Boeing’s 737-10, the largest plane in the 737 MAX family, completed its first successful flight, taking off from Renton, Washington, at 10:07 a.m, landing at 12:38 p.m. at Boeing Field in Seattle.
“The airplane performed beautifully,” commented 737 Chief Pilot Capt. 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 flight was just the first step in a comprehensive test program for the 737-10, and Boeing will closely work with regulators to certify the plane before its scheduled entry into service in 2023.
According to Stan Deal, President, and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, “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 airplane. Our team is committed to delivering an airplane with the highest quality and reliability.”
The 737-10 will carry up to 230 passengers, incorporate environmental improvements, cut carbon emissions by 14%, and reduce noise by 50% compared with today’s Next-Generation 737s.