The Boeing 737 MAX 9, powered by CFM International Leap-1B engines completed its first flight on 13th April.
The aircraft completed a successful 2 hour, 42-minute flight, taking off from Renton Field in Renton, Wash., at 10:52 a.m. local time and landing at 1:34 p.m. at Seattle's Boeing Field.
Piloted by Boeing Test & Evaluation Capts. Christine Walsh and Ed Wilson, the aircraft performed tests on flight controls, systems and handling qualities. Flight testing is scheduled for completion in time for first customer deliveries in 2018.
The 737 MAX 9 is the second member of the 737 MAX family, with a maximum capacity of 220 passengers and a range of 3,515 nautical miles.
The MAX 8 and 9 will be followed in 2019 by the smaller MAX 7 and higher capacity MAX 200. Boeing indicates that studies and customer discussions continue on “further growing the family”.
The 737 MAX has accumulated more than 3,700 orders to date from 86 customers worldwide.