Delta just ordered 100 Boeing 737 MAX 10 jets to upgrade its narrowbody fleet. Take a look inside one of the test planes.
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Delta Air Lines has placed a $13.5 billion order for 100 of Boeing's 737 MAX 10 jet — the largest of the MAX variant. The deal also has an option for 30 more planes.
Delta Air Lines
A signing ceremony took place at the Farnborough Air Show in England on Monday, marking the first large Boeing order that Delta has placed in 11 years. Deliveries will begin in 2025.
Delta Senior Vice President of Fleet & TechOps Supply Chain Mahendra Nair and President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Stan Deal at the Farnborough International Air Show 2022. Delta Air Lines
"The Boeing 737-10 will be an important addition to Delta's fleet as we shape a more sustainable future for air travel, with an elevated customer experience, improved fuel efficiency and best-in-class performance," Delta CEO Ed Bastian said.
Delta Boeing 737 MAX 10 CFM International LEAP-1B engines. Delta Air Lines
"This aircraft will be piloted, served, and maintained by the very best professionals in the business, and it's your hard work and dedication to our customers that always sets us apart," he continued.
The MAX 10 is one of two planes in the MAX family that does not yet have regulatory approval to fly. The other model still undergoing certification is the company's smallest variant — the 737 MAX 7.
Boeing 737 MAX 7 in Boeing livery. A Southwest 737 MAX 8 sits behind. Taylor Rains/Insider
Boeing is on a tight deadline to get the MAX 10 certified. If it does not receive regulatory approval by December 31, 2022, then federal law will require the manufacturer to upgrade the cockpit to meet the latest safety standards.
The current cockpit design, which is similar to earlier 737 variants, is favored by airlines because it doesn't require additional pilot training, Delta SVP Mahendra Nair said on Monday, per the Wall Street Journal.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
However, if Boeing misses the December 31 deadline, the MAX 10's crew alert systems would differ from the MAX 8 and 9, requiring airlines to pay for separate training.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
Nair explained that if Boeing has to upgrade the systems, the airline "will have to rethink about where we are." But, Delta said the deal has "adequate protection" where the carrier can choose to purchase a different MAX variant, the Business Journals reported.
Boeing 737 MAX lineup in Seattle. The planemaker has five variants: the 737 MAX 7, 8, 8200, 9, and 10. Taylor Rains/Insider
A Boeing spokesperson told Insider at the Farnborough International Airshow that the certification timing is "completely in the hands of the regulator," but said, "Boeing's plan is to certify the plane — that's the intention — and we're still working on that path."
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
If Boeing can't get the plane certified by the end of the year, the planemaker may ask for an extension from the Federal Aviation Administration, which the agency can grant, according to Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash).
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
However, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun told Aviation Week in early July that if the plane is not given a waiver, then the planemaker may cancel the program, saying "a world without the MAX 10 is not that threatening." However, he added he does not expect to shelve the plane, but "it's just a risk."
The order comes as Boeing trails European aircraft manufacturing giant Airbus, which recently won a $37 billion order from China's three biggest airlines. A Boeing spokesperson said they missed out on the deal due to "geopolitical differences."
Boeing is still recovering from the crash of two Boeing MAX planes in 2018 and 2019 that led to a worldwide grounding of the jet, causing the planemaker to fall behind Airbus.
Ethiopian Airlines' 737 MAX crashed in 2019. Skycolors/Shutterstock
However, Delta's order, as well as United Airlines' order for 200 MAXs last year, suggests airlines are putting their trust back in Boeing.
United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9. Thomas Pallini/Insider
I toured one of Boeing's 737 MAX 10 experimental planes to learn how the testing and certification are done — take a look.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
Walking inside, the first thing I noticed were giant black tanks. According to a Boeing flight test engineer on the plane, they are water barrels that are used to control the center of gravity during test flights.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
He explained that there are also tanks in the back of the plane, and engineers will load them to their max to test the limits of the aircraft.
The orange wiring is part of the testing but is not part of the final passenger aircraft. Taylor Rains/Insider
Being able to manipulate the center of gravity will simulate the aircraft fully loaded with passengers.
Panels on the aircraft for testing. Taylor Rains/Insider
Engineers will also put large sandbags in the aft of the plane to add weight.
The aft section of the plane. Taylor Rains/Insider
On the plane, engineers sit at stations throughout and receive live data from the jet on screens. Here, they can monitor the aircraft and ensure it's performing as expected.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
An engineer told Insider that they will conduct the same test several times a day and that flights can last anywhere from two to eight hours.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
When engineers or other employees are traveling on the jet instead of working, they sit in dedicated passenger seats located throughout the plane.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
One of the main focuses of the MAX 10 is the landing gear.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
Because the MAX 10 is longer than previous MAX variants, the plane needs to stand higher to give the tail more clearance on takeoff so it does not suffer a tail strike.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
To do this, Boeing has designed the landing gear to stand taller but still fit inside the same size wheel well.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
According to the engineer, the gear expands for takeoff but can compress to make the jet sit lower at airport gates, negating the need for new infrastructure.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
The employees actually do tail strike testing as well to prove that the airplane is still structurally sound after a tail strike and the jet is still safe, according to one of the engineers.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
In the cockpit are glass screens and heads-up displays.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
A flight test pilot told Insider that one screen unique to the MAX 10 is a moving map of the airfield that shows where the jet is at when taxiing around.
Moving map screen in the cockpit. Taylor Rains/Insider
The MAX 10 is powered by CFM LEAP 1-B engines, which were specifically designed for the 737 MAX, according to Boeing. For Delta, the engines will make the MAX 10 20%-30% more fuel efficient than retiring narrowbodies in the carrier's fleet.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
Moreover, the chevron design on the back of the engines reduces noise by 50% compared to the 737 Next-Generation models.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
When the MAX 10 is delivered to Delta, the airline will have over 300 Boeing 737 jets in its fleet, which is its second-largest aircraft family behind the A320.
Delta Boeing 737 MAX 10. Delta Air Lines
Boeing's 737 MAX 10 can carry up to 204 passengers in a two-class configuration, according to the planemaker. Delta said it would fit its jets with 182 seats split into economy and first.
Boeing mock image of its Sky Interior. Boeing
About one-third of the cabin would be configured with premium seating, according to the airline. Specifically, Delta's jet will feature 162 economy seats, including 33 in Comfort+ and 129 in the Main Cabin…
Delta Comfort+. Delta Air Lines
…and 20 in first class. Delta recently flew its first-ever A321neo, which is fitted with the carrier's new domestic first class. It's possible the seat will also be configured on the MAX 10s.
Delta A321neo first class. Jennifer Bradley Franklin/Insider
Delta said the planes, which have a range of 3,3000 nautical miles, will fly from Delta's largest hubs, including New York, Boston, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Seattle, and Los Angeles.
Delta Air Lines at JFK. Ron Adar/Shutterstock
Onboard, passengers will experience Boeing's Sky Interior, which includes a spacious cabin, inflight entertainment, on-demand video, power ports, and WiFi.
Inflight entertainment mockup from Boeing. Boeing
Passengers will also have access to large pivoting overhead bins, which maximizes the number of bags that can fit…
Space bins on the Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
…as well as huge windows, which are 20% larger than the competing A320 jet, according to Boeing.
Windows on the Boeing 737 MAX 10 test aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow. Taylor Rains/Insider
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