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Boeing To Begin
Final Phase Of The 737 MAX Wind Tunnel Testing By Shane Nolan |
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February 14, 2012 - Boeing announced that the final
phase of wind tunnel testing, a major milestone in
airplane development, will begin on the 737 MAX program
next week. The Boeing 737 MAX is a new family of
aircraft being developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes
to replace the Boeing 737 Next Generation family.
The primary change will be the use of the larger and
more efficient CFM International LEAP-1B engines. The
airframe is to receive some modifications as well. The
737 MAX is scheduled for first delivery in 2017, 50
years after the 737 first flew. "Wind tunnel testing is on the critical design path of the program," said Michael Teal, chief project engineer and deputy program manager, 737 MAX program. "Based on previous work in the wind tunnel, we are confident this final phase of testing will substantiate our predictions of the aerodynamic performance of the airplane." |
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Testing
will begin at QinetiQ's test facility in Farnborough, U.K.,
where engineers will substantiate the forecasted low-speed
performance of the 737 MAX on takeoff and landing. A FTSE250
company, QinetiQ uses its domain knowledge to provide technical
advice to customers in the global aerospace, defense and
security markets.
Testing
also will be completed at the Boeing Transonic Wind Tunnel in
Seattle to substantiate the forecast of the high-speed
performance of the airplane. The models used for Next-Generation
737 wind tunnel testing, with modifications made to the aft
fuselage, struts and nacelles, in addition to the new engine,
will be used for the tests.
Test
completion in mid-2012 is a major step toward firm configuration
of the 737 MAX. "This final phase of wind tunnel testing
confirms that we are on track to complete our design goals and
deliver the 737 MAX to customers beginning in 2017," said Teal.
The 737 MAX is a new engine variant of the world's best-selling airplane and builds on the strengths of today's Next-Generation 737. The 737 MAX incorporates the latest-technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger appeal. |