Quieter But Thirstier: The Engineering Compromise Built Into 3 Boeing Jets

Boeing’s modern jets use a small feature with a big trade-off: chevrons on the engine nacelles. The sawtooth “chevrons” fitted to the 787 Dreamliner, 747-8 and 737 MAX were developed with GE Aerospace and NASA to reduce airport noise by reshaping nozzle flow. The quieter takeoff and landing come with an aerodynamic penalty that increases fuel consumption across the full flight. As Boeing moves toward its next generation of aircraft, the company has largely stopped relying on chevron technology, underscoring how even proven noise solutions can be overtaken by improved designs.