Press Release
October 15, 1998

Raisbeck's Boeing 727 Stage 3 Program Status

Booth # 6758

There are approximately 1000 Boeing 727s in operation in North America today. Of these 1000 aircraft, 650 must still meet Stage 3 noise requirements by the year 2000 to continue flying.

Stage 3 programs until now have focused on quieting the engines to achieve noise compliance. Raisbeck Commercial Air Group has approached the noise problem from an aerodynamic perspective. Raisbeck has re-optimized the high-lift devices and used the Boeing 727-200 Advanced takeoff speed schedule to achieve the necessary noise reduction.

In May 1998 Raisbeck announced the sale of 52 Stage 3 Increased Gross Weight Systems, with a retail value of $58,000,000, to American Airlines. Gerard Arpey, CFO of American Airlines, comments, "With the Raisbeck Stage 3 Systems, we are enjoying significant savings on the cost of acquisition and installation alone."

The FAA has now approved Raisbeck Stage 3 Systems for the 727-100 and for all 727-200s with MTOWs up to 177,900 lb. In September Raisbeck Commercial Air Group began flight testing its Heavy Gross Weight System for maximum takeoff weights of up to 209,500 lb. This HGW system features a Raisbeck-designed acoustical tailpipe suppressor. Raisbeck expects FAA approval for its Heavy Gross Weight System in March, 1999, with first kit deliveries to take place shortly thereafter.

Airlines, lessors, and cargo operators have been following the development of the Raisbeck Stage 3 Heavy Gross Weight System with great interest for the following reasons:

1. Cost savings. The Raisbeck System is the most economical Stage 3 kit on the market today. The customer saves over $2 million versus other Stage 3 kits in acquisition and installation ALONE.

2. Simplicity. There are no engine-related prerequisites that adversely affect fuel consumption and the TBO of some of the engine and related components.

3. Low Maintenance. The increased spare parts requirement is minimal. Maintenance practices remain unchanged.

3. Short installation downtimes. Installation downtime is minimal and can be accomplished during a normal C-check. (Installation time for the FedEx kit is 28 days).

4. Performance. The increased empty weight for the Heavy Gross Weight kit is a mere 99 lb. (The FedEx kit increases the OEW by approximately 1400 lb. This includes ballast in the nose, which is not necessary for the Raisbeck system). Second segment climb out of high elevation airfields is better than the basic Boeing Stage 2 performance!

5. Structural integrity. There are no structural changes, no winglets to affect torsion loads and change structural load paths, no measurable increased weight on the engine pods or mounts, and no changes in any placard limits or related stress and fatigue levels which, according to Boeing, compromise the structural certification.

Raisbeck Engineering, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Raisbeck Commercial Air Group, continues a longstanding tradition of improving corporate, business, and airline aircraft performance through the integration of advanced technology on current airplanes.

For more information please contact James D. Raisbeck, CEO, or Susan Stahl in Las Vegas at cell phone (206) 795-7320.