Boeing mulls speed vs. fuel efficiency in upcoming plane

SEATTLE (AP) -- The Boeing Co. expects to decide by early next year whether its next plane should be one that flies near the speed of sound or a more traditional, "super-efficient" plane.
The company, which first outlined its vision for a super-fast Sonic Cruiser in March 2001, is in final talks with roughly two dozen airlines on whether they would prefer speed or fuel efficiency in Boeing's next new plane.
"We have offered the airlines two great choices: a faster airplane or a more efficient way of doing it at today's speeds," said Walt Gillette, Boeing's Sonic Cruiser program manager.
Both types of planes would carry between 200 and 250 passengers more than 8,500 miles per trip.
The Sonic Cruiser, however, would travel 15 percent to 20 percent faster than today's commercial jets while the more traditional plane, which would look like a scaled-down 777, would be about 17 percent to 20 percent more fuel efficient than a 767.
Boeing hopes to have the new plane in service by 2008.
The Chicago-based company is also evaluating three designs that place wings and engines in different positions on the plane. The new plane will use composites or lighter and stronger aluminum alloys.