Boeing 737 MAX - Top 10 facts about this awesome narrowbody commercial aircraft

B737 MAX awesome facts

The Boeing 737 is a revolutionary aircraft. It opened up air travel to the masses and gave us the LCC. Southwest and Ryanair, two of the world's biggest and most successful LCCs, fly no other aircraft type. With the 737 MAX now entering service, here are the top 10 most awesome facts about this remarkable aircraft family...

The 737 is 50 years flying

The 737 is Boeing's only narrowbody airliner in production, with the 737 Next Generation (-700, -800, and -900ER) and the re-engined and redesigned 737 MAX variants currently being built. The 737 was originally envisioned in 1964. The initial 737-100 made its first flight in April 1967, and entered airline service in February 1968 with Lufthansa.

Southwest is the world's largest operator of the Boeing 737, with 688 in service and 233 orders. Southwest was the launch customer of the 737-300, 737-500, 737-700 and will be the launch customer of the 737 MAX 7.

Ryanair has 531 B737-800s in service, with 135 MAX orders. All aircraft in the Ryanair fleet have been retrofitted with performance enhancing winglets and the more recent deliveries have them fitted as standard.

Fifty years on and 9,716 units of the Boeing 737 have been built and delivered (as of September 30, 2017). It's pretty safe to assume that some variant of the 737 will be flying in 2067.

Boeing is certifying the MAX series under an amended type certificate as part of the 737 family rather than go for a whole new type certificate. Key new feature is CFM LEAP-1B engine with 11-12% reduction in fuel burn and 7% reduction in operating cost.

Those winglets

The MAX features the very latest in advanced winglet technology, the 737 MAX AT Winglet. As well as the inward, upward and slightly forward lift components of the upper aerofoil, the new lower aerofoil generates a vertical lift component that is vectored away from the fuselage, and also slightly forward.

LEAP 1B engine

Boeing_737-9_MAX_CFM_LEAP-1B_PAS The CFM International LEAP is a high-bypass turbofan engine. It is produced by CFM International, a 50-50 joint venture company between GE Aviation of the United States and Safran Aircraft Engines (formerly known as Snecma) of France. The LEAP ("Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion") engine can deliver 16% fuel savings and will also power the Airbus A320neo family and the Comac C919. The outer engine casing (nacelle) features a zig-zag design at the rear (pictured, above). This helps with noise reduction. Along with the upward and downward winglets, this is the most distinctive differentiator between the B737 MAX and the B737.

The 737 MAX is the fastest-selling aircraft in Boeing history, with 3,900 firm orders from 91 customers. Largest orders include Lion Air (201), Southwest (280), GECAS (176) and SpiceJet (136). Ryanair has ordered 135 of the 737 MAX 200. A high density version of the 737 MAX 8, the 737 MAX 200 is named for seating for up to 200 passengers in a single-class high-density configuration with slimline seats.

How much for a MAX?

Average price, $ millions, from Boeing. You could probably get a bulk discount if you order 100.

737 MAX 7	92.2
737 MAX 8	112.4
737 MAX 200	115.4
737 MAX 9	119.2
737 MAX 10	124.7

The first delivery was a MAX 8, handed over to Malindo Air (a subsidiary of Lion Air) on May 16, 2017; it entered service on May 22. Norwegian Air subsidiary Norwegian Air International was the second airline to put a 737 MAX into service, when it performed its first transatlantic flight with a MAX 8 named Sir Freddie Laker on July 15, 2017.

Southwest Airlines took delivery of its first 737 MAX on August 29, 2017. Boeing plans to deliver at least 50 to 75 aircraft in 2017, 10-15% of the more than 500 737s to be delivered this year.