The Boeing 737 MAX 10, the largest in the single-aisle MAX family, successfully completed its maiden flight on June 18, 2021.
The aircraft took off from Renton, in the state of Washington, and after two hours and a half of test flight, landed safely in Seattle.
“The airplane performed beautifully,” said 737 Chief Pilot Captain Jennifer Henderson. “The profile we flew allowed us to test the airplane’s systems, flight controls and handling qualities, all of which checked out exactly as we expected.”
The Boeing MAX 10, which can carry up to 230 passenger seats over 6,110 kilometers (3,300 nautical miles), completes the MAX family after the 8, 9, which already entered service and the smaller 7 variant that still awaits certification.
The first delivery of the MAX 10 is targeted to take place in 2023. United Airlines will be the launch company for the MAX 10, with 100 units already ordered. In total, the model has already recorded more than 550 orders from 20 customers, according to Boeing.
The Boeing 737 MAX was recertified and authorized by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to return to service in November 2020, after a 20-month hiatus that followed two fatal crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia, claiming 346 lives.
In April 2021, over 109 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft across the globe were temporarily grounded and deliveries suspended after issues affecting the aircraft’s electrical grounding were found. A fix was approved by the FAA and service resumed on May 19, 2021.