A new 737-900ER for Continental Airlines departed Boeing Field on August 15th with something new under its wing. If you look closely, you can spot the new CFM56-7B Evolution engine on the left wing of N37434. The nacelle is elongated and the nozzle plug shortened to accomodate the new engine that Boeing says will improve fuel burn on the 737 by 1%. In conjunction with changes to the wing control surfaces, a redesigned anti-collision light, revised wheel well fairing and ECS inlet and exhaust changes, Boeing hopes to improve the fuel consumption of the 737 NG family by a total of 2% by mid-2011.However, did the 7BE really make its first flight? According to CFM, which unveiled the Evolution engine in April, the engine isn't supposed to fly on a 737 for more than a year. The first time the 7BE is expected to take to the sky is in February of 2010 under the wing of GE's 747 testbed, followed by certification in July 2010 and first flight on a Continental 737 in October 2010.
So, what's going on here? Just a test of the new nacelle and plug? Can someone shed some light?
UPDATE 2:10 PM: N37434 did fly with the revised nacelle on August 15th, but without the Evolution engine. We have about another year to wait before the 7BE is flown on a 737.
Photo Credit Joe Walker
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