More Emerald Spectacles, Anyone?

It's reported today by a less than reliable source that Airbus is offering the A350-900R to British Airways with a range of 9,400 miles. That's the good news, and it is intended to capture the big BA order that's in the cards for this year. It's a significant ramp up in range, as the A350-900 has a range of about 8,100 miles.

The bad news is that it doesn't exist and is likely not to exist for at least seven more years, if ever, which is longer than it will take for the 12th Imamliner to emerge.

In a word, it's vaporware from da Festung.

But when something doesn't exist it can be anything you want it to be. How's that so? Consider this conundrum

"If I was in Africa on safari I betcha I'd shoot a water buffalo that's waaaaaaaaaay bigger than yours."

But instead of being in Africa I'm in Hibbing, Minnesota. And I'm not on safari, I'm working at a dry cleaners. And in seven years I'll likely still be there, working at the dry cleaners. In Hibbing.

That's how preposterous this is getting.

The even worse news is that you can already buy a Boeing B777-200LR off the shelf that can do this stage with 303 passengers more or less. And if Boeing gets around to building the B787-10, maybe that'll do it as well.

But one question you've just gotta ask your selves. Who in G-d's name wants to spend 20 hours on an airplane? Maybe some folks on the way to a masochist's convention who want a warmup.

This ought to be consigned to the dustbin of bad ideas that just won't die.

As Oliver Cromwell once said to the Rump Parliament: Begone, I say, and let us have done with you.