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Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX: 42 Facts You Won't Believe

Introduction

The Boeing 737 MAX is a family of narrow-body aircraft developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the fourth generation of the Boeing 737, after the original 737, the 737 Classic, and the 737 Next Generation (NG). The 737 MAX was designed to compete with the Airbus A320neo family and the Comac C919.

The 737 MAX was launched on August 30, 2011, and made its first flight on January 29, 2016. It entered service with Southwest Airlines on May 30, 2017. As of December 2022, there are over 500 737 MAX aircraft in service with airlines around the world.

The 737 MAX was involved in two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in the aircraft being grounded worldwide for 20 months. The aircraft was cleared to return to service in November 2020, and has since been involved in several other incidents.

southwest airlines boeing 737 max

Design

The 737 MAX is a single-aisle, narrow-body aircraft with a capacity of up to 230 passengers. It is powered by two CFM International LEAP-1B or Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines. The 737 MAX has a number of new features compared to the 737 NG, including:

New engines that are more fuel-efficient and quieter than the engines on the 737 NG.
A new wing design that is more aerodynamic and provides better performance.
A new flight control system that is designed to improve safety and handling.
A new interior that is more comfortable and spacious than the interior on the 737 NG.

Performance

The 737 MAX is a very capable aircraft with excellent performance. It has a range of up to 3,850 nautical miles (7,130 km) and a maximum speed of Mach 0.82. The 737 MAX is also very fuel-efficient, with a fuel consumption of just 2.6 gallons per passenger per 100 nautical miles (4.8 liters per passenger per 100 km).

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX: 42 Facts You Won't Believe

Safety

The 737 MAX was involved in two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in the aircraft being grounded worldwide for 20 months. The crashes were caused by a design flaw in the aircraft's flight control system. The flaw caused the aircraft to pitch down suddenly, which made it difficult for pilots to control.

Boeing has since made a number of changes to the 737 MAX's flight control system to address the design flaw. The changes include:

Introduction

Adding a new software feature that prevents the aircraft from pitching down suddenly.
Making the flight control system less sensitive to pilot inputs.
Providing pilots with more training on the aircraft's flight control system.

The 737 MAX was cleared to return to service in November 2020, and has since been involved in several other incidents. However, these incidents have been relatively minor, and there have been no fatal crashes involving the 737 MAX since it was cleared to return to service.

Customer Feedback

The 737 MAX has received mixed reviews from customers. Some customers have praised the aircraft's fuel efficiency, performance, and comfort. Other customers have expressed concerns about the aircraft's safety record and its handling characteristics.

Overall, the 737 MAX is a capable aircraft with excellent performance. However, it is important to be aware of the aircraft's safety record and its handling characteristics before making a decision about whether or not to fly on it.

Do not attempt to operate the aircraft's flight control system yourself.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when flying on the 737 MAX:

Do not attempt to operate the aircraft's flight control system yourself. The 737 MAX's flight control system is very complex, and it is designed to be operated by trained pilots only.
Do not ignore the aircraft's warning systems. The 737 MAX's warning systems are designed to alert pilots to potential problems. If you hear a warning system, do not ignore it.
Do not panic in an emergency. If you experience an emergency on the 737 MAX, do not panic. Remain calm and follow the instructions of the flight crew.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of the 737 MAX:

Pros:

Fuel-efficient
Quiet
Comfortable
Spacious

Cons:

Safety record
Handling characteristics
Customer concerns

Conclusion

The Boeing 737 MAX is a capable aircraft with excellent performance. However, it is important to be aware of the aircraft's safety record and its handling characteristics before making a decision about whether or not to fly on it.

Tables

Feature	Boeing 737 MAX 7	Boeing 737 MAX 8	Boeing 737 MAX 9	Boeing 737 MAX 10
Length	129 ft 9 in (39.55 m)	138 ft 2 in (42.11 m)	143 ft 8 in (43.84 m)	154 ft 7 in (47.11 m)
Wingspan	117 ft 10 in (35.91 m)	117 ft 10 in (35.91 m)	117 ft 10 in (35.91 m)	120 ft 10 in (36.83 m)
Height	40 ft 4 in (12.29 m)	40 ft 4 in (12.29 m)	40 ft 4 in (12.29 m)	40 ft 4 in (12.29 m)
Maximum takeoff weight	187,700 lb (85,144 kg)	211,000 lb (95,703 kg)	227,100 lb (102,985 kg)	232,800 lb (105,597 kg)
Range	3,850 nmi (7,130 km)	3,515 nmi (6,508 km)	3,550 nmi (6,574 km)	3,300 nmi (6,111 km)
Maximum speed	Mach 0.82	Mach 0.82	Mach 0.82	Mach 0.82
Engine options	CFM International LEAP-1B	CFM International LEAP-1B	CFM International LEAP-1B	CFM International LEAP-1B
Thrust	23,500 lbf (104 kN)	28,000 lbf (125 kN)	29,000 lbf (129 kN)	31,000 lbf (138 kN)