The largest member of Boeing’s best-selling single-aisle airplane family, Boeing’s 737 MAX 10, completed a successful first flight on Friday, marking another milestone in the relaunch of the medium-haul flights, which was grounded for 20 months following two fatal air crashes in 2018 and 2019.
The white and blue aircraft took off from Renton Field in Renton, Washington – with 737 Chief Pilot Captain Jennifer Henderson at the controls – and landed two and a half hours later at Boeing Field in Seattle.
“The airplane performed beautifully,” said Jennifer Henderson. “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.“
The successful first flight marks the beginning of a comprehensive test program for the MAX 10. Boeing will work closely with regulators to certify the airplane prior to its scheduled entry into service in 2023.
This Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is based on earlier 737 designs, retaining many of its features, which includes the wing, though there is a new undercarriage. It comes in two-class variants seating 188 to 204 passengers, but its length of 43.8 m allows it to carry up to 230 passengers. Equipped with more efficient CFM International LEAP-1B engines, the aircraft has a range of 3,300 nm (6,110 km).
The MAX 10 also incorporates environmental improvements, cutting carbon emissions by 14% and reducing noise by 50% compared to today’s Next-Generation 737s.
“The Boeing 737-10 is an important part of our customers’ fleet plans, giving them more capacity, greater fuel efficiency, and the best per-seat economics of any single-aisle airplane,” said Stan Deal, president, and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Our team is committed to delivering an airplane with the highest quality and reliability.“
