Aircraft

Biggest member of Boeing's 737 MAX family makes its maiden flight

Biggest member of Boeing's 737 MAX family makes its maiden flight
The 737 MAX 10 taking off on its first flight
The 737 MAX 10 taking off on its first flight
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The 737 MAX 10 taking off on its first flight
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The 737 MAX 10 taking off on its first flight
Boeing's 737 MAX 10 comes into land after its maiden flight
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Boeing's 737 MAX 10 comes into land after its maiden flight

Over a year and half after its rollout, Boeing's 737 MAX 10 passenger jet has made its first flight. The largest member of the 737 MAX family, the MAX 10 is designed to compete with the Airbus A321neo in the anticipated highly competitive post-COVID-19 aerospace market and in the wake of the 737 MAX groundings after two fatal air crashes in 2018 and 2019.

The aircraft took to the air from Renton Field in Renton, Washington on June 18 at 10:07 am EDT with 737 Chief Pilot Captain Jennifer Henderson at the controls, before making its way to Boeing Field in Seattle, where it landed at 12:38 pm. The successful first flight of the MAX 10 marks the beginning of a comprehensive test program leading up to the certification of the aircraft by regulators before entering service in 2023.

Boeing's 737 MAX 10 comes into land after its maiden flight
Boeing's 737 MAX 10 comes into land after its maiden flight

Based on the 737 MAX 9, the MAX 10 is a stretched version of its predecessor, retaining many of its features, which includes the wing, though there is a new undercarriage. The MAX 10 generates 14 percent lower carbon emissions and 50 percent less noise than the current Next-Generation 737.

The MAX 10 is claimed to have the lowest seat-mile cost of any production single-aisle airplane. It comes in two-class variants seating 188 to 204 passengers, but its length of 43.8 m (143.6 ft) allows it to carry up to 230. In addition, it has a range of 3,300 nm (6,110 km) thanks to its twin LEAP-1B from CFM International engines.

"The airplane performed beautifully," said Henderson after the flight. "The profile we flew allowed us to test the airplane's systems, flight controls, and handling qualities – all of which checked out exactly as we expected."

Source: Boeing

6 comments
6 comments
WB
scary - when Boeing is cutting corners on security like they did with the last one... u get a plane like this which is physically impossible to evacuate at the needed time without bending the rules...u think they've learnt their lesson... just google it..
Dirk Scott
No thanks! Overcooking an old design instead of spending the necessary cash to make a new one is always courting disaster. This stretch just means more passengers will die next time It all goes wrong.
Karmudjun
Thanks for the write-up David. There are plenty of people counting on Boeing to redeem its corporate image and earn the flying public's faith in their products again. The failures have proven costly in lives and in trust - but anyone in management can tell you that handicapping manager's initiatives to correct faults or attempt work-arounds (ie., think out side of the box) with a tight checkbook enforced by the CFO - that is a recipe for disaster. And to compound it with software written to manage the plane with a full complement of flight sensors - those installed as part of the package plus those installed as part of the software management at an extra expense - whose bright idea was that? Of course purchasers will take the least cost option but no one told anyone or gave training on what to do if the stock sensors failed or gave conflicting information that the software was designed to sift through - using the extra cost sensors - and that 1-2 punch by Boeing has tarnished the giant's name. Hopefully this 737 10 will bring back the deserved respect - and God rest the souls that Boeing's almighty greed took1
pete-y
With 5 exit doors per side I would expect evac to work OK
dugnology
It is time for a refresh. How about Nacelles on top of the wing like the Honda Jet. You can make the engines as big as you want without messing with the landing gear, and If William Shatner decides to go out the window searching for Gremlins, the problem will take care of itself.
michael_dowling
I am surprised people are flying in it again. You won't get me on one. Don't know about now,but they don't kick if you ask to be rescheduled on a different plane.