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Aircraft

First flight for Boeing 737 MAX 9

By Ben Coxworth
April 13, 2017
First flight for Boeing 737 MAX 9
The Boeing 737 MAX 9's first flight lasted 2 hours and 42 minutes
The Boeing 737 MAX 9's first flight lasted 2 hours and 42 minutes
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The Boeing 737 MAX 9 takes off from Renton, Washington
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The Boeing 737 MAX 9 takes off from Renton, Washington
The Boeing 737 MAX 9 comes in for a landing at Seattle's Boeing Field
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The Boeing 737 MAX 9 comes in for a landing at Seattle's Boeing Field
The Boeing 737 MAX 9's first flight lasted 2 hours and 42 minutes
3/3
The Boeing 737 MAX 9's first flight lasted 2 hours and 42 minutes
View gallery - 3 images

After being officially unveiled last month, the new Boeing 737 MAX 9 airliner has now been flown for the first time. The test flight took place this Thursday, as the aircraft took to the skies over Puget Sound in Washington state.

Piloted by Captains Christine Walsh and Ed Wilson, the MAX 9 took off from Renton Field in Renton, Washington at 10:52 am local time, flew to Boeing Field in Seattle, and landed at 1:34pm. During the 2 hour, 42-minute flight, tests were performed to assess the aircraft's flight controls, systems and handling qualities.

The Boeing 737 MAX 9 comes in for a landing at Seattle's Boeing Field
The Boeing 737 MAX 9 comes in for a landing at Seattle's Boeing Field

Everything reportedly went smoothly, with a series of other test flights set to follow before certification is achieved. Customer deliveries of the 220-passenger aircraft – which has a range of 3,515 nautical miles (6,510 km) – won't begin until next year.

Source: Boeing

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3 comments
Ben Coxworth
Ben Coxworth
Based out of Edmonton, Canada, Ben Coxworth has been writing for New Atlas since 2009 and is presently Managing Editor for North America. An experienced freelance writer, he previously obtained an English BA from the University of Saskatchewan, then spent over 20 years working in various markets as a television reporter, producer and news videographer. Ben is particularly interested in scientific innovation, human-powered transportation, and the marine environment.

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3 comments
guzmanchinky
I watched a 737 with the new LEAP engines take off from Boeing field, and it was sooooooo quiet I couldn't believe my ears...
lalo9797
A flight from Renton to Boeing Field would take about three minutes. The way this post is written it makes it seem like it took nearly three hours.
Marco Corona
Nice looking plane. However, none of the newness means anything to me if seat configuration still treats passengers like cattle with no leg room and ridiculously narrow seats.