American company Boeing rolled out its new 737 MAX 8 airplane, aptly named the "Spirit of Renton," to its employees. The new single-aisle aircraft, which is the latest in the 737 line, debuted in a teal paint scheme.
Compared to its predecessors in the Next-Generation 737 planes, the MAX 8 has 20 percent reduced fuel usage and the lowest rate of operating expenses. During the unveiling of the 737 MAX 8, 737 MAX - Boeing Commercial Airplanes' general manager and vice president Keith Leverkuhn highlighted the team's extensive series of milestones with the on time rollout of the new aircraft.
"With the rollout of the new 737 MAX - the first new airplane of Boeing's second century - our team is upholding an incredible legacy while taking the 737 to the next level of performance," said Leverkuhn.
The 737 MAX 8 test flights are scheduled in early 2016. The 737 MAX 8 is registered as 1A001. It is the first of four other MAX aircrafts that will be used in the Federal Aviation Administration's certification program.
Upon certification, the first batch of planes will be delivered to Southwest Airlines later in 2017. Its three other brothers, including the 1A002 and 1A003 MAX test aircraft, are waiting in the assembly line.
Boeing stressed that the new 737 MAX 8 is just the first of many single-aisle aircrafts the company is producing soon, namely the 737 MAX 7, MAX 8, MAX 9 and MAX 200. To date, the 737 MAX group boasts of nearly 3,000 orders for the line from 60 clients around the globe.
"We're going to be spending some time with the plane, getting it ready for its first flight in early 2016," added Leverkuhn.
Boeing's MAX program performance is way better compared to that of 787. The 787 line was delayed by many years and burdened with battery issues and a fleet grounding that lasted three months upon entering service.
Regardless of 787's shortcomings, the 737 MAX line is technically the more advanced version. This makes the airframe 50 years old once the MAX enters service.
