Company Says Weather, Other Factors Will Play A Role

Boeing sent out a Tweet on Friday with news that the industry has been waiting to hear.

"We're proud to announce first flight of the #737MAX is set for Jan. 29, pending weather & other factors. #Boeing" the company said on the social media service.

Boeing rolled out the re-engined version of its single-aisle workhorse jertliner December 8th. According to a Boeing news release at the time, the production-complete airplane rolled out of the Renton factory and into the paint hangar on Nov. 30, the precise date determined when the MAX development schedule was defined more than four years ago. Today the freshly painted 737 MAX 8, named the Spirit of Renton, was revealed to employees in a special teal version of the Boeing livery.

The second and third 737 MAX 8 flight test airplanes are currently in final assembly, and the fourth (and final) is in sub-assembly. Boeing says the 737 MAX remains on track for first delivery to launch customer Southwest Airlines in the third quarter of 2017.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.boeing.com