Visitor to IAH

[jetmex]

Got into work this morning and found this on the B check ramp:



I have no idea why it's here, unless it's due to the wonderful weather we're having.  All that plastic must have gotten awfully brittle from the cold!   

It's not really a good looking airplane; sort of reminds me of a well fed 737.  They wouldn't let me inside, but I'm guessing the interior is full of flight test instrumentation.

[balsum fractus]

cool. how does it compare size wise with the other family members? I could look up the specs, but it is easier to ask someone who as actually seen it......

[jetmex]

It's a little bigger than a 767, not quite as big as a 777.  I think ours will be configured for 280 passengers, but they may not have settled on the final interior configuration yet, since untied's and ours were different.  It comes equipped with what's called a BSI (Boeing Sky Interior).  There are several thousand LED's installed throughout the cabin, and they can change colors, as well as simulate sunrises, sunsets and all sorts of other goofy effects.  All controlled by computer, of course, so they don't overload the strewardesses....

The nose reminds me of the Hawker Nimrod ASW aircraft.  I have to admit being a little underwhelmed by this one, for some reason, it just doesn't look right.  It's shorter and squattier than it looks in all the photos.  Maybe it'll get better looking when the Douglas guys start stretching it, but I'm not holding my breath. 

[balsum fractus]

..at least they figured out how to draw circles for the engine inlets......


On a related note, and you probably already knew this - is the interesting way that Mexico funds its Air Traffic Control....