Boeing P6B ?

[rb1957]

Flight has articles that the Boeing P6 Poseidon is based on the NG version of the 737 and this is heading out of production, replaced by the Max version.

How hard could it be to make a P6B based on the 737Max ? No doubt, harder than you'd think ?

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?

 

[WKTaylor]

Rb... RE P-8B posiden.
That 737 airframe is highly unique and really can't be compared with any existing 737 commercial or mil version. The differences are huge and would take awhile to explain.

Unfortunately my wife broke her Rt femur on vacation (long story) and my smart phone is a poor second to my PC for typing.

Regards, Wil Taylor

o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]

 

[rb1957]

well, yesss, but ... P6 was recently built from 737NG. What are the structural changes 737NG vs 737Max ? How difficult to incorporate the P6 changes (applicable to 737NG) onto a 737Max ?

Sorry to hear about your wife. Hopefully things go as smoothly as they can, not always the case at our (assumption) age ...

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?

 

[verymadmac]

RB
The P6 is a Curtis Pursuit aircraft, the P8 is the Boeing Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

I see flight global quotes ~60% parts commonality with the NG. Maybe someone can tell us what unique P8 feature if any were carried over to the Max. I seem to recall the P8 got a new window belt using 6013-T6.

With a Max based P8B version, would one actually expect to see much performance increase over the curent P8.

The P3 replacement debate is on going in here in NZ at the moment, the requirement for very long range ops in a region with limited airports of modest lengths illustrates the key weakness of twin turbofans in this role, which is they need to be underpowered to keep the fuel burn down to get the range, which screws the field performance. Politics aside, the best airframe for the job here is looking to be the P-1.

 

[rb1957]

thx verymadmac ... mea culpa.

clearly P8 has several features that a civilian 737 doesn't have, but having incorporated them into the NG "surely" installation into the Max should be similar ?

Flight notes that there was a weight reduction from NG to P8A ... it's possible some of these found their way onto Max ? It's possible that not doing all these changes, so a P8B would be heavier than a P8A, could be off-set with the Max's more efficient engines.

A window belt out of 6013T6 ??

The P8 mission should be less severe that the Max, in terms of flight hours ... I'd expect than 1 8hr P8 mission per day is less severe than 8 1hr Max flights per day. Both types should have some like 40 year life.

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?

 

[WKTaylor]

A few points where P-8B varies from commercial 737.

Forward and aft fuselage bomb bays mandate pressurization at the floor deck. Also I think there is/are 1 or 2 added belly fuel tanks. Also, don't forget wing store stations and air refueling provisions. Also on board com/nav avionics, surface/subsurface surveillance equipment, observation windows, sonor bouy storage/ejection, radar warning, chaff/flare, other countermeasures, Etc.

P-8 fatigue spectrum is far more severe... low level during surveillance mandates far tougher structure: materials, fastening practices, etc. Think hurricane hunter.

Oceanic environment mandates rigorous sealing and corrosion protection for structures, systems, engines, etc.

Also the Acft has mandatory nuclear warfare protections that are very rigorou.

Regards, Wil Taylor

o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]

 

[LiftDivergence]

I was going to mention the potential design change requirements to handle the alternate stress spectrum. Just out of curiosity - I have not yet worked with a 737MAX - are they floating frame in the crown like the NGs?

Keep em' Flying
//Fight Corrosion!

 

[rb1957]

yes, I get there are many changes from NG to P8, but would the same changes be applicable to a Max ?

My thought was that changes in the electrical system, and maybe the ECS, may be an issue.

Maybe Boeing make some P8 white tails in advance of orders (since they want to close the NG line).

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?