Boeing 737 Family Compilation

Описание: Since the first Boeing 737 (Boeing 737-100) made its maiden flight in 1967, the aircraft has been a success. The Boeing 737-100 was soon improved, and the Boeing 737-200 became a must-have for almost every airline. The Boeing 737-200 could fly farther than its competitors and could also operate from significantly shorter runways. A particularly special feature was that the Boeing 737-200 was certified for operation from unpaved runways! This makes it, to this day, the only standard jet airliner for which such certification can be obtained.

Until 1984, the various versions of the 737 were the workhorse of most airlines worldwide. From 1984 onward, the Boeing 737 Classic (B737-300, -400, -500) entered the market. The Classic family was modernized, featuring the then-new CFM56-3 engines. These significantly more powerful engines allowed the Boeing 737 to be considerably lengthened and its takeoff weight increased. The Boeing 737 Classic family was also offered in a wide variety of versions for short-haul to short-haul long-haul routes, as a pure passenger version as well as a combi.

In 1998, the completely redesigned Boeing 737 NextGen (B737-600, -700, -800, -900) was launched. Although the fuselage remained largely the same, apart from the length, the wings were significantly redesigned, and the aircraft received new CFM56-7B engines. Boeing also offered various versions of the Boeing 737 NextGen, and there was a NextGen version for each previous model to directly replace the older versions. The Boeing 737-900ER was a new variant, offering over 200 seats. However, the combi versions were no longer popular in the NextGen family. Only the Boeing 737-700 remained as a combi, but only four of these were delivered. The Boeing 737 NextGen also introduced something entirely new to the market: the Boeing BBJ. The Boeing BBJ was, and still is, a factory-built Boeing aircraft. Offered business version for long-haul business trips. The Boeing 737 NextGen is the most successful and most mature series of the Boeing 737.

The latest generation of the Boeing 737 is the Boeing 737 MAX family, which became available in 2016. The Boeing 737 MAX (B737 MAX 7, MAX 8, MAX 9, MAX 10) was redesigned once again to bring the Boeing 737 up to date after 50 years. It received the new CFM LEAP engines and other technical improvements. For the first time since the Boeing 737's inception, the autopilot on the Boeing 737 MAX could intervene. The new, larger engines had to be mounted differently on the wing, which made a stall more likely under certain conditions. To prevent this, the autopilot can intervene and work against the pilots' instructions. Until then, the Boeing 737 only did what the pilots wanted it to. This new system, however, led to two aircraft being brought down by the autopilot right at the beginning because the pilots were unfamiliar with the system and how to handle malfunctions.

The Boeing 737 MAX is also available in several special versions. For example, there is an SFP (Short Field Performance) version of the 737 MAX 8, and a special version of the MAX 8 for Ryanair, the MAX 8200, was also launched, carrying up to 200 passengers (instead of 189). However, the MAX family has reached its limits; the aircraft have become very heavy for their performance, and even the MAX 9 is already limited in its takeoff performance at normal summer temperatures. The Boeing 737 MAX is good, but it is now only as good as all other airliners in its class, with its only real competitor being the Airbus A320neo family. With the 45-meter-long MAX 10, designed for up to 230 passengers, Boeing aims to replace the Boeing 737 MAX. The Boeing 737 MAX 10 is a competitor to the Airbus A321neo, but due to its comparatively weak engines and resulting limited takeoff weight, it is nowhere near as powerful as the A321neo, and certainly not as capable as the Boeing 757.

With over 12,300 units built, the Boeing 737 is the most produced and most successful passenger aircraft. Many older models are still in service today, although many have been converted into freighters. Even the Boeing 737-200 is still in operation, as its ability to run on unpaved runways means there is still no modern replacement. Despite its success, the days of the Boeing 737 are numbered, and a new aircraft from Boeing is urgently needed – one that stands out from the competition.