BAE Systems and Boeing celebrate the first flight of the 737 MAX 8 — the first member of Boeing's efficient 737 MAX family — which took to the skies Friday from Renton Field near Boeing's 737 Final Assembly plant in Renton, Washington. BAE Systems provides more than 60 electronics systems, including the spoiler control electronics, for the 737 MAX. In addition, BAE Systems provides the full authority digital engine controls (FADEC) for the LEAP-1B engine that powers the 737 MAX.

“Today we join Boeing in celebrating the first flight of the 737 MAX, which was completed on schedule,” said Andy Corea, director of Air Transport Systems at BAE Systems. “Our employees worked closely with the Boeing team to achieve this critical milestone. This first flight is a testament to how effectively our teams worked together during the entire development process.”

According to Boeing, the 737 MAX, powered by CFM International's LEAP-1B engines, will deliver the highest efficiency, reliability, and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market with 20 percent lower fuel use than the first Next-Generation 737s — and 8 percent per seat lower operating costs than its nearest competitor.

The 737 MAX 8 is the first member in Boeing's new family of single-aisle airplanes — the 737 MAX 7, MAX 8, MAX 200, and MAX 9 — to begin flight testing. The 737 MAX will extend the Next-Generation 737 range advantage with the capability to fly more than 3,500 nautical miles (6,510 kilometers), an increase of 340 to 570 nautical miles (629 to 1,055 kilometers). The 737 MAX family has 3,072 orders from 62 customers worldwide.

Delivery of the first 737 MAX is scheduled for the third quarter of 2017.