Boeing has rolled-out its first completed B737 Max 8.
The freshly-painted aircraft, named the Spirit of Renton, was unveiled to employees at the manufacturer's assembly line in Renton, Washington.
It will now undergo pre-flight preparation and is set to take-off for the first time in early 2016.
The second and third B737 Max 8 test aircraft are currently in final assembly and the fourth and final is in sub-assembly.
Launch customer Southwest Airlines is scheduled to take delivery of the aircraft in the third quarter of 2017.
The B737 Max 8 is a single-aisle aircraft which will have a seat capacity of about 200, although the actual number will depend on individual airline configurations.
Budget airline Norwegian has put in its order for 100 aircraft, which will enable it to operate between the UK, mainland Europe and US East Coast ports such as Boston, New York and Washington.
A statement from Boeing said: "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 production. The 737 Max family has nearly 3,000 orders from 60 customers worldwide."
Subscribers can read a feature on narrow-body aircraft designed for transatlantic crossings, from our November 2015 issue, here.
Graham Smith
