Hello IFC,
For a while, I have been wondering what the ER and LR at the end of the 777 family means. I recently found out that LR means Long Range and today, I found out that ER means Extended Range.
That leads me to a new question:
What is the difference between ER (extended range) and LR (long range)?
I gave the search button a job and all it shows are fuel consumptions and longest flights,
etc.
Thanks
The 777-200 has both a long range and an extended range variant (as well as a regular variant). The LR can go farther than the ER. The normal variant has the shortest range. The LR is the newest, the ER is the second newest. Other than that, there aren’t major differences.
I’ll explain this with an example…
The Airbus A319-ER is a “basic” A319, modified to extend the range. The most important modification is the addition of a fuel tank.
The A319-LR is an A319, that has a longer range than the “basic” A319 but it is different in its conception, and was “born” -LR on the production line.
Its just a brand name to, usually, indicate that aircraft has added range over the “standard” version. Its not a technical term or something that’s regulated. Manufacturers can call it anything they want. For example a 777-200ER has more range than the regular 777-200. It’s basically the same aircraft with very minor changes to the fuel tanks and structure.
Range wise in ascending order:
777-200
777-200ER
777-200LR
The higher range versions have more powerful engines and more tankage. Consequently, they also have a beefed up structure to handle the higher weights.
Is there any difference between the A319ER and A319LR?
So it starts off with the regular version, then a longer version (the ER), and then a longer version than that (the LR), correct?
Replying to @Starley and @Reedgreat
The LR has a longer range than the ER, as stated above.
Also does the regular version, the ER, and the LR, go by fuel efficiency, or is there another contributing factor?
As Etrain said, the main factor are the bigger/added fuel tanks. They provide you with more fuel and that gives you a longer range.
It is all branding really. For the 777 that is the specific order, most aircraft don’t have an LR variant, let alone an ER variant.
For example, the a321 has a new NEO LR variant, and they skipped the regular ER variant. It all depends, its not engraved in stone or anything like that.
Oh yeah, that leads me to another question:
What is NEO (not the former developer XD)? Is it like the ER and LR, but Airbus versions? Is this question off-topic? If it is, tell me and I will use the search button or create a new topic.
Also:
If a given model is introduced, it will have a name, like 767-300. If that model is then enhanced so that it is given extended range by having a higher gross weight model made, then the suffix “ER” is usually added.
In the case of the 777-200, the initial extended-range variant was called the 777-200ER. Boeing then realized that they could further modify the airframe to make it the longest-range airliner in the world. So they used the suffix “LR” for “Longer Range” to differentiate it from the ER. We generally call the 777-200 and -200ER the “772” (because most 772’s in service are ER’s, anyway) and the 777-200LR the 77L and the 777-300ER the 77W.
The 77W is essentially a 77L stretch. They use the same engines (the 77W has a 5000 lb more thrust, but this is merely a software difference in the engines) and have similar technology and systems.
Another example:
The ERJ145ER, which is essentially the baseline aircraft. The ERJ145LR which has upgraded engines and fuel capacity for more range. And, finally, the ERJ145XR, which has many more improvements, adding yet again to the range of the aircraft.
And that takes us back to this:
NEO just refers to the most modern variant. Similar to how MAX is used for the newest 737 variant, and NG was used before. If airbus makes another new airbus variant in 20 years or so, it could have any name. Whatever they come up with.
ER is basically minor fixes with a aircraft that makes it go a few extra hundred miles. LR is a modified version of a aircraft that will have about a few extra hundred’s or thousand’s of miles depending on the type of aircraft itself.
There really isn’t an industry standard to say what “ER” and “LR” entails, it’s more of a branding exercise than anything else.
For example, the A321 NEO LR is just an MTOW increase with increased fuel capacity over the regular variant. The ER variants of the Boeing 767-200/300 and 777-200 also use this strategy to claim improved range as an “ER” variant but Airbus prefers the “LR” moniker.
Airbus’ A350-900 uses another name for its long-range variant, they call it the “ULR” even though it uses the same strategy as the A321 NEO LR to improve its range.
The 777-200LR and 777-300ER both feature identical structural improvements, more powerful engines, revised winglets, increased fuel capacity, and improved MTOW compared to its regular variants. This is more of an overhaul compared to its peers, but use different naming conventions.
Embraer calls their models with added range an “IGW” which stands for “Improved Gross Weight”.
Are you confused yet? Good, because there is no method to this madness. ;)
NEO stands for “New Engine Option”, as opposed to your A320-200 which is CEO or “current engine option”
To find the best answer, give google a quick search.
No such thing. Boeing use the ER and LR designation whilst Airbus dosnt.
The main difference between the different aircraft is the fuel capacity as well MTOW etc.
seems to be branded as NEO (New Engine Option) rather than LR?
Airbus do Long Range variations, however they are not branded as such…technical detail I know, however fact.
