Boeing 737 MAX Production Thread - Part 1

boefan · Tue Dec 08, 2015 6:13 pm

With the official roll out of the Boeing 737 MAX8 i believe it is time to start a Production - Flight Testing thread for those interested in monitoring the plane .

Some key information :

LN 5602 1A001 42554 N8701Q (Southwest Airlines) 1st Boeing test Aircraft Roll out Nov 30 2015 and expected FF Q1 2016

photo of roll out :

LN 5668 1A002 36989 N8702L (Southwest Airlines) 2nd Boeing test Aircraft Roll out expected 1Q 2016

awaiting engine installation :

LN 5728 1A003 42556 N8703J (Southwest Airlines) 3rd Boeing test Aircraft Roll out expected 1Q 2016

awaits "mating with the fuselage"

LN 5788 1A004 36988 N8704Q (Southwest Airlines) 4th Boeing test Aircraft is expected to enter final assembly next year .

http://aviationweek.com/commercial-a...7-max#slide-1-field_images-1385571

Roll out photos of 1A001 :

note the new tail cone

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/737max/creating-the-737-max

[Edited 2015-12-08 10:15:04]

817Dreamliiner · Tue Dec 08, 2015 6:17 pm

Photos in the database:

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Royal S King

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Royal S King

Boeing778X · Tue Dec 08, 2015 6:18 pm

As a huge 737 fan, I have only one thing to say.

Oh...My...GOD! Beautiful!

777Jet · Tue Dec 08, 2015 9:12 pm

I have never been a 737 fan, but man that MAX looks beautiful!

Boeing has done a great job!

The shape of the tail cone looks so much better than it used to.

Everything looks so proportional; the nose, wings, engines, tail... I think I'm becoming a 737 fan!

badgervor · Tue Dec 08, 2015 9:55 pm

Quoting 777Jet (Reply 3):
The shape of the tail cone looks so much better than it used to.

I didn't noticed that till you mentioned it..Indeed looks good.

Are my eyes deceiving me or does it appear that the nav/strobe in on the downward winglet??

Bambel · Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:14 pm

Quoting 817Dreamliiner (Reply 1):
Photos in the database:

In the first picture it looks a bit like a 787.

b.

SXDFC · Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:16 pm

I am hoping Boeing paints one up in WN colors, and flies it around the world.

Sooner787 · Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:32 pm

Since the 2nd and 3rd test frames are also destined for WN,

will they be painted in Boeing house colors or Southwest livery?

[Edited 2015-12-08 14:39:48]

clickhappy · Wed Dec 09, 2015 12:55 am

The second 737-8 Max will have the same colors as the first.

KarelXWB · Wed Dec 09, 2015 9:40 am

Also worth posting is this photo of the inside of the first testbed:

http://twitter.com/BoeingAirplanes/status/674339212200546304

94717 · Wed Dec 09, 2015 10:07 am

Who will be the first to fall over the wire on the floor?

BlueSky1976 · Wed Dec 09, 2015 11:03 am

Beautiful on the outside (sans winglets), still cramped on the inside. Just as the Dreamliner is.

petera380 · Wed Dec 09, 2015 11:10 am

Quoting BlueSky1976 (Reply 11):
Beautiful on the outside (sans winglets), still cramped on the inside. Just as the Dreamliner is

The -9 will be the same misery as the current -9!!

MD80Nut · Wed Dec 09, 2015 2:37 pm

Quoting BlueSky1976 (Reply 11):

I hear 'ya. I wish Boeing would have made it a bit wider to match the A320. Still a damn good looking aircraft though.

Cheers, Ralph

PHKLM · Wed Dec 09, 2015 3:50 pm

Almost 50 years down the line and the 737 still has those frames with a missing window (around row 9/10 on both sides).
Appalling.

Braniff747SP · Wed Dec 09, 2015 5:24 pm

Quoting PHKLM (Reply 14):
Appalling.

They've sold over 13,000 of them, so I have a feeling that not everyone shares your anger.

[Edited 2015-12-09 09:28:39]

Boeing778X · Wed Dec 09, 2015 5:44 pm

Quoting MD80Nut (Reply 13):
I hear 'ya. I wish Boeing would have made it a bit wider to match the A320. Still a damn good looking aircraft though.

Indeed, it's awesome looking.

I'd wait for the NSA for a wider cabin.

Quoting PHKLM (Reply 14):
Almost 50 years down the line and the 737 still has those frames with a missing window (around row 9/10 on both sides).

That's really the only question I have about the 737. What purpose does that serve anyways?

LTU932 · Wed Dec 09, 2015 5:56 pm

Is it me, or do the cabin windows look more round/oval than the old 707/727 style windows that it had all the way to the NGs? Anyway, she looks beautiful. The 4th generation 737 has arrived.

Josh32121 · Wed Dec 09, 2015 5:58 pm

Quoting Boeing778X (Reply 16):
That's really the only question I have about the 737. What purpose does that serve anyways?

Pretty sure it's cabin air ventilation ducts

iahcsr · Wed Dec 09, 2015 6:10 pm

Quoting Boeing778X (Reply 16):

Indeed, it's awesome looking.

I'd wait for the NSA for a wider cabin.

Quoting PHKLM (Reply 14):
Almost 50 years down the line and the 737 still has those frames with a missing window (around row 9/10 on both sides).

That's really the only question I have about the 737. What purpose does that serve anyways?

That's where the air ducts from the packs come up to the cabin.
I was hoping to see a change to the passenger doors for arming/disarming the slides. Nope.. FAs still need to move the girt bar manually

[Edited 2015-12-09 10:11:11]

Confuscius · Wed Dec 09, 2015 6:28 pm

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 9):
Also worth posting is this photo of the inside of the first testbed

Looks like all business class seats with 32 in. widescreen PTVs.

Passedv1 · Wed Dec 09, 2015 7:12 pm

What are the test terminals hooked into? Are there taps in the floor (that sill remain after delivery) that get into the various computers (adiru's etc) or is there special temporary wiring that gets ripped out on delivery?

barney captain · Wed Dec 09, 2015 7:20 pm

Quoting PHKLM (Reply 14):
Almost 50 years down the line and the 737 still has those frames with a missing window (around row 9/10 on both sides).
Appalling.

Appalling?

Seriously?

Even the 787 has them -

MD80Nut · Wed Dec 09, 2015 9:04 pm

The split winglets on the MAX look a lot better than the split scimitars on the NGs to me. The -8 looks very nice in Boeing's colors.

The plane does have a bit of a 787ish look to it too.

Cheers, Ralph

WIederling · Wed Dec 09, 2015 9:38 pm

Quoting barney captain (Reply 22):
Even the 787 has them -

No idea about missing windows due to ducting but for the 787
initially windows were planned bisecting the junction between sections.
This did not work out.

Boeing778X · Wed Dec 09, 2015 10:20 pm

Quoting MD80Nut (Reply 23):
The split winglets on the MAX look a lot better than the split scimitars on the NGs to me.

Obviously, because the Scimitars are addons. The ATs look refined.

Quoting MD80Nut (Reply 23):
The plane does have a bit of a 787ish look to it too.

I'll take a whack and say, It's probably mostly the engines

MD80Nut · Thu Dec 10, 2015 12:28 am

Quoting Boeing778X (Reply 25):
I'll take a whack and say, It's probably mostly the engines

Yep. And the new tailcone too.

Cheers, Ralph

PHKLM · Thu Dec 10, 2015 8:37 am

Quoting barney captain (Reply 22):
Appalling?

Seriously?

Even the 787 has them -

Rather odd isn't it? Clean sheet design and then have missing windows. This is a major irritator for pax - they (rightfully) expect to sit by a window when selecting a window seat. It's a flaw of the 787, like it is a flaw on the 737.
You can find countless trip reports here on this very website of people that were disappointed because they had no view at all despite being seated "at the window".

On other Boeing models as well as the Airbus this is no issue - I am sure Boeing could have re-engineered. If Airbus can do so on the A320, Boeing should surely be able on the 737.

qfflyer · Thu Dec 10, 2015 9:28 am

Quoting PHKLM (Reply 27):
On other Boeing models as well as the Airbus this is no issue

Seriously????
I guess you have never seen or been on a 747, 777, A332, A333?

PHKLM · Thu Dec 10, 2015 11:56 am

Quoting qfflyer (Reply 28):
Seriously????
I guess you have never seen or been on a 747, 777, A332, A333?

Most certainly I did.

On the 747; the sections directly over the wing (just forward of Door 3) have oddly spaced windows; it is more like a misaligned window (you have to lean forward or back to look out of the window).

On the 777-200 and 777-300, there are missing windows just forward of Door 2, usually this is a Business Class section so there still will be a window for the pax seated there, but also there some inconvenience exists. Also halfway Door 2 and Door 3 on both sides of the cabin a window is missing twice; again from pax perspective it is more like a misaligned window than fully missing but definately an inconvenience as well.

On the A330-200 between Door 2 and Door 3 there are 2 missing windows; depending on the configuration chosen by the airline this will be in the Business Class or Economy Class section of the cabin. In case it is Business Class, the passenger still will have another window to look out from. In Economy it represents a misalinged window.

On the A330-300 the sections used are identical to the A330-200 so the above text is valid.
On the A340 the same setup is used as on the A330.

On the 757 and 767 some frames are missing forward of the wing; depening on the configuration chosen by the airline it will or will not represent an issue.

On the A350 there is 1 missing window behind Door 2; usally where the cabin division between Business and Economy Class will be.

On the A380 there are no missing windows.
The same is true for the A318, A319 and A320.

On the A321 there will be a larger space between the window at the point mid-cabin where the A320 has its emergency exits.

neutrino · Thu Dec 10, 2015 1:16 pm

Quoting PHKLM (Reply 27):

Quoting barney captain (Reply 22):
Appalling?

Seriously?

Even the 787 has them -

Rather odd isn't it? Clean sheet design and then have missing windows. This is a major irritator for pax - they (rightfully) expect to sit by a window when selecting a window seat. It's a flaw of the 787, like it is a flaw on the 737.
You can find countless trip reports here on this very website of people that were disappointed because they had no view at all despite being seated "at the window".

Talking about disappointment.
In the last couple of decades, my preference have all been aisle seats. However, just to experience the much talked-about new 787 windows, I specifically request for one at a window when I was booked on my first Dreamliner flight early this year. And guess what, I ended up in one of those windowless ones

KarelXWB · Thu Dec 10, 2015 2:01 pm

The inside of the second 737 MAX testbed:

http://flic.kr/p/BPB7v5

Sooner787 · Thu Dec 10, 2015 9:00 pm

Quoting neutrino (Reply 30):
Talking about disappointment.
In the last couple of decades, my preference have all been aisle seats. However, just to experience the much talked-about new 787 windows, I specifically request for one at a window when I was booked on my first Dreamliner flight early this year. And guess what, I ended up in one of those windowless ones

Next time I recommend checking out www.seatguru.com
before booking your seats.

They have seat maps of all the major airlines, so you can avoid the dreaded windowless window seats

nikeherc · Thu Dec 10, 2015 9:12 pm

Quoting BlueSky1976 (Reply 11):
Beautiful on the outside (sans winglets), still cramped on the inside. Just as the Dreamliner is.

It would seem to me that whether or not the airplane is cramped on the inside is not a function of the airplane, but of the seating arrangement the airline chooses.

I don't know which is worse, blind fanboy-ism or blind don't like A or B ism. It really is tiring how much dreck you have to read through to get to the real information here.

neutrino · Fri Dec 11, 2015 5:17 am

Quoting Sooner787 (Reply 32):
Next time I recommend checking out www.seatguru.com
before booking your seats.

They have seat maps of all the major airlines, so you can avoid the dreaded windowless window seats

Thank you but not necessary anymore. Since then, I had gotten a 787 window seat twice over. Its enough. Back to my preferred aisle seats.

b747400erf · Fri Dec 11, 2015 5:24 am

The new designed cockpit look very smart.

ssteve · Fri Dec 11, 2015 5:51 am

Quoting PHKLM (Reply 29):

On the 757 and 767 some frames are missing forward of the wing; depening on the configuration chosen by the airline it will or will not represent an issue.

The one time I wanted a view and got a wall was a 757. Unless you count sitting next to the engine on a DC-9, in which case the view was minimal and it was LOUD.

boefan · Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:10 am

1A005 42558 N8705Q Southwest Airlines will be LN 5852 with delivery March 2017

Natflyer · Mon Dec 14, 2015 5:01 pm

Quoting PHKLM (Reply 29):

After all the work you have put into this, you still don't get it?
There are Air Conditioning riser ducts in the space between the windows.

KarelXWB · Wed Jul 06, 2016 10:17 am

Lion Air's first 737 MAX is now being assembled.

Lion Air First 737-8 MAX by Brandon Farris, on Flickr

KarelXWB · Wed Jul 06, 2016 10:31 am

Also not yet reported in this thread are the first two production frames for Southwest Airlines:

Southwest 737-8 Max by Woodys Aeroimages, on Flickr

zkojq · Tue Jul 19, 2016 1:54 pm

The first 737MAX for Lion Air has been rolled out:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/141094124@N02/28292388201

Appears to be L/N 5948.

Someone83 · Tue Jul 19, 2016 6:37 pm

zkojq wrote:
The first 737MAX for Lion Air has been rolled out:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/141094124@N02/28292388201

Appears to be L/N 5948.

Wonder how many of their order will be -8MAX vs -9MAX.

With their 737NGs they seems to have shifted their preference for the -800 instead of the -900 lately

Boeing778X · Wed Jul 20, 2016 5:15 am

Will UA take delivery of all their 737 MAX 9s, or will some of them be converted to 8s and 7s?

ikolkyo · Wed Jul 20, 2016 8:22 am

Interesting, it appears the whole winglet is painted on the Lion Air aircraft compared to the SWA winglet which has only the upper strake painted.

Polot · Wed Jul 20, 2016 12:46 pm

ikolkyo wrote:
Interesting, it appears the whole winglet is painted on the Lion Air aircraft compared to the SWA winglet which has only the upper strake painted.

That is WN's livery design. In the new livery the bottom strake of the scimitars are painted grey. In their old livery they were painted blue.

chiad · Wed Jul 20, 2016 1:41 pm

Someone83 wrote:
zkojq wrote:
The first 737MAX for Lion Air has been rolled out:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/141094124@N02/28292388201

Appears to be L/N 5948.

Wonder how many of their order will be -8MAX vs -9MAX.

With their 737NGs they seems to have shifted their preference for the -800 instead of the -900 lately

I will not be surprised if none will be -900's.
Lion Air has 65 A321NEO's on order and another 118 A320NEO's, which I assume can be converted.

nycbjr · Tue Jul 26, 2016 4:11 pm

Anyone hearing of how its performing? On target?

Stitch · Tue Jul 26, 2016 4:30 pm

nycbjr wrote:
Anyone hearing of how its performing? On target?

“The testing has been going very well. It’s been hitting the expectations so we’re very happy with how it’s going.” 737 Max chief project engineer Michael Teal

The final-spec LEAP1B's arrive next month and there will be some testing necessary with them.

lhrnue · Tue Jul 26, 2016 7:26 pm

Not really related to production ... but I don't want to open a new thread.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XEsSRqnOwc

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