American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) is loaning this brand new Boeing 737-823 registered as N897NN (msn 33318) for three months for a special program in conjunction with Boeing and the FAA.

According to Boeing, “the Next-Generation 737-800 will be used as a flying test bed for validating environmentally progressive technologies. The airplane, known as the ecoDemonstrator, is outfitted with advanced technologies and test equipment for a month of intense flight testing in Montana.

The 2012 ecoDemonstrator program is a partnership between Boeing, American Airlines, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“The goal of the ecoDemonstrator program is to accelerate integration of these technologies for more fuel efficient, quieter, cleaner, more advanced sustainable material solutions for the future,” said Jeanne Yu, Boeing Commercial Airplanes director of Environmental Performance.  “Demonstration programs give us a platform for better learning about new technologies in application.  This helps us incorporate these technologies more rapidly.”

American Airlines is loaning one of its new Next-Generation 737-800s to Boeing for three months to serve as the test bed for these advanced technologies.  Each technology being fitted on the airplane for testing has the goal of reducing fuel consumption, lowering noise, and testing the viability of sustainable materials. After testing, the airplane will be returned to standard configuration and delivered later this year.

Technologies on the 2012 ecoDemonstrator airplane will include improvements to wing and engine efficiency as well as fuel-saving flight trajectory methods.

The 2012 ecoDemonstrator is part of a multi-year program. In 2013, a wide-bodied airplane will serve as the test bed.  See details of the technologies in the fact sheet at http://www.boeing.com/farnborough2012/ and click on “Backgrounders.”

The FAA is participating in the 2012 and 2013 programs, providing funding for two of the technologies and sharing in the flight test costs.  The funding is provided through their Continuous Lower Energy Emissions and Noise program (CLEEN).”

Copyright Photo: Rick Schlamp. Boeing 737-823 N897NN departs Boeing Field on August 24 headed for the testing over Montana. N897NN carries unique “ecoDemonstrator” markings for this special program.

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