ARTICLE

The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft family produced by Boeing at its Renton, Washington factory. First introduced in 1968, it has become the best-selling commercial jetliner in aviation history. The 737 family has undergone four generations of development: the Original (-100/-200), Classic (-300/-400/-500), Next Generation (-600/-700/-800/-900), and MAX (7/8/9/10) series.

Development History

Original Series (1967–1988)

The 737 was conceived as a shorter, lower-cost twinjet to complement Boeing's 707 and 727. The initial -100 model (first flight April 9, 1967) was followed by the lengthened -200, which became more popular. Key features included:

• Pratt & Whitney JT8D low-bypass turbofan engines
• Capacity for 85–124 passengers
• Mechanical flight controls

Classic Series (1984–2000)

The 737-300/-400/-500 series introduced:

• CFM International CFM56 high-bypass turbofans
• Glass cockpit with EFIS displays
• Increased passenger capacity (up to 168)
• Improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency

Next Generation (NG, 1997–2020)

The 737NG series represented a major redesign:

• New wing with increased span and area
• Modern avionics including LCD displays
• Revised interior with Boeing Sky Interior option
• Winglets as standard on most models
• Variants from 110 seats (-600) to 215 seats (-900ER)

MAX Series (2017–present)

The current generation features:

• CFM International LEAP-1B engines
• Advanced Technology winglets
• Boeing Sky Interior as standard
• MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System)
• 12–14% better fuel efficiency than NG

Design

Common Features

All 737 variants share key design elements:

• Low-wing cantilever monoplane
• Six-abreast economy seating (3+3)
• Two underwing-mounted turbofan engines
• Tricycle landing gear with main gear retracting into fuselage
• Semi-monocoque aluminum fuselage (composite materials in MAX)

Flight Deck

The 737 flight deck has evolved through generations:

• Original: Analog gauges with three-crew operation
• Classic: Transition to two-crew glass cockpit
• NG: Six LCD displays with integrated avionics
• MAX: Large format displays with optional HUD

Variants

Generation	Model	Length	Seats	Range	Introduced
Original	737-100	28.6 m	85	3,440 km	1968
Original	737-200	30.5 m	102	4,440 km	1968
Classic	737-300	33.4 m	126	4,204 km	1984
Classic	737-400	36.5 m	147	4,204 km	1988
Classic	737-500	31.0 m	110	4,444 km	1990
NG	737-600	31.2 m	110	5,648 km	1998
NG	737-700	33.6 m	126	6,230 km	1998
NG	737-800	39.5 m	162	5,765 km	1998
NG	737-900ER	42.1 m	180	5,925 km	2007
MAX	737 MAX 7	35.6 m	138	7,130 km	2019
MAX	737 MAX 8	39.5 m	178	6,570 km	2017
MAX	737 MAX 9	42.2 m	193	6,570 km	2018
MAX	737 MAX 10	43.8 m	204	6,110 km	2023

Operational History

The 737 family has been operated by over 500 airlines worldwide. Notable aspects include:

• Over 30 billion passengers carried
• More than 300 aircraft in the air at any given time
• Average of one 737 taking off or landing every 5 seconds
• Primary workhorse for low-cost carriers globally

Accidents and Incidents

The 737 family has been involved in several notable accidents:

• 737 MAX grounding (2019–2020) following two fatal crashes
• 2006 Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907 mid-air collision
• 2010 Air India Express Flight 812 overshoot accident
• 2018 Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 engine failure

See Also

• Airbus A320 family - main competitor
• Boeing 707 - predecessor
• Boeing 757 - stretched narrow-body successor
• List of Boeing 737 operators

External Links

• Boeing 737 MAX official page
• Boeing 737 history