Boeing’s newest and best-selling passenger jet goes through several stages of production before it’s ready for flight testing.
The Boeing 737 Max 7 is the third and newest member of the Max family of planes built at Boeing’s massive plant in Renton, Washington, near Seattle, according to the Long Room. The aircraft has a capacity of 172 passengers and a maximum range of 7,130km. This is the longest range in the Max family of aircraft.
Boeing 737 Max 7 aircraft manufacturing process (Video: Boeing).
Boeing recently shared a video recording the assembly of the Max 7. After the fuselage was loaded into the warehouse, cranes and other machines hung from the ceiling put the part in place.
The wings and other parts of the plane are then assembled before jet engine workers arrive to attach them to the wings. The finished aircraft is towed out of the depot, ready for test flights.
The Max 7 fuselage is put into storage. (Photo: Boeing).
According to Boeing, technological improvements allow the Max 7 to fly 1,852km farther and carry more passengers than its predecessor, the 737-700, while reducing fuel costs per seat by 18%. It is also the best-selling aircraft in Boeing’s history with more than 4,300 orders from 92 customers around the world.
High-tech machines attach the wings to the fuselage. (Photo: Boeing).
The first Max 7 will undergo system, fuel and engine testing on the flight line at Renton. The first of two Max 7 test planes will begin a flight test program in the coming weeks. As expected, 737 Max 7 will go into operation in 2019 after being delivered to the first customer, Southwest Airlines.
The jet engine is mounted under the wing of the new model. (Photo: Boeing).
“For airlines that specialize in serving airports at high altitudes or remote locations, the Max 7 is the perfect addition to their fleet. We are looking forward to being able to demonstrate versatility and its exceptional range,” said Keith Leverkuhn, vice president and general manager of the 737 Max program at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.