Boeing 737 MAX
The Boeing 737 MAX is an upcoming family of aircraft produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is an upgrade to the successful Boeing 737 Next Generation family, with new CFM International LEAP-1B engines and possible further modifications to the airframe.
Design and development
Boeing's board of directors approved the project on August 30, 2011. The new variant is to be first delivered in 2017. Boeing claims the 737 MAX will provide a 16% lower fuel burn than the current Airbus A320 and 4% lower than the future Airbus A320neo.[1] 496 order commitments have been signed for the 737 MAX, with 100 of them being by American Airlines.[2]
Boeing has dropped the smallest variant of the aircraft family, the Boeing 737-600 from the 737 MAX variants, and concentrates the efforts to three members: the 737 MAX 7, the 737 MAX 8 and the 737 MAX 9, with re-engining and modifying the 737-700, -800 and -900ER, respectively.[3]
Boeing Commercial Airplanes chief executive officer, Jim Albaugh said that the manufacturer is evaluating two fan diameters of the CFM International Leap-1B engine: 168cm or 173cm (66in or 68in), both of wich seems not to require the modification of the landing gears. There's a need to maintain a 43cm (17in) ground clearance beneath the aircraft's engines and ground surface. Albaugh said the bigger fan diameter would produce less fuel burn, but as it is bigger, it produces more drag and is heavier, and there would be a need to modify the airframe more extensively. The smaller diameter variant would be lighter and therefore producing less drag and fuel burn. [4]
The 66 in (168 cm) diameter fan is an increase from the 157 cm (61.8 in) CFM56-7B engine on the Boeing 737 Next Generation. The updated jet is also expected to feature external nacelle chevrons for noise reduction, similar to those on the 787 and 747-8. While 66 inches (168 cm) fan will have a lower bypass ratio and higher specific fuel consumption (SFC) than the 198 cm (78.0 in) Leap-X and 205 cm (80.7 in) Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engine options for the A320neo, the smaller engine will weigh less and create less drag on the 737's airframe.
According to sources about the engine's performance, the 168 cm engine integrated on the airframe will offer an SFC improvement of 10-12% over the current 737NG CFM56-7B engine. Industry sources say 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.[5]
As production standard, the 737 MAX will feature the Boeing Sky Interior with 787-style overhead bins and LED-lighting, and blended winglets.[6]
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
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- ^ "Boeing Launches 737 New Engine Family with Commitments for 496 Airplanes from Five Airlines". Boeing. Aug. 30, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Boeing and American Airlines Agree on Order for up to 300 Airplanes". Boeing. Jul. 20, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/08/30/361428/boeing-designates-737-max-family.html
- ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/08/31/361438/boeing-narrows-737-max-engine-fan-size-options-to-two.html
- ^ "More details emerge on configuration of re-engined 737". Flightglobal. Aug. 30, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Boeing Introduces 737 MAX With Launch of New Aircraft Family - Aug 30, 2011". Boeing. Aug. 30, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
External links
Boeing 737 MAX - NewAirplane.com
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