Boeing on the outside diameter of a A320 vs the cabin width of a B737-xxx:
http://www.boeing.com/randy/
7" wider than a 737?
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fokker_f27
- Posts: 1812
- Joined: 19 Nov 2005, 00:00
- Location: Weerde, Zemst - Belgium
I have found some 737NG interrior shots:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0223344
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0991577/M/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0990456/M/
The cabin looks comfortable to me.
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0223344
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0991577/M/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0990456/M/
The cabin looks comfortable to me.
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chornedsnorkack
- Posts: 428
- Joined: 21 Oct 2005, 00:00
Space and newness
Basically, it seems that the seat width of a Boeing narrowbody is unchanged since 1958. The total fuselage width of 376 cm was installed on Boeing 707 in a hurry to trump DC-8.
There has been some slight tinkering with cross-section, but the outside width has remained unchanged. The old Boeing 707 and DC-8 already seated 6 people abreast in the back - DC-8 had 373 cm outside width - and that part of comfort is unchanged.
However, I do believe that the back of the plane in the longhaul jets of 1950-s had more legroom!
When shorter range jets were invented, Caravelle, Convair and several others had all-new narrower cross-sections, that could not seat 6 abreast. Boeing insisted on shrinking the 707 to 727 and 737, keeping 6 abreast and 376 cm width.
In 1980-s, Airbus 320 was wider than 737. Indeed, as Randy pointed out, the difference was somewhat smaller on inside than outside... and the sidewall shapes differ. Airbus 320 is wider on lower levels, thus gaining a roomy underbelly. There is about 15 cm difference on knee level, and due to sidewall curvature this narrows to 7 cm on seated eye level.
Hm. If much of the 15 cm goes on aisles and aisle and middle seats, then the effect is to move the window seats against the sloping wall. Say, 2 cm on aisle and seats each - this sums up to 10 cm between those. The window seat passenger would have sidewall 2,5 cm further out on knee level - but 1,5 cm closer on eye level. Assuming he or she does not center the body between armrests - in which case it would be 1,5 cm more on knee level, 2,5 cm less on eye level.
Randy says that the eye level is more important...
Anyway, Boeing did not counter the extra width of Airbus when they updated Boeing 737 to NG. Probably because they thought it was not worth giving up the commonalty.
It now is officially announced that the next Boeing narrowbody is wider han A320. By how much? And what is the wall curvature like?
There has been some slight tinkering with cross-section, but the outside width has remained unchanged. The old Boeing 707 and DC-8 already seated 6 people abreast in the back - DC-8 had 373 cm outside width - and that part of comfort is unchanged.
However, I do believe that the back of the plane in the longhaul jets of 1950-s had more legroom!
When shorter range jets were invented, Caravelle, Convair and several others had all-new narrower cross-sections, that could not seat 6 abreast. Boeing insisted on shrinking the 707 to 727 and 737, keeping 6 abreast and 376 cm width.
In 1980-s, Airbus 320 was wider than 737. Indeed, as Randy pointed out, the difference was somewhat smaller on inside than outside... and the sidewall shapes differ. Airbus 320 is wider on lower levels, thus gaining a roomy underbelly. There is about 15 cm difference on knee level, and due to sidewall curvature this narrows to 7 cm on seated eye level.
Hm. If much of the 15 cm goes on aisles and aisle and middle seats, then the effect is to move the window seats against the sloping wall. Say, 2 cm on aisle and seats each - this sums up to 10 cm between those. The window seat passenger would have sidewall 2,5 cm further out on knee level - but 1,5 cm closer on eye level. Assuming he or she does not center the body between armrests - in which case it would be 1,5 cm more on knee level, 2,5 cm less on eye level.
Randy says that the eye level is more important...
Anyway, Boeing did not counter the extra width of Airbus when they updated Boeing 737 to NG. Probably because they thought it was not worth giving up the commonalty.
It now is officially announced that the next Boeing narrowbody is wider han A320. By how much? And what is the wall curvature like?
I have flown on 737s only, though my dad flys both regularly with BA, bmi and Lufthansa. He says that the A320 feels bigger when you board, though there is not much difference inside when you are sat down. However, he says that the cabins on the A320s feels better made. I know that they are newer, but he says that the parts on the sideway fit better, and that the A320 feels less cheap.
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ehamspotter
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- Location: Kessel(Belgium)
