The second largest plane ever to wear Southwest Airlines paint made its first flight today as Boeing pilots took the 737-800 (N8301J) for a test drive over Washington.
Southwest modified an order for more of their their mainstay 737-700s in late 2010 to include 20 of the larger, 175-seat -800 models.
All twenty 737-800s are expected to be delivered to Southwest this year, all of which will sport Boeing’s Sky Interior, a major makeover for the 737, an aircraft type that first flew in 1967.
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Photos by David Lilienthal
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story indicated that the 737-800 was the largest type ever operated by Southwest. The Boeing 727-200 was in fact larger.