviation Week Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.