Came across the following news article and wondered what, if any, options was being considered by Boeing..http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11886159Your thoughts are welcome...

Last I heard Boeing said it was much more likely that they'd develop an all new narrow-body plane rather than upgrade the 737 again. 737s date back to the 1960s as far as the core design. The new plane would likely be common type with the 787 so an airline could theoretically fill all their route needs with just those two aircraft.

While an excellent idea on the outside. Sometimes doing something of this nature creates more issues than it will solve. Some time ago before I ever go to work on H-60's they changed the ECU's to DECU's (basically FADEC) on the T700 engines, and got rid of the engine health monitors (had an hour counter on them, etc). When my version of the bird was designed (early 1980's) computers weren't as advanced as they are now. The new DECU's even though they were designed as direct bolt ons to the original T700-GE-401C still cause some intermittent electrical gremlins to this day. From throwing random BIT codes on the PDU's, to the occassional torque matching problem, and their tendancy it seems to burn up harnesses every few months. Granted for the Airbus it is probably a simple software upgrade to it's system whereas everything in the H-60 is solid state electronics, so that adds different challenges to making it work. I wouldn't put my money on Boeing doing this due to the astronomical cost. My bet would be they do to the 787 what they did to the 747 and make the "SP" version if there is enough interest. Honestly I think even if they redesigned the CFM-56 engines there is probably still room left to improve the design. They are uprating the RR Trents (granted one ejected a turbine disc), and I think there is probably similar head room if you were to beef up/upgrade the interals of the CFM engines.

My guess would be that Boeing are probably going to see how the 787 pans out, since part of the 787 program's aim was as a development stage for determining if the newer technology (such as different APU systems etc) could be reduced in size and weight enough to fit into the much fabled Yellowstone, i.e. the projected replacement for the 737. Boeing have had their fingers burned on that downsizing score before with the Triple Seven, which could not be economically scaled-down to produce a longer ranged lower capacity model, so they won't easily walk into that one again and I'd bet the 787 design can probably be upsized and downsized too.Both Boeing and EADS are attempting to head the opposition off at the pass by making inroads into China, which is a move aimed at limiting the potential damage the C919 and other pretenders for the short/medium crown might do to sales. One suspects Boeing might have more in the pipeline than EADS on that score, since it was thought some time ago that Boeing dropped the ball by gambling on a larger market for short and medium haul aircraft when EADS went the other way and made the A380, Boeing settling for merely stretching the 747 and initially looked like the losers because of that. But the opening up of Chinese and Russian markets may yet prove Boeing were either smarter or luckier as far as that projection went, because it seems there's a lot of potential for efficient medium range stuff, and when we consider the secondary motive behind the 787 program in relation to where they were going to go with the 737 and its replacement, all the hassle they've had with the 787's development might very well turn out to have been a lot smarter than everyone was giving them credit for. Some of that might be luck, but I bet they'd rather be lucky than good any day of the week.Al

One of the really neat ideas I've heard pitched for the 737 replacement is the idea of making it a sort of mini-widebody. The plane would be slightly wider than current narrowbodies, but would have a 2-2-2 seating arrangement, with twin aisles. I think this would be absolutely awesome from a passenger perspective - all seats on the plane are windows or aisles - everyone hates the middle seat.

The original plan for a 787 based 737 replacement, known as Y1 (part of the three pronged Yellowstone project), has been put on hold as far as I know, as the estimated gain in efficency would not warrant such an endevour, rather they went and looked at ways to upgrade the 737. I have not heard what Ryan said, about a mini-wide body, but perhaps that is what the new idea for the Y1 is going to be.The Y2 is the Dreamliner, and the Y3 is supposed to replace the 777 and 747 in the 350-600 pax market, compete directly with the A380.If the dual aisle thing is for real, I say it would be expected that the plane then utilize the use of composites and the new wingstructure of the Dreamliner. I do believe there is still only one engine being developed at the moment to replace the CFMs for the Y1, the LEAPx engine. Not sure if RR or P&W are going to try and develop engines for it.

would have a 2-2-2 seating arrangement, with twin aisles. I think this would be absolutely awesome from a passenger perspective - all seats on the plane are windows or aisles - everyone hates the middle seat.

AMEN.....I love this idea! :(