Boeing has revealed its progress closer into prototype and fabrication phase of new generation Boeing 737 MAX Series.
Boeing 737 Series is the best selling aircraft around the world and the legacy has been thrown to the successor Boeing 737 MAX Series. The MAX Series will offer 3 variant, MAX 7, MAX 8 and MAX 9. Probably the differences are on the dimension, capacity of passengers and flight range.
Boeing 737 MAX Series
Randy Tinseth, Boeing chief of marketing posted on a blog that our ensuring our customers to get maximum advantages of design of 737 MAX Series. Most of aero-structures will be produced in Boeing fabrication facility in Auburn.
Picture below shows the Boeing's worker while in the making of Boeing 737 MAX fuselage stringer for the press. This stringer will get about 100 tonnes pressure to get formed.
In the other picture, the stringer for the fuselage produced by progressive roll forming method. The fabrication process is done in a seconds.
Boeing 737 MAX Fuselage Stringer Fabrication Process
This is just the beginning of the long journey of Boeing 737 MAX Series. From Auburn facility, fuselage structures will be sent to Renton Plant for final assembly next year.
In the other hand, to reach significant fuel saving, Boeing decided to put new engine on Boeing 737 MAX Series. The CFM International Leap 1-B from Aeroengines has been chosen as the power plant. The joint venture between GE and Snecma deliver outstanding performance of high-bypass turbofan engine. According to the CFM Aeroengines, Leap 1-B throwing out up to 28,000 pounds of thrust.
CFM Leap 1-B Engine
At the same time, lifetime competitor of Boeing in commercial aircraft, Airbus released Airbus A320NEO and has conducted the first flight in September 2014 then possibly to enter into operation next year. Boeing schedules the final assembly in next year, first flight in 2016 and enter service in same year.
The order list of both aircraft has started, Airbus A320NEO records 3,272 orders and counting while Boeing records 'only' 2,295 purchase order.