Boeing 737: American narrow-body aircraft

Boeing 737 family Boeing 737-8LJ (RA-73245) Pobeda at Vnukovo airport (Moscow, Russia) The Boeing 737 is an American narrow-body aircraft manufactured by Boeing at its plant in Renton, Washington. This twin-engine airliner, developed as a successor to the Boeing 727, retained the fuselage width characteristic of the 707 and a six-seat cabin layout. Unlike its predecessors, it is equipped with two Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofan engines mounted under the wings. The first flight took place in April 1967, and it entered service in February 1968 with Lufthansa. An extended version appeared in April of the same year and went through four generations, offering various seating capacities ranging from 85 to 215 passengers. As of March 2026, 17,336 Boeing 737s had been ordered, of which 12,486 had already been delivered. Until October 2019, the 737 remained the best-selling commercial aircraft, but it was overtaken by the Airbus A320 family. Nevertheless, the 737 continued to lead in terms of deliveries until September 2025. Its main competitors were the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and its MD-80/MD-90 variants. Main competitors of the Boeing 737: Airbus A320 family — the main rival due to its reliability, ease of maintenance, and upgradeability. COMAC C919 — a Chinese aircraft with a capacity of 156–192 passengers. Airbus A220 (formerly Bombardier CSeries) — a Canadian aircraft with a capacity of 130–190 passengers, acquired by Airbus in 2017. Embraer E-Jet is a Brazilian project designed to carry 180–240 passengers. MC-21, Tu-204, and SSJ100 are Russian aircraft being considered in the context of import substitution. SE 210 Caravelle is a French turbojet passenger aircraft produced from 1958 to 1972. Generations and Variants 737 Original (First Generation) The Boeing 737 Original is the name given to the first series of the Boeing 737 family, comprising the -100 and -200 models. They are sometimes referred to as the “737 Jurassic.” 737-100 (ICAO code: B731) The original 737-100, released in 1965, cost $3.6 million (equivalent to $33.3 million in 2025). A total of 30 aircraft were produced: 22 for Lufthansa, 5 for Malaysia–Singapore Airlines, and 2 for Avianca. It was replaced by the 737-200 in 1967. The original thrust reversers proved ineffective and were improved in 1968. An extended exhaust pipe and new thrust reversers were added. These changes increased payload and range, and also improved takeoff and landing performance. The first and last 737-100s were operated as prototypes and VIP aircraft. 737-200 (B732) The 737-200 is a stretched version of the 737-100, developed in 1965 for United Airlines. It entered service in 1968. The cost in 1968 was $4 million, and in 1972, $5.2 million. The improved 737-200 Advanced version, introduced in 1971, featured improved aerodynamics, more powerful engines, and increased range. Boeing also offered the 737-200C and 737-200QC for cargo-passenger operations. The last 737-200 was delivered to Xiamen Airlines in 1988. Scheduled passenger service ceased in 2008. As of 2018, the aircraft were in use by charter airlines. Boeing developed a gravel protection kit for operation on short or unpaved runways. As of 2023, 50 737-200 aircraft remained in service. During the suspension of 737 MAX operations, demand for older models increased. Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 (EI-IJH) Ryanair at El Prat (Barcelona, Spain) 737 Classic (second generation) The Boeing 737 Classic (737-300/400/500) was produced from 1984 to 2000, with a total of 1,988 aircraft delivered. In 2008, fuel prices peaked, and airlines were spending 40% of the ticket price on fuel. In response, to reduce costs, they retired the Classic aircraft and replaced them with more fuel-efficient 737 Next Generation or A320 models. On June 4, 2008, United Airlines retired 94 Classic 737 aircraft (64 737-300s and 30 737-500s), replacing them with A320s from its subsidiary Ted, which it had closed. This intensified competition between Airbus and Boeing, turning it into a duopoly. 737-300 (B733) Development of the first major modification of the 737 began in 1979, and in 1980, the 737-300 was unveiled at the Farnborough Airshow as a new generation of the aircraft. This variant, later named the 737 Classic, competed with the MD-80, the MD-90, and the Airbus A320. Boeing engineer Mark Gregoire led the development of the new CFM56-3B-1 engine, which improved fuel efficiency and reduced noise but required engineering solutions for installation on the 737 due to its low height. The engine was mounted in front of the wing. The first flight of the 737-300 prototype took place on February 24, 1984, and production aircraft underwent a nine-month certification process. The 737-300SP, upgraded with winglets, was designated the -300SP. The aircraft was replaced by the Next Generation 737-700 series. 737-400 (B734) Boeing introduced the 737-400 in 1985 to fill the gap between the 737-300 and 757-200 models. This model extended the fuselage by 10 feet, increasing capacity to 188 passengers. To prevent the tail from striking the ground during takeoff, a tail bumper was installed and the wing spar was reinforced. The 737-400 made its first flight on February 19, 1988. The 737-400SF is a 737-400 converted into a cargo aircraft. This modification was not produced by Boeing, which is why it was nicknamed the Special Freighter (SF). 737-500 (B735) The 737-500 was introduced in 1987 as a replacement for the 737-200. Its maiden flight took place on June 30, 1989. Southwest Airlines received its first aircraft on February 28, 1990. The extended fuselage (by 48 cm) accommodates up to 140 passengers. The CFM56-3 engine provided a 25% fuel savings. The 737-500 remained in service for 21 years and was replaced by the 737-600 Next Generation, which was not as successful. Boeing 737-85P (G-GDFF) Jet2 737 NG (third generation) The Boeing 737 Next Generation, or 737NG, is the collective name for the -600, -700, -800, and -900 variants. Production of this aircraft began in 1996, and it was unveiled in 1997. As of May 2019, Boeing had delivered 7,031 of the 7,097 aircraft ordered. The main goal was to equip the 737 with more powerful CFM56-7 engines. In the early 1990s, the Airbus A320 family began to displace Boeing from the narrow-body aircraft market. Airbus lured away customers such as Lufthansa and United Airlines. The new aircraft featured a wider and larger wing, increased fuel tanks, range, and takeoff weight. They were equipped with CFM56-7 engines, a glass cockpit, and an improved interior layout. The -600, -700, -800, and -900 models could carry between 108 and 215 passengers. In addition, the corporate Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) and the military P-8 Poseidon were developed. After Boeing merged with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, the A320 family became the 737NG’s main competitor. 737-600 (B736) The Boeing 737-600 became the smallest model in the Next-Generation series, replacing its predecessor, the 737-500. It did not have winglets, and its dimensions were similar to those of the Airbus A318. The first customer was Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), which placed an order in March 1995 and received its first delivery in September 1998. A total of 69 aircraft were produced. 737-700 (B737) The 737-700 is the first Next-Generation model, introduced in November 1993. It can carry 126 passengers in a two-class configuration or 149 in a single-class configuration. The 737-700C is a modified version with convertible seats that can be removed to carry cargo. A large cargo door is located on the left side of the fuselage. The U.S. Navy was the first to order this model under the military designation C-40 Clipper. The 737-700ER (Extended Range) debuted on January 31, 2006. It features the fuselage of the 737-700 and the wings and landing gear of the 737-800. Typically configured in a two-class layout, the aircraft seats 126 passengers, and its range is comparable to that of the Airbus A319LR. 737-800 (B738) The Boeing 737-800 is an extended version of the 737-700. It was unveiled on September 5, 1994, and made its maiden flight on July 31, 1997. In a two-class configuration, the aircraft seats 162 passengers, and in a single-class configuration, up to 189 with high seating density. Currently, the Boeing 737-800 is the most popular narrow-body aircraft. 737-900 (B739) The Boeing 737-900 made its debut in November 1997 and completed its maiden flight on August 3, 2000. It is longer than the 737-800 but retains the same specifications: maximum takeoff weight, fuel tanks, and cabin configuration. The cabin is configured to seat 177 passengers in a two-class layout or 189 in a high-density single-class layout. Alaska Airlines, the first customer, received the aircraft in May 2001. A total of 52 aircraft were built. The Boeing 737-900ER, the largest member of the 737NG generation, was introduced in July 2005. The 737-900ER features additional emergency exits and a pressurized bulkhead in the tail, allowing it to carry up to 220 passengers. 737 MAX (fourth generation) The Boeing 737 MAX is an updated series featuring CFM LEAP-1B engines and aerodynamic improvements, competing with the Airbus A320neo. It includes the MAX 7, MAX 8 (including the MAX 200), MAX 9, and MAX 10, designed for 138–230 seats and a range of up to 3,825 nautical miles. Production was suspended in December 2019 but resumed in May 2020. On November 18, 2020, the FAA authorized the resumption of flights. 737 MAX 7 (B37M) The 737 MAX 7, a shorter version of the MAX 8, is based on the 737-700. It has a range 1,000 nautical miles greater, accommodates two additional rows of seats, and offers an 18% fuel savings per seat. The new design incorporates wings and landing gear from the 737-8, two over-wing emergency exits, extended fuselages, and structural modifications. The launch was originally scheduled for January 2019 with Southwest Airlines, but due to certification delays, it has been postponed until the first half of 2025. The 737 MAX 7 will replace the 737-700, with the capacity to carry 12 more passengers than the Airbus A319neo, while operating costs are 7% lower. 737 MAX 8 (B38M) The 737 MAX 8, the first version of the 737 MAX, was unveiled on July 23, 2013. Its first commercial flight took place on May 22, 2017. It replaced the 737-800 and competes with the A320neo. The 737 MAX 200, an improved version of the MAX 8 with a capacity of up to 200 passengers, was unveiled in September 2014. The first flight took place on January 13, 2019, with entry into service scheduled for April 2019. 737 MAX 9 (B39M) The 737 MAX 9, an extended version of the MAX 8, was ordered in February 2012 for 201 aircraft. The first aircraft rolled out on March 7, 2017, and the maiden flight took place on April 13 of that year. Certification was received in February 2018. The 737 MAX 9 replaced the 737-900 model and competes with the Airbus A321neo. 737 MAX 10 (B3XM) In 2016, Boeing introduced the extended MAX 9, with a capacity of 230 seats in a single-class configuration or 189 in a two-class configuration, compared to the A321neo’s 193 seats. The 1.7-meter fuselage extension allowed the wing and CFM Leap 1B engine from the MAX 9 to be retained, with the only change being to the landing gear linkage system. The MAX 10 entered production in June 2017 with 240 orders from more than ten companies. The MAX 10 has the same capacity as the A321XLR, but a shorter range and poorer performance at small airports. Unveiled at the Renton plant in November 2019, its first flight took place on June 18, 2021. Boeing 737-93Y(ER) (VQ-BBB) Somon Air Characteristics Manufacturer: The Boeing Company Assembly: Renton (Washington, United States) First flight: April 9, 1967 Years of production: 1966— Production: 12,486 (all modifications) Length: 28.65 m (94 ft) – 42.1 m (138 ft)  Wingspan: 35.8 / 35.9 m (≈117 ft) Crew: 2 Capacity: 85–230 passengers Engine: 2× CFM International CFM56-7B26 / CFM International LEAP-1B28 Maximum speed: 1020 km/h (556 kn) Range: 7130 km (3850 nmi) Service ceiling: 12,496 m (41,000 feet) Empty weight: ≈28 t (62,000 lbs) – ≈41 t (90,000 lbs) Boeing 737-8AS (RA-73084) UTair See also Transport blog See also Cars blog See also Motorcycles blog See also Buses blog See also Shipbuilding blog See also Motors and Engines blog See also Trains and railways blog See also Trucks and Cargo Vehicles blog See also Tractors and Special Equipment blog See also Tanks and Armored Vehicles See also Airplanes blog See also Helicopters blog See also Artillery, Missiles and Rockets blog See also Bicycles blogThe post Boeing 737: American narrow-body aircraft first appeared on All PYRENEES.