Boeing Business Jets introduced a new aircraft, the BBJ MAX 7, with a range of up to 7,000 nautical miles for eight passengers, and described it as a feasible option for routes between Asia, the Middle East, and North America. BBJ is a joint venture of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and GE Aviation, operating as a commercial unit within the former. It develops variants of Boeing jets, mainly the 737 series, including the latest model. It follows the BBJ MAX 8 and BBJ MAX 9.
Boeing Business Jets has orders for 11 BBJ MAX 8s on order and one BBJ MAX 9. It claims to have drawn “strong interest” already for the BBJ MAX 7.
According to David Longridge, president of Boeing Business Jets, “We know customers are going to love this airplane. In terms of range, cabin space, cargo volume, and operating economics, the BBJ MAX 7 cannot be beat.”
The BBJ series was introduced in 1999, drawing on a 737 commercial airframe with modifications for private jet service. Some changes include blended winglets intended to increase fuel economy by 3-5%, self-contained air-stairs for boarding or disembarking at airports without standard terminal service, and more fuel capacity for extended flight range.
The BBJ MAX 7 is longer than the original BBJ, with more cabin space in the cabin and additional cargo carrying capacity in the lower section
The BBJ MAX 7 adopts the CFM International LEAP-1B engine, which offers a more economical fuel-burn rate and lower carbon emissions. This also means that the jet may offer more cargo space as the space reserved for auxiliary fuel tanks becomes available for alternative use “regardless of mission length,” according to Boeing’s announcement.
The BBJ MAX 7 maintains various standard design features of the BBJ MAX 8 and BBJ MAX 9, including the flight deck design, improved aerodynamics, reduced noise profile, and fly-by-wire spoilers.
The OEM noted that the BBJ MAX 7 offers the lowest operating costs of any Boeing Business Jets aircraft.
“We are in active discussions with more than ten customers for the BBJ MAX 7 and we are just getting started,” said Longridge. “We are very confident that the BBJ MAX 7 will be a very successful business jet and we are excited to introduce the airplane to our customers.”
