Boeing’s largest 737 Max aircraft just took to the skies but it won’t see passengers for another 2 years — take a look at the $134.9 million jet

June 27, 2021June 28, 2021

The first 737 Max 10 successfully took to the skies on June 18 for its maiden aerial journey.

The first flight of a Boeing 737 Max 10.

Stephen Brashear/Getty

The Max 10 is the fourth and largest Max variant to take flight but the first new model since the Federal Aviation Administration ungrounded the aircraft family in November.

Boeing's 737 Max 10 at Renton Municipal Airport for its first flight — Boeing 737 Max 10 First Flight — The first flight of a Boeing 737 Max 10.

Boeing test pilots flew the plane, still designated as “experimental” until its official certification, from the manufacturer’s 737 production plant at Renton Municipal Airport near Seattle to nearby Boeing Field.

Boeing's 737 Max 10 departing Renton Municipal Airport on its first flight — Boeing 737 Max 10 First Flight — The first flight of a Boeing 737 Max 10.

Though the straight line distance between the two airports is five miles, the test flight took the long way around Washington and even performed a touch-and-go landing at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington.

The route of the Boeing 737 Max 10's first flight — Boeing 737 Max 10 First Flight — The route of the Boeing 737 Max 10’s first flight.

Take a closer look at the Boeing 737 Max 10.

Boeing's 737 Max 10 at Renton Municipal Airport for its first flight — Boeing 737 Max 10 First Flight — The first flight of a Boeing 737 Max 10.

Until now, each 737 Max aircraft has had a previous generation counterpart. The Boeing 737 Max 8 has the 737-800, the 737 Max 9 the 737-900, and the 737 Max 7 the 737-700.

Boeing 737 MAX

But the Max 10 is in a league of its own as there’s no Next Generation equivalent. It’s closer in size to the Boeing 757-200 with a difference in length of only 10 feet and four inches.

Boeing's 737 Max 10 at Renton Municipal Airport for its first flight — Boeing 737 Max 10 First Flight — The first flight of a Boeing 737 Max 10.

In terms of length, Boeing’s latest jet comes in at 143 feet and eight inches, enough to seat up to 204 passengers in a two-class configuration and 230 in a single-class configuration. Its size does come with tradeoffs, however, most notably in range.

Boeing's 737 Max 10 at Renton Municipal Airport for its first flight — Boeing 737 Max 10 First Flight — The first flight of a Boeing 737 Max 10.

Source: Boeing

The Max 10 can fly up to 3,300 nautical miles when equipped with an auxiliary fuel tank, making city pairs such as New York-Dublin, Ireland; London, UK-Dubai, UAE, and Hong Kong-Perth, Australia feasible under the right conditions .

Boeing's 737 Max 10 at Renton Municipal Airport for its first flight — Boeing 737 Max 10 First Flight — The first flight of a Boeing 737 Max 10.

The smallest Max 7, for comparison, can fly a greater range of 3,850 nautical miles.

Boeing 737 Max 7

Source: Boeing

In terms of wingspan, however, the Max 10 shares the same dimensions as its sibling at 117 feet and 10 inches.

Boeing's 737 Max 10 at Renton Municipal Airport for its first flight — Boeing 737 Max 10 First Flight — The first flight of a Boeing 737 Max 10.

Source: Boeing

Also the same as its predecessors are the Max 10’s engines. A pair of CFM International LEAP-1B engines power the entire 737 Max family.

Boeing's 737 Max 10 at Renton Municipal Airport for its first flight — Boeing 737 Max 10 First Flight — The first flight of a Boeing 737 Max 10.

The engines offer 28,000 pounds of thrust apiece and contribute to the aircraft’s increased fuel efficiency compared to older model 737 aircraft.

Boeing's 737 Max 10 at Renton Municipal Airport for its first flight — Boeing 737 Max 10 First Flight — The first flight of a Boeing 737 Max 10.

Source: Safran

Also aiding in the aircraft’s fuel efficiency is a pair of “advanced technology” winglets on each wing, which comes standard on all Max aircraft.

Boeing's 737 Max 10 at Renton Municipal Airport for its first flight — Boeing 737 Max 10 First Flight — The first flight of a Boeing 737 Max 10.

United Airlines holds the largest stake for the aircraft with 100 jets on order.

United Airlines Houston Boeing 737

Source: United Airlines

The Max 10’s range would allow United to fly the aircraft of any of its domestic routes and even fly to cities in Western Europe from its Newark and Washington, DC hubs.

Boeing's 737 Max 10 at Renton Municipal Airport for its first flight — Boeing 737 Max 10 First Flight — The first flight of a Boeing 737 Max 10.

Most countries around the world have allowed for the Max to fly and more than 130,000 hours have been flown by the aircraft family since November, the Seattle Times reported.

FILE PHOTO: An employee works near a Boeing 737 Max aircraft at Boeing's 737 Max production facility in Renton, Washington, US December 16, 2019. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson — An employee works near a Boeing 737 Max aircraft at Boeing’s 737 Max production facility in Renton

Source: Seattle Times

The notable exception remains to be airlines in China, where the jet has not yet been approved to fly once more.

Boeing 737 Max — Boeing test pilot Jim Webb gives a thumbs-up from the cockpit of a 737 MAX 7 at Boeing Field, on March 16, 2018 in Seattle, Washington, after completing the plane’s first flight. The aircraft is the shortest variant of fuel efficient MAX family .

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