Boeing's 20-Year Mistake: The 757 They Can't Replace

The Boeing 757 stopped rolling off the production line in 2004 — and Boeing still can't build anything to replace it. In this mini-documentary we break down why: the over-powered engines, the brutal short-field and hot-and-high performance, the transatlantic range no narrow-body since has matched, and the wake turbulence so strong that controllers give the 757 extra space. We get into the "middle of the market" gap, Boeing's cancelled NMA (the rumored 797), and how the Airbus A321XLR walked straight into the space Boeing left open. Why do airlines spend millions keeping 40-year-old jets flying? Because nothing new does the same job. This is the story of the plane Boeing built a little too well. Chapters: 00:00 The plane controllers fear 00:45 Why Boeing can't replace it 02:30 The mission no other jet can fly 06:00 The "middle of the market" trap 09:00 The 797 that never got built Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976: This material is used for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is permitted by copyright statute.