(2 of 2)
Gas turbines have two chief drawbacks: price and fuel consumption. A $10,500 Boeing engine costs roughly $4,000 more than a diesel engine of comparable power. As Boeing moves into mass production, it expects to cut $3,000 from the price within the next three years, ultimately hopes to undersell diesels. Gas turbines still use 50% to 60% more fuel than diesels, but Boeing engineers hope to improve their economy next year by 10%. Eventually turbine makers hope to make them as economical as diesels.