Before the Philippines became an “Airbus nation” in the early 2000s, the Boeing 737 was the workhorse of the country’s aviation sector. As a result, the lengthy aviation history of the Boeing 737 is mostly unknown. In this article, I’ll give you an overview of the history and evolution of the Boeing 737 and its many iterations.
The 737 is a twin-jet narrow-body aircraft made by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Its range is less than 5,000 miles. The 737 is the best-selling commercial airliner ever, with more than 10,000 delivered and another 4,000 on order. Also, more 737s than any other type is now in service, making it the most widely used narrow-body aircraft.
The beginning of the Boeing 737
Boeing made the 737 in 1964 as an economical twin-engine plane to go with the 727 on shorter, thinner routes. Launched on April 9, 1967, the 737-100 was quickly followed by the larger 737-200 in 1968. Early versions of the 737 were popular with airlines right away because they were reliable and efficient.
The Boeing 737-300, -400, and -500 series all came out in the 1980s. Together, they are called the 737 Classic series. The engines and electronics of these variants were upgraded, and they could hold more passengers. For more than twenty years, the 737 Classic series was the backbone of many carriers’ fleets, and many of those planes are still in use today.
The new generation and the 737 MAX
More sophisticated versions of the 737 (the -700, -800, and -900ER) were developed by Boeing in the 1990s. These planes had improved engines, avionics, and aerodynamics. Airlines all around the globe continue to buy these planes because they are more fuel-efficient and passenger-friendly than their predecessors.
Boeing came out with the 737 MAX in 2011. It is a version of the 737 Next Generation that has been re-engineered and re-designed. More efficient and longer-range CFM International LEAP-1B engines were installed in the 737 MAX. The MAX significantly improved seating capacity and used modern avionics and aerodynamics.
Here are the differences between the Boeing 737NG and the 737 MAX:
- The 737 MAX’s engines are more powerful and fuel-efficient than those of the 737 NG. Therefore, the MAX can carry more people and travel farther distances.
- The 737 MAX’s wing and tail section have been modified to increase its aerodynamic performance and decrease its fuel consumption.
- The avionics and cockpit of the 737 MAX have been modified to provide pilots with additional data and make the plane simpler to operate. The Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) is a new flight control system installed on the MAX that is meant to assist avoid an aerodynamic stall.
- The 737 MAX has a capacity of up to 230 people, whereas the 737 NG has a maximum capacity of 189.
- The 737 MAX, the newest model in the 737 family, went into production in 2017. Production of the 737 NG ceased in the middle of the ten-tens.
737 MAX crashes and grounding
In spite of its safety record, the 737 MAX has been involved in two deadly disasters, both of which killed everyone on board (Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302). According to the investigations, the crashes were caused by MCAS, the new flight control system that was added to the 737 MAX. The system was found to have been constantly pushing the plane’s nose down, which led to the plane losing control.
As a consequence, all 737 MAX planes were grounded across the globe in March 2019, and they won’t be allowed to fly again until the FAA gives them the all-clear in December 2020. Many airlines have reinstated the 737 MAX into service since then, after rigorous testing and modifications to guarantee the aircraft’s safety, such as the redesign of the MCAS system.
Even though the 737 MAX has been involved in recent disasters, many airlines still use it as a key plane. The 737 is always a favorite among airlines around the world because it is the best choice when it comes to cost, passenger comfort, and reliability. The 737 is popular because it can be set up for a wide range of jobs, from short regional flights to long international flights.
The 737 MAX 10 is the newest member of Boeing’s 737 family, which also includes the 737 Next Generation and the 737 MAX. The 737 MAX 10 is the longest-ranged and most-spacious version of the 737 MAX family.
The Boeing 737 has been around for a long time and has a lot of history. It is widely known as a quality standard in the airliner industry. This aircraft type is still widely used by airlines throughout the globe, despite the problems that have arisen recently, and it is expected to stay in service for many years to come. The 737 is the workhorse of the airline industry because it can do a lot of different things and is reliable and productive.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
