The Aviation Magazine No. 54 January-February 2018 | Page 38
The interior of the single‐aisle 737 MAX 8 allows for 162 to 200 passengers, depending on the seating con‐
figuration. Larger carry‐on bins were added. And unlike traditional bins, these pivot downward for easier ac‐
cess and loading. The windows of the 737 MAX are 20% larger than those of its competition, Airbus’
A320neo. Boeing also added their unique “Sky Interior” to the 737 MAX 8 allowing for customizable LED light‐
ing to improve passenger comfort in the cabin throughout their flight.
The tail sections of the Norwegian’s 737 Max 8’s feature black and white images of a variety of famous peo‐
ple.
To date, the 737 MAX 8 has been the fastest selling airplane in Boeing’s history with over 3,800 orders from
88 customers. The 737 MAX 8 is the first MAX variant of the 737 MAX to be produced. Additional variations
of the 737 MAX ‐ the MAX 9, MAX 7, and MAX 10 ‐ with differences in size and passenger capacities will be
introduced starting in 2020.
The most‐noticeable change on the exterior of Norwegian’s 737 MAX 8 were the advanced winglets. With
aerofoils pointing downward, this new design allows for natural laminar flow and maximizes the lift of the air‐
craft. In turn, this increases the range of a 737 to over 3,500 nautical miles, a 19% increase, setting a new
standard in aviation for fuel efficiency and performance.
A new engine, the CFM Leap‐1B, was designed for the 737 MAX 8 combing the best engine technologies avail‐
able today. The engine is fitted with 69‐inch carbon‐fiber fan blades with a titanium leading edge and chev‐
rons at the rear of the engine casing. The engine is placed higher and farther forward on the wing than in past
737 versions. Weighing in at 6,129 pounds, its 41:1 overall pressure ratio and advanced hot‐section materials
enable higher operating temperatures resulting in efficiencies including a 15% reduction in thrust‐specific fuel
consumption, a 20% decrease in carbon emissions, and a 50% decrease in nitrogen‐oxide emissions. Its im‐
provements also result in a 40% smaller noise footprint ‐ noticeable to all in the plane and on the ground.
Although tired after a long day, the Captain and First Officer appeared just as you want the pilots of the plane
you are riding in to appear ‐ clean‐cut, highly aware, and without a wrinkle in their uniforms. The very distin‐