20151208 737 MAX 1A001 5602 737-800 P2 Paint Roll Out Renton
The first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft has been rolled out at Boeing’s Renton assembly facility. It has the registration N8701Q.
This is the first 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with two additional airframes currently in final assembly. This aircraft will begin the pre-flight testing programme, with the aim of a first flight in early 2016.
A detailed test programme will hopefully see the first 737 MAX delivery to Southwest Airlines in Q3 2017.
According to Boeing, the new single-aisle, CFM LEAP-1B-powered aircraft will deliver 20% lower fuel use than the first Next-Generation 737s and claims the lowest operating costs of 8% per seat less than the Airbus A320neo.
In addition to the MAX 8, Boeing is producing the MAX 7 and MAX 9, as replacements to the NG -700, -800 and -900 models currently in widespread use around the world. At present there have been over 3,000 orders for 737 MAX aircraft.
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