Boeing 737 MAX
Encyclopedia
The Boeing 737 MAX is a new family of aircraft being developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes
to replace the Boeing 737 Next Generation
family. The primary change will be the use of the larger and more efficient CFM International LEAP-1B
engines. The airframe is to receive some modifications as well. The 737 MAX is scheduled for first delivery in 2017.
In 2010, Airbus
launched the Airbus A320neo, a single-aisle jet aircraft which incorporated a new engine to improve fuel burn
and operating efficiency. The decision was met with positive reaction by many airlines, which began making major orders for the improved aircraft, notably from AirAsia
and IndiGo
. This put pressure on Boeing and on August 30, 2011, Boeing's board of directors approved the Boeing 737 MAX project. Boeing claims the 737 MAX will provide a 16% lower fuel burn than the current Airbus A320, and 4% lower than the Airbus A320neo. The first of new variant is scheduled to be delivered in 2017.
The three variants of the new family are the 737 MAX 7, the 737 MAX 8 and the 737 MAX 9, which are based on the 737-700, −800 and −900ER, respectively which are the best selling versions of the 737 Next Generation family. Boeing has stated that the fuselage lengths and door configurations from the Boeing 737 Next Generation
family will be retained on the 737 MAX variants.
Initially, the customers for the 737 MAX were not disclosed, except for American Airlines
. On November 17, 2011, Boeing released the names of two other customers - Lion Air
and Aviation Capital Group. At that time, Boeing reported 700 commitments from 9 customers for the 737 MAX. The other 6 customers are not yet known.
. The updated jet is also expected to feature external nacelle chevrons for noise reduction, similar to those on the 787 and 747-8. While the smaller Leap-1B engine would have a lower bypass ratio and higher specific fuel consumption (SFC) than the baseline 78 in (198.1 cm) Leap-X and 80.7 in (205 cm) Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engine options for the A320neo, the smaller engine will weigh less and create less drag on the airframe. The 66.1 in (167.9 cm) engine integrated on the airframe would offer an SFC improvement of 10–12% over the current 737NG CFM56-7B engine. Industry sources report that assessments are under way to revise the tail cone, natural laminar flow nacelle and a hybrid laminar flow vertical stabilizer for additional fuel burn and drag reduction.
In November 2011, Boeing announced the selection of the 68.1 in (173 cm) fan diameter. Because of the larger fan diameter compared to the 737 Next Generation family, the nose landing gear will have to be lengthened by 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) to maintain the required ground clearance. At the same time, Boeing reported more than 600 commitments for the 737 MAX, with 100 of them being from American Airlines
. Firm configuration for the 737 MAX is currently scheduled for 2013.
As production standard, the 737 MAX will feature the Boeing Sky Interior with overhead bins and LED lighting based on the Boeing 787
's interior, as well as blended winglets.
The manufacturer plans no modification in the flight deck as it wants to maintain commonality with the 737 Next Generation family. Boeing also plans to add more fly-by-wire
systems to the 737 MAX family, although Albaugh said that changes would be "very minimal." Boeing has confirmed that fly-by-wire will be added to the spoilers.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Boeing Commercial Airplanes designs, assembles, markets and sells large commercial jet aircraft and provides product-related maintenance and training to customers worldwide...
to replace the Boeing 737 Next Generation
Boeing 737 Next Generation
The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
family. The primary change will be the use of the larger and more efficient CFM International LEAP-1B
CFM International LEAP-X
|-See also:-External links:* * * *...
engines. The airframe is to receive some modifications as well. The 737 MAX is scheduled for first delivery in 2017.
Development
Since 2006, Boeing has discussed replacing the 737 with a "clean sheet" design (internally named "Boeing Y1") that could follow the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. A decision on this replacement was postponed, and delayed into 2011.In 2010, Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
launched the Airbus A320neo, a single-aisle jet aircraft which incorporated a new engine to improve fuel burn
Fuel efficiency
Fuel efficiency is a form of thermal efficiency, meaning the efficiency of a process that converts chemical potential energy contained in a carrier fuel into kinetic energy or work. Overall fuel efficiency may vary per device, which in turn may vary per application, and this spectrum of variance is...
and operating efficiency. The decision was met with positive reaction by many airlines, which began making major orders for the improved aircraft, notably from AirAsia
AirAsia
AirAsia Berhad is a Malaysian-based low-cost airline. AirAsia is Asia's largest low-fare, no-frills airline and a pioneer of low-cost travel in Asia. AirAsia group operates scheduled domestic and international flights to over 400 destinations spanning 25 countries. Its main hub is the Low-Cost...
and IndiGo
Indigo
Indigo is a color named after the purple dye derived from the plant Indigofera tinctoria and related species. The color is placed on the electromagnetic spectrum between about 420 and 450 nm in wavelength, placing it between blue and violet...
. This put pressure on Boeing and on August 30, 2011, Boeing's board of directors approved the Boeing 737 MAX project. Boeing claims the 737 MAX will provide a 16% lower fuel burn than the current Airbus A320, and 4% lower than the Airbus A320neo. The first of new variant is scheduled to be delivered in 2017.
The three variants of the new family are the 737 MAX 7, the 737 MAX 8 and the 737 MAX 9, which are based on the 737-700, −800 and −900ER, respectively which are the best selling versions of the 737 Next Generation family. Boeing has stated that the fuselage lengths and door configurations from the Boeing 737 Next Generation
Boeing 737 Next Generation
The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
family will be retained on the 737 MAX variants.
Initially, the customers for the 737 MAX were not disclosed, except for American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
. On November 17, 2011, Boeing released the names of two other customers - Lion Air
Lion Air
Not to be confused with the Sri Lankan airline Lionair.PT Lion Mentari Airlines, operating as Lion Air, is Indonesia’s largest private carrier and Asia’s first hybrid carrier which offers both economy and business-class seating, based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Lion Air also flies to Singapore,...
and Aviation Capital Group. At that time, Boeing reported 700 commitments from 9 customers for the 737 MAX. The other 6 customers are not yet known.
Design
Through much of 2011 Boeing was evaluating two fan diameters of the CFM International Leap-1B engine: 66.1 in (167.9 cm) or 68.1 in (173 cm), both of which would be unlikely to require the modification of the landing gear to maintain a 16.9 in (42.9 cm) ground clearance beneath the engines. Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO, Jim Albaugh, said the bigger fan diameter would produce less fuel burn, but because it is bigger, it produces more drag and is heavier, and there would be a need to modify the airframe more extensively. Both fan diameters are an increase from the 61.8 in (157 cm) CFM56-7B engine on the Boeing 737 Next GenerationBoeing 737 Next Generation
The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
. The updated jet is also expected to feature external nacelle chevrons for noise reduction, similar to those on the 787 and 747-8. While the smaller Leap-1B engine would have a lower bypass ratio and higher specific fuel consumption (SFC) than the baseline 78 in (198.1 cm) Leap-X and 80.7 in (205 cm) Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engine options for the A320neo, the smaller engine will weigh less and create less drag on the airframe. The 66.1 in (167.9 cm) engine integrated on the airframe would offer an SFC improvement of 10–12% over the current 737NG CFM56-7B engine. Industry sources report that assessments are under way to revise the tail cone, natural laminar flow nacelle and a hybrid laminar flow vertical stabilizer for additional fuel burn and drag reduction.
In November 2011, Boeing announced the selection of the 68.1 in (173 cm) fan diameter. Because of the larger fan diameter compared to the 737 Next Generation family, the nose landing gear will have to be lengthened by 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) to maintain the required ground clearance. At the same time, Boeing reported more than 600 commitments for the 737 MAX, with 100 of them being from American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
. Firm configuration for the 737 MAX is currently scheduled for 2013.
As production standard, the 737 MAX will feature the Boeing Sky Interior with overhead bins and LED lighting based on the Boeing 787
Boeing 787
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a long-range, mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It seats 210 to 290 passengers, depending on the variant. Boeing states that it is the company's most fuel-efficient airliner and the world's first major airliner to use...
's interior, as well as blended winglets.
The manufacturer plans no modification in the flight deck as it wants to maintain commonality with the 737 Next Generation family. Boeing also plans to add more fly-by-wire
Fly-by-wire
Fly-by-wire is a system that replaces the conventional manual flight controls of an aircraft with an electronic interface. The movements of flight controls are converted to electronic signals transmitted by wires , and flight control computers determine how to move the actuators at each control...
systems to the 737 MAX family, although Albaugh said that changes would be "very minimal." Boeing has confirmed that fly-by-wire will be added to the spoilers.
Variants
- 737 MAX 7 – Replacement for the 737-700 and 737-700ER
- 737 MAX 8 – Replacement for the 737-800
- 737 MAX 9 – Replacement for the 737-900ER