Reports that Boeing rushed the development of the 737 MAX are not correct and in fact, the opposite is the case with the design and production one of the longest in Boeing’s commercial jet history.
Boeing designed and built the all-new 747, plus the factory to assemble it, in just under four years from initial concepts whereas the 737 MAX a derivative of an existing design was launched in 2011 and didn’t fly till early 2016 – 4.5 years later.
Trade-off studies of a derivative versus an all-new design for the MAX started a year earlier.
The 737 MAX then went through a 2,000-hour flight test program and also a 180-minute ETOPS testing that required 3,000 simulated flight cycles.
In fact, the 737 MAX took longer to design and certify than any other 737 model or major upgrade.
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The original model was conceived in early 1964 and first flew in early 1967, while the Classic 737 series was launched in late 1979 and flew in 1984.
The next model was the 737NG which was launched in 1993 and first flew four years later in 1997.
And what is forgotten by most is that when the MAX was launched in 2011 Boeing held a backlog of almost 2500 NGs – five years production. The biggest challenge the company had was where, and how, to fit the MAX into a booming production line.
Even all new designs like the 757 and 777 have taken less time than the 737 MAX to develop and build.
The Boeing 757 development was four years and was launched in 1978 and flew in early 1982 while the 777 was just over four years being kicked off late in 1989 and flew in early 1994.
Only the Boeing 787 took longer due to complications with an all-new production system and new materials.
The Airbus A320neo – the direct competitor to the 737 MAX – had a shorter development time.
It was launched in December 2010, and made its first flight on September 25, 2014, just four years later.
Both major manufacturers are always playing catch up with each other as each brings out new technology.
In the case of both the 737MAX and A320neo, the pacing item has actually been the engine makers that have struggled to keep up with demand for the two twin-jets.
