The Boeing B737

A jetliner smaller in size and shorter in range than theused for the 707 and 727 models. The strategy
707 or 720, many within the company thought thatproved successful in the head-to-head sales battles
segment of the market overcrowded withwith Douglas, as the 737 was slightly larger in
contenders, and Boeing board approval in 1959 fordiameter than the DC-9. Faced so soon after the 707
the proposed 727 was conditional on gettingDC8 struggle with a second round of intensive
preliminary orders from at least two major US airlines.competition with a better-funded rival, Douglas sold
Having secured a commitment from United andDC-9s at what proved to be unprofitable prices. By
Eastern to purchase 40 apiece, Boeing had an escapethe end of 1966 the once dominant company was
clause... if 100 727s had not been sold by 1 Decemberforced to merge with the defense contractor
1960 the program would be scrapped. 1960,McDonnell, forming the McDonnell Douglas Corporation
however, saw`the largest single transaction in(MDC) on 13 January 1967. This would all porve to
commercial aviation history.benefit Boeing.
The first 727 was rolled out on 27 November 1962,Boeing 737-300
and flew for the first time on 9 February 1963.However, problems for Douglas and the DC-9 did not
Delivered to Eastern Airlines in October 1963, its firsttranslate easily or quickly into success for Boeing and
scheduled commercial flight took place in Februarythe 737. Within Boeing itself, the program competed
1964. Although designed around an innovative wing,for financial and engineering resources, and as aresult
with a triple-slot construction that allowed it to became to market later than promised and even then
adjusted in size and shape to fill numerous andwith several nagging problems. The 737 was further
demanding roles for take-off, cruising and landing, theburdened in its competition with the DC-9 and BAC
727used the fuselage of the 707 to reduce designOne-Eleven by US union demands that the 737 carry
and production costs. The 727 was powered bythree flight crew instead of two, a disadvantage that
Pratt and Whitney's newest fan jet, the JT8D,was not shed until 1981.
arranged around the tail of the aircraft in aIt would, in fact, be a full 20 years after its launch
three-engine configuration; a concept borrowedthat the 737 would meet and then surpass the
directly from the British de Havilland Trident. Despiteexpectations of its designers by becoming the
significant early problems with the engines, the 727biggest-selling airliner in history. In the mid-1960s, the
performed better than expected, and sold rapidly.737 seemed to be precisely what the company did
Combined with the success of the 707/720, the 727not need, as along with the SST and the 747 jumbo
program propelled Boeing's commercial fortunes tojet programs it appeared to be dragging the
new milestones. In 1964, commercial sales for thecompany towards financial ruin.
first time exceed military and government sales. TheBoeing B737 New Gen IGW... The fight back.
next year, Boeing passenger airliners became theIt is a truism that competition often brings out the
most widely used: 36.2 percent of all passengerbest in people. It was as a response to competition
airliners flying had been made by Boeing, comparedfrom the Airbus A320, that Boeing developed an
with 26.8 percent for Douglas aircraft.update to the 737 in 1991 that was essentially a new
The 727 firmly established Boeing as the industryaircraft alrogether. The turnaround began here. The
leader. While electing not to challenge the 727737NG encompasses the -600, -700, -800 and -900.
directly, Douglas had designed an evenDifferent wings, different fuel capacity, different
smaller-capacity aircraft having only two jet engines,interior, a family of variants. IGW stands for
and was busy taking orders for the new model,increased ground weight.
designated DC-9. The British had also devised aThe 737 variants are divided into three generations.
credible entrant, the BAC One-Eleven, and BoeingThe Original models consist of the 737-100, 737-200
seemed in danger of missing a major market-200 Advanced. The Boeing Classic models consist of
opportunity as by early 1965 some 200the 737-300, 737-400, and 737-500. The Boeing B737
DC-9s and 100 BAC One-Elevens had been sold in theNG variants consist of the 737-600, 737-700/-700ER,
US and elsewhere. The response, tentative at first,737-800, and 737-900/-900ER, nine variants in total.
was the so-called `baby Boeing', predictablyBoeing B737 New Gen.
designated the 737.The New Gen program replaced the 737 Classic
Boeing B737series. Also referred to as the Boeing Next
Approved by the Boeing board on 1 February 1965,Generation series, Boeing-737 NGs is the abbreviation.
the German carrier Lufthansa served as Boeing's firstTo come right up-to-date, the 737-900ER is now the
foreign launch customer, ordering 21 x 737s at a pricestandard 737-900.
of US$4m each. United Airlines followed with an orderBoeing 737 NG/BBJ Boeing Business Jet.
for 40 with options on 30 more, and the 737Arguably the most successful "branch" of the family
program was on its way. The aircraft's first flightwas the BBJ1, BBJ2 and BBJ3. The BBJ1 was similar
was 9 April 1967 and was delivered to the twoto the 737-700, the BBJ2 based on the 737-800. The
airlines that same December.current version, Boeing BBJ3 is based on the
With the 737, Boeing again had sought to capitalize737-900ER. Boeing themselves describe the Boeing
on past investments that had been funded in partBusiness Jet as a commercially inspired airplane, which
from military programs, and opted for the samebrings commercial expertise to a new market, private
fuselage cross section on the 737 that had beenair travel, the corporate jet market.