The Next-generation Boeing 737-700 has reached an altitude of 41,000ft (12,500m) during flight testing, beating previous 737 altitudes by 4,000ft and attaining the target height which was planned for type certification.
The record height was achieved by the crew of the second 737-700 flight-test aircraft on a test sortie at Mach 0.81(465kt/700km/h).
The second 737-700, which had its first flight at the beginning of March, was initially flown "green", but has now been painted in the colours of launch customer Southwest Airlines. It is the second of four 737-700s destined to be used in the flight-test programme.
The new 737 variant can be flown higher than aircraft of previous generations because it has the more powerful CFM International CFM56-7 engines, with a 10% higher thrust capability than the current 737's CFM56-3C powerplants, and a 25% larger wing, with an area of 125m2 (1,350ft2).
Reaching the higher-cruising-altitude capability was a vital part of the next-generation 737's envelope expansion, giving airlines more route flexibility, particularly on some of the longer sectors of up to 5,550km (3,000nm) of which the series will be capable.
Source: Flight International
