Boeing completes successful first flight of the 737 MAX 10
The largest aeroplane in the 737 MAX family begins a comprehensive test programme
Boeing’s 737-10, the largest aeroplane in the 737 MAX family, today completed a successful first flight. The aeroplane took off from Renton Field in Renton, Washington, at 10:07 and landed at 12:38 at Boeing Field in Seattle.
“The aeroplane performed beautifully,” said 737 Chief Pilot Capt. Jennifer Henderson. “The profile we flew allowed us to test the aeroplane’s systems, flight controls and handling qualities, all of which checked out exactly as we expected.”
Today’s flight was the start of a comprehensive test program for the 737-10. Boeing will work closely with regulators to certify the aeroplane prior to its scheduled entry into service in 2023.
“The 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 aeroplane,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Our team is committed to delivering an aeroplane with the highest quality and reliability.”
The 737-10 can carry up to 230 passengers. It also incorporates environmental improvements, cutting carbon emissions by 14 percent and reducing noise by 50 percent compared to today’s Next-Generation 737s.
Little Fanfare For First MAX 10 Flight
The biggest Baby Boeing ever built took off from Renton Municipal Airport on Friday. The 230-seat 737 MAX 10 took off on a 2.5-hour first flight Friday morning with little fanfare. Boeing normally invites hundreds of media and aviation dignitaries to such occasions and issues elaborate press releases but there was little to mark this first flight. The twin crises of the certification issues on the MAX and the pandemic prompted the low-key affair.
The new MAX includes safety refinements beyond those demanded by the FAA in the earlier models, including a third angle of attack source requested by European regulators. Even though the plane is essentially a stretched version of the earlier aircraft the certification is expected to be long and complex because of the earlier issues. The new aircraft does have taller landing gear than earlier models to prevent tail scrapes on the longer fuselage. “We’re going to take our time on this certification,” CEO Stan Deal told the single pool reporter allowed to attend the flight.
The MAX 10 is Boeing’s answer to the A321neo, but critics say it has some shortcomings in that regard. The biggest single-aisle Airbus has 10 more seats and a range of 4,000 nautical miles, compared to the Boeing’s 3,300 NM. The range gives A321neo true trans-Atlantic and transcontinental flight capability that some operators are exploiting for medium-haul budget flights between Europe and North America, Africa and Asia without using widebodies.
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