The engine nacelles were mounted directly to the underside of the wings, without pylons, allowing the landing gear to be shortened, thus lowering the fuselage to improve baggage and passenger access. Engineer Joe Sutter relocated the engines to the wings which lightened the structure and simplified the accommodation of six-abreast seating in the fuselage. The initial concept featured podded engines on the aft fuselage, a T-tail as with the 727, and five-abreast seating. Preliminary design work began on May 11, 1964, based on research that indicated a market for a fifty to sixty passenger airliner flying routes of 50 to 1,000 miles (100 to 1,600 km). The 737 MAX, designed to compete with the A320neo, was grounded worldwide between March 2019 and November 2020 following two fatal crashes.ĭevelopment 1964 concept with tail mounted engines October 18, 1966, Jet aircraft patent, filed June 22, 1965, by John Steiner and Joe Sutter for Boeing Initial design īoeing had been studying short-haul jet aircraft designs, and saw a need for a new aircraft to supplement the 727 on short and thin routes. It was the highest-selling commercial aircraft until being surpassed by the competing Airbus A320 family in October 2019, but maintains the record in total deliveries. In 2013, the global 737 fleet had completed more than 184 million flights over 264 million block hours since its entry into service. Initially, its main competitor was the McDonnell Douglas DC-9, followed by its MD-80/ MD-90 derivatives. The latest generation, the 737 MAX, 737-7/8/9/10 MAX, powered by improved CFM LEAP-1B high bypass turbofans and accommodating 138 to 204 people, entered service in 2017.īoeing Business Jet versions are produced since the 737NG, as well as military models.Īs of August 2023, 15,907 Boeing 737s have been ordered and 11,535 delivered. Introduced in 1997, the 737 Next Generation (NG) -600/700/800/900 variants have updated CFM56-7 turbofans, a larger wing and an upgraded glass cockpit, and seat 108 to 215 passengers. Launched in 1980 and introduced in 1984, the 737 Classic -300/400/500 variants were upgraded with CFM56-3 turbofans and offered 110 to 168 seats. The 737-100/200 original variants were powered by Pratt & Whitney JT8D low-bypass engines and offered seating for 85 to 130 passengers.

The lengthened 737-200 entered service in April 1968, and evolved through four generations, offering several variants for 85 to 215 passengers. Envisioned in 1964, the initial 737-100 made its first flight in April 1967 and entered service in February 1968 with Lufthansa. The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing at its Everett and Renton factories in Washington.ĭeveloped to supplement the Boeing 727 on short and thin routes, the twinjet retains the 707 fuselage width and six abreast seating but with two underwing turbofans instead of four.

Boeing vs airbus cockpit windows