Boeing Test Flies New 737 Max Aircraft

Boeing has tested its newest generation of fuel-efficient jets as its 737 MAX took off for its maiden three-hour flight.

The jet is created to be quieter and more fuel efficient, thanks to the new CFM LEAP-1B engine that cuts down on fuel burn by 15 percent.

Boeing say it has so far secured 3,072 orders from 62 customers for the 737 MAX, with the first delivery to Southwest Airlines slated for late 2017.

It has been a good week for Boeing, which yesterday won a contract to build a new Air Force One fleet based on its 747-8 jet.

Live video supplied by Boeing showed the jet, nicknamed “Spirit of Renton“, smoothly taking off on Friday at 9:46 a.m. local time. The commercial jetliner, costing $110 million, belongs to the profitable and dependable product line which will compete against Airbus A320neo and A321neo.

A crew of two commanded by Captain Ed Wilson, Chief Pilot 737 program and pilot in command, and Craig Bomben, VP of Flight Test, took the 737 MAX to a short taxi down to Runway 34 at Renton Municipal Airport.

Although first flights of new models only happen once or twice a decade, the focus on the Max is muted in comparison with Boeing’s last such debut: the 787 Dreamliner in December 2009. The first flight marks the beginning of more than a year of flight tests to achieve federal certification of the airplane. “We think it’s going to be the preferred aircraft in the market”.

“It flew beautifully. We worked through checks but there were no issues”.

Boeing’s third 737 line, designated just for the MAX, is completing a single 737 MAX at a rate of around one per month during the ramp up. The 737 Max boasts delivering the best in its class efficiency, which has been meticulously coupled with reliability and passenger comfort, in the single-aisle market, claims Boeing.

Boeing’s newest airplane, the 737 MAX, was born in the Pacific Northwest.