Boeing 737

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Denniss (talk | contribs) at 00:06, 18 June 2007 (Undid revision 138858275 by 72.197.96.86 (talk)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Infobox Aircraft

The Boeing 737 is the world's most popular medium range, narrow body airliner. With over 6,000 ordered and over 5,000 delivered, it is the most ordered and produced commercial passenger jet of all time and has been continuously manufactured by Boeing since 1967. The 737 is now so widely used that at any given time, there are over 1,250 airborne worldwide.[1] On average, one takes off or lands every five seconds.[1]

Development

The 737 was born out of Boeing's need to introduce a competitor in the short-range, small capacity jetliner market which had been pioneered by the Sud Aviation Caravelle, BAC 1-11 and the Douglas DC-9. While Boeing had originally planned for a 60 to 85 seat airplane, consultation with launch customer Lufthansa resulted in a change to 100 seats.[2]

Boeing was far behind its competitors when the 737 was launched, as rival aircraft were already into flight certification. To speed up the development time, Boeing reused 60 percent of the structure and systems of the existing 727, most notably the fuselage cross section, which permitted six-abreast seating compared to the rival 1-11 and DC-9's five-abreast layout.[2] The same basic fuselage cross section was also used on the 707, and later on the 757.

Significantly, the widened cross-section and short fuselage complicated the aerodynamics of the planned aft-mounted engines. As a result, engineers mounted the engines on pylons directly to the underside of the wings; which kept the aircraft low to the ground for easy ramp operations.[3] Later in the 737's life when high-bypass turbofans were fitted, design changes to engine pods was required for ground clearance.

Operational history

The first 737-100 made its maiden flight on 9 April 1967 piloted by Brien Wygle and Lew Wallick[4] and entered service in February 1968 with Lufthansa, the first non-American airline to launch a new Boeing aircraft. The 737-200 made its maiden flight on 8 August 1967. Lufthansa was the only significant customer to purchase the 737-100 and only 30 aircraft were ever produced. The lengthened 737-200 was widely preferred and was produced until 1988. The launch customer of the 737-200 was United Airlines. The inaugural flight for United was flown on 28 April 1968 from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Grand Rapids, Michigan (GRR). After aircraft #135, a series of improvements were incorporated in to the 737-200. This became known as the 737-200 Advanced, which became the production standard.

In the early 1980s, the 737 was given its first major facelift. The 737 Classic series introduced new technology while retaining commonality with previous 737s. Fitting the CFM56 engine yielded significant gains in fuel economy, but also posed an engineering challenge given the low ground clearance of the 737. Boeing and engine supplier CFMI solved the problem by placing the engine ahead of (rather than below) the wing, and by moving engine accessories to the sides (rather than the bottom) of the engine pod, giving the 737 a distinct non-circular air intake.

Prompted by the modern Airbus A320, Boeing initiated the 737 Next Generation (NG) program in 1993. The 737NG encompasses the -600, -700, -800 and -900, and is to date the most significant upgrade of the airframe. The performance of the 737NG is essentially that of a new airplane, but important commonality is retained from previous 737.

In 2004, Boeing offered a Short Field Performance package in response to the needs of Gol Transportes Aéreos, who frequently operate from restricted airports. The optional package is available for the 737NG models and standard equipment for the 737-900ER. The enhancements improve takeoff and landing performance.

Boeing has already hinted that a "clean sheet" replacement for the 737 (internally dubbed "Y1") could follow the 787.

On February 13, 2006, Boeing delivered the 5,000th 737 to Southwest Airlines. This 737-700 is the 447th 737 to join the carrier's all-Boeing 737 fleet.

On 21 August 2006, Sky News alleged that Boeing's Next Generation 737s built from 1994 to 2002 contained defective parts. The report stated that various parts of the airframe produced by Ducommun were found to be defective by Boeing employees but that Boeing refused to take action. Boeing said that the allegations were "without merit".[5]

Boeing 737 planform is shown on this KLM takeoff.

On 7 February 2007, a Brazilian judge banned 737-700 and -800 aircraft from operating out of São Paulo’s Congonhas airport due to recent runway overrun incidents during wet weather.[6] No such ban was imposed on Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft or other 737 models, whose minimum runway landing distance was deemed safe for Congonhas.

Description

Engines on the 737 Classic series (300,400,500) and Next-Generation series (600, 700, 800, 900) appear not to have circular inlets, as most aircraft do. Engineers needed additional space to locate equipment on the more powerful engines, but because the 737 sits lower to the ground than most airplanes, the enlarged engine would sit too close to the ground. Instead, the engineers placed equipment on the engine's sides, giving the engine a somewhat triangular rounded shape. Boeing and CFM International, the engine manufacturer, claim that the shape actually yields slightly improved performance.[citation needed] The necessary nacelle redesign is known in the industry as "hamsterisation", because of the resemblance of the shape to the rodent. Because the engine is so close to the ground, 737-300s and later are more prone to engine foreign-object damage (FOD).

737s are not equipped with fuel dump systems. Depending upon the nature of the emergency, 737s either circle to burn-off fuel or land overweight. Also, the 737 has no full doors covering the main landing gear. The main landing gear (under the wings at mid-cabin), rotate into wells in the plane's belly, the legs being covered by partial doors, and "brush-like" seals aerodynamically smooth (or "fair") the wheels in the wells. The sides of the tires are exposed to the air in flight. "Hub caps" complete the aerodynamic profile of the wheels. It is forbidden to operate without the caps, because they are links to the ground speed sensor that interfaces with the anti-skid brake system. When observing a 737 take off, or at low altitude, the dark circles of the tires can be plainly seen. Boeing states that this design saves weight and reduces complexity.

Most 737 cockpits are equipped with "eyebrow windows" positioned above the main glareshield. Eyebrow windows were a feature of the original 707. They allowed for greater visibility in turns, and offered better sky views if navigating by stars. With modern avionics, they became redundant, and many pilots actually placed newspapers or other objects in them to block out sun glare. They were eliminated from the 737 cockpit design in 2004, although they are still installed in military variants and at customer request.

The Prototype 737 operated by NASA for testing.

Blended winglets are available as retrofits and in production on newer 737 aircraft. These winglets stand approximately 8 feet tall and are installed at the wing tips. They help with reduced fuel burn (by reducing vortex drag), reduced engine wear, and less noise on takeoff.

Variants

The 737 models can be divided into three generations, including nine major variants. The "Original" models consist of the 737-100, 737-200/-200 Advanced. The "Classic" models consist of the 737-300, 737-400, and 737-500. The "Next Generation" variants consist of the 737-600, 737-700/-700ER, 737-800, and 737-900/-900ER. Of these nine variants, many feature additional versions.

737 Original

737-100

The initial model was the 737-100, and was the smallest model. It was launched by Lufthansa in 1964 (which, by extension, launched the 737 itself) and entered service in 1968. Only a total of 30 737-100s were ordered and delivered. No 737-100s remain in service or in airworthy condition. The original Boeing prototype (now owned by NASA) is on exhibit in the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

737-200

File:Pluna.jpg
Pluna 737-200 taking off from Carrasco International Airport (Montevideo, Uruguay).
An Aero Asia International 737-200 Advanced.

The 737-200 was an extended version of the 737-100, in order to accommodate the U.S. market. United Airlines was the launch customer. It was launched in 1965 and entered service in 1968.

737-200 Advanced

The -200 was later updated as the 737-200 Advanced, which became the standard production version (from June 1971). The 737-200 Advanced was also sold as the 737-200 Executive Jet and the 737-200HGW (High Gross Weight).

These models are being phased out because of poor fuel efficiency, high noise emissions (despite the vast majority having had their JT8Ds fitted with hush kits) and escalating maintenance costs. A large number of the -200s still in operation are with "second tier" airlines and those of developing nations. The first generation 737s are all powered by Pratt & Whitney JT8D low-bypass ratio turbofan engines.

Boeing also provided the 737-200C (C for "Convertible"), that allowed conversion between passenger and cargo use. The 737-200QC (QC for "Quick Change") was a further variation of the 737-200C, facilitating rapid conversion between roles.

The 737-200 Advanced aircraft is still in service with a number of airlines.

One option on the 737-200 was the gravel kit, which enables this aircraft to operate on unpaved runways. Until 2007, Alaska Airlines utilized this option for some of its rural operations in Alaska.

737 Classic

Astraeus 737-300
British Airways 737-400.
File:PLL LOT Boeing 737-500-1-.jpg
A LOT Polish Airlines 737-500

The 737 Classic featured:

  • CFM56 turbofan engines, nearly 20% more fuel efficient than the JT8D.
  • Redesigned wing with improved aerodynamics.
  • Flight deck improvements with optional EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrumentation System).
  • Passenger cabin improvements similar to those on the Boeing 757.

737-300

The 737-300 was the first major overhaul of the 737 platform, incorporating a host of new improvements while also retaining commonality with previous 737. The -300 was launched in 1980 by USAir and Southwest Airlines, becoming the base model of the 737 Classic series. The 300 series remained in production until the late 1990s with the last unit being delivered to Air New Zealand on December 17 1999.

737-400

The 737-400 was stretched beyond the 737-300, primarily to accommodate charter airlines. Piedmont Airlines and Pace Airlines were the launch customers. The -400 was launched in 1985 and entered service in 1988 with Piedmont.

The 737-400F is not a model delivered by Boeing but a converted 737-400 to an all cargo aircraft. Alaska Airlines was the first to convert one of their 400s from regular service to an aircraft with the ability to handle 10 pallets.[2] The airline has also converted two more into fixed combi aircraft for half passenger and freight. These 737-400 Combi aircraft are now in service.

737-500

The 737-500 was the final 737 Classic developed. It was launched in 1987 by Southwest Airlines and entered service in 1990. The -500 returned to near the fuselage length of the 737-200 while incorporating the improvements of the 737 Classic series. It offered a modern and direct replacement of the 737-200, while also allowing longer routes with fewer passengers to be more economical than with the 737-300.

Third-party conversion of passenger 737 Classics into cargo airplane are now available. Kitty Hawk Cargo was the first airline to receive a 737-300F while Alaska Airlines was the first airline to convert a 737-400F. No 737-500 have yet been converted.

737 Next Generation

A Scandinavian Airlines System 737-600

In 1993, Boeing launched a large scale overhaul of the 737 Classic series. By the early 1990s, it became clear that the new Airbus A320 was a serious threat to Boeing's market share, as Airbus won previously loyal 737 customers like Lufthansa. After engineering trade studies and discussions with major 737 customers, Boeing proceeded to launch the 737 Next Generation series.

New features included:

  • Improved CFM56-7 turbofan engine, 7% more fuel efficient than the CFM56-3
  • New airfoil section, increased wing span, area, and chord
  • Increased fuel capacity and higher MTOW
  • Redesigned vertical stabilizer
  • 6-screen LCD glass cockpit with modern avionics, retaining crew commonality with previous generation 737
  • Passenger cabin improvements similar to those on the Boeing 777, featuring more curved surfaces and larger overhead bins than previous generation 737s. The Next Generation 737 interior was also adopted on the Boeing 757-300.
  • Intercontinental range, enough to fly Miami to Barcelona.

737-600

The 737-600 was launched by Scandinavian Airlines System in 1995, but has suffered from weak sales, being most profitable for airlines focusing on long and thin routes. The 737-600 is the direct replacement of the 737-500 and competes with the A318. This is the only Boeing 737 still in production that does not include winglets.

File:DSCF3754a GEZJC BRS submitted.jpg
An easyJet 737-700 departing Bristol.
File:Southwest Airlines Cabin.jpg
Southwest Airlines popularized low-cost fares with all-economy seating
A Malév 737-700 landing at Budapest.

737-700

The 737-700 was launched by Southwest Airlines in 1993 and entered service in 1998. It replaced the 737-300 in Boeing's lineup, and its direct competitor is the A319. It typically seats 132 passengers in a two class cabin or 149 in all economy configuration. An executive conversion is offered as the BBJ1. The BBJ1 is fitted with the stronger wings and landing gear from the 737-800, and has increased range (through the use of extra fuel tanks) over the other 737 models.

737-700C

This is a convertible version where the seats can be removed from the plane to carry cargo. There is a large door on the left side of the aircraft. The US Navy launched the 737-700C.

737-700ER

Boeing launched this version on January 31 2006.[7] All Nippon Airways is the launch customer, with first one delivered on 16 February 2007. The 737-700ER is a mainline passenger version of the BBJ1 and 737-700IGW. It combines the 737-700 fuselage with the wings and landing gear of a 737-800. It will offer a range of 5,510 nautical miles, with seating for 126 passengers in a 2-class configuration. A competitor to this model would be the A319LR. The 700ER has a longer range than any other 737, although not quite matching the BBJ2's 5,735nm.

All Nippon Airways, Japan’s second-biggest carrier, is to pioneer the model in Asia with a daily service between Tokyo and Mumbai. ANA’s service, believed to be the first all-business class route connecting to a developing country, is to start on 1 September and use a Boeing 737-700ER outfitted with 36 seats and an extra fuel tank.[3]

737-800

File:Airindiaex.jpg
An Air India Express 737-800.

The 737-800 was a stretched version of the 737-700, and replaces the 737-400. It also filled the gap left by Boeing's discontinuation of the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 and MD-90 after Boeing's merger with McDonnell Douglas. The -800 was launched by Hapag-Lloyd Flug (now TUIfly) in 1994 and entered service in 1998. The 737-800 seats 162 passengers in a two class layout, or 189 in one class, and competes with the A320.

An executive conversion is offered as the BBJ2, and the 737-800ERX ("Extended Range") is available as a military variant. For many airlines in the U.S., the 737-800 replaced aging Boeing 727-200 trijets.

737-900

An Alaska Airlines 737-900

Boeing later introduced the 737-900, the longest variant to date. Alaska Airlines launched the 737-900 in 1997 and accepted delivery in 2000. Because the -900 retains the same exit configuration of the -800, seating capacity is limited to 177 seats in two classes, or 189 in a single-class layout. The 737-900 also retains the MTOW and fuel capacity of the -800, trading range for payload.

These shortcomings until recently prevented the 737-900 from effectively competing with the A321.

737-900ER

The 737-900ER is the newest addition to the Boeing 737 line and was introduced to meet the range and passenger capacity of the discontinued 757-200.

An additional pair of exit doors and a flat rear pressure bulkhead increase seating capacity to 180 passengers in a 2-class configuration or 215 passengers in a single-class layout. Additional fuel capacity and standard winglets improve range to that of other 737NG variants.

The first 900ER was rolled out of the Renton, WA factory on August 8, 2006 for its launch customer, Lion Air. Then on April 27 2007, Boeing delivered the first 737-900ER to Lion Air. The airplane features a special dual paint scheme that combines the Lion Air lion on the vertical stabilizer and the Boeing livery colors on the fuselage. Lion Air has ordered 60 737-900ER to be delivered by 2011.

Military and government variants

The P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft is based upon the 737-800.
File:Boeing 737 AEW.jpg
Australia's Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning aircraft represents a special-purpose military version.

The Boeing 737 has also been popular as a military variant. Some versions are:

The Peoples' Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of the Peoples' Republic of China operates a 737-300 (registered B-4052) as an airborne command post.

Operators

Civilian

Military

Many countries operate the 737 passenger and cargo variants in government or military applications.

Specifications

Measurement 737-100 737-400 737-500 737-600 737-700 737-800 737-900ER
Cockpit Crew Two
Seating capacity 118 (1-class) 168 (1-class) 132 (1-class) 149 (1-class) 189 (1-class) 215 (1-class)
Seat Pitch 30" (1-class) 30" (1-class) 30" (1-class) 30" (1-class) 30" (1-class) 28" (1-class)
Seat width 17.2" (1-class) 17.2" (1-class) 17.2" (1-class) 17.2" (1-class) 17.2" (1-class) 17.2" (1-class)
Airplane Length 28.6 m
(94 ft)
36.5 m
(119 ft 6 in)
31.1 m
(101 ft 8 in)
31.2 m
(102 ft 6 in)
33.6 m
(110 ft 4 in)
39.5 m
(129 ft 6 in)
42.1 m
(138 ft 2 in)
Wingspan 28.3 m
(93 ft)
28.9 m
(94 ft 8 in)
35.7 m
(117 ft 5 in)
35.7 m
(117 ft 5 in)
35.7 m
(117 ft 5 in)
35.7 m
(117 ft 5 in)
Airplane Height 11.3 m
(37 ft)
11.1 m
(36 ft 5 in)
12.6 m
(41 ft 3 in)
12.5 m
(41 ft 2 in)
Wing Sweepback 25° 25.02°
Aspect Ratio 8.83° 9.16° 9.45°
Fuselage Width 3.76 m (12 ft 4 in)
Fuselage Height 4.11 m (13' 6")
Cabin Width 3.54 m (11 ft 7 in)
Cabin Height 2.20 m (7 ft 3 in)
Weight Empty 28,120 kg
(61,864 lb)
33,200 kg
(73,040 lb)
31,300 kg
(68,860 lb)
36,378 kg
(80,031 lb)
38,147kg
(84,100lb)
41,413 kg
(91,108 lb)
44,676 kg
(98,495 lb)
Maximum take-off weight 49,190 kg
(108,218 lb)
68,050 kg
(149,710 lb)
60,550 kg
(133,210 lb)
66,000 kg
(145,500 lb)
70,080 kg
(154,500 lb)
79,010 kg
(174,200 lb)
85,130 kg
(187,700 lb)
Maximum landing weight 44,906 kg
(99,000 lb)
56,246 kg
(124,000 lb)
49,895 kg
(110,000 lb)
55,112 kg
(121,500 lb)
58,604 kg
(128,928 lb)
66,361 kg
(146,300 lb)
Maximum zero-fuel weight 40,824 kg
(90,000 lb)
53,070 kg
(117,000 lb)
46,720 kg
(103,000 lb)
51,936 kg
(114,500 lb)
55,202 kg
(121,700 lb)
62,732 kg
(138,300 lb)
Cargo Capacity 18.4 m3
(650 ft3)
38.9 m3
(1,373 ft3)
23.3 m3
(822 ft3)
21.4 m3
(756 ft3)
27.3 m3
(966 ft3)
45.1 m3
(1,591 ft3)
52.5 m3
(1,852 ft3)
Takeoff run at MTOW 1,990 m (6,646 ft) 2,540 m (8,483 ft) 2,470 m (8,249 ft) 2,400 m (8,016 ft) 2,480 m (8,283 ft) 2,450 m (8,181 ft)
Service Ceiling 35,000 ft 37,000 ft 41,000 ft
Cruising speed (mach) 0.77 0.78 0.785 0.78
Maximum speed (mach) 0.82
Range fully loaded 3,440 km (1,860 nm) 4,005 km (2,165 nm) 4,444 km (2,402 nm) 5,648 km (3,050 nm) 6,230 km (3,365 nm) 5,665 km (3,060 nm) 4,996 km (2,700 nm)
Max. fuel capacity 17,860 L
4,725 USG
23,170 L
6,130 USG
23,800 L
6,296 USG
26,020 L
6,875 USG
26,020 L
6,875 USG
26,020 L
6,875 USG
29,660 L
7,837 USG
Engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney CFM International
Engine type (x2) JT8D-7 56-3B-2 56-3B-1 56-7B20 56-7B26 56-7B27 56-7
Takeoff Thrust 19,000 lbf 22,000 lbf 20,000 lbf 20,600 lbf 26,300 lbf 27,300 lbf
Cruising Thrust 3,870 lbf 4,930 lbf 4,902 lbf 5,210 lbf 5,480 lbf
Fan Tip Diameter 1.12 m (44 in) 1.52 m (60 in) 1.55 m (61 in)
Engine Bypass Ratio 1.1:1 4.9:1 5.0:1 5.5:1 5.3:1 5.1:1
Engine Length 3.20 m (126.1 in) 2.36 m (93 in) 2.51 m (98.7 in)
Engine Weight (dry) 1,617.2 kg (3,558lb) 2,409.5 kg (4,301 lb) 2,360 kg (5,194 lb) 2,371 kg (5,216 lb)
Engine Ground Clearance 51 cm (20 in) 46 cm (18 in) 48 cm (19 in)

737 deliveries

2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987
141 302 212 202 173 223 299 281 320 281 135 76 89 121 152 218 215 174 146 165 161
1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966
141 115 67 82 95 108 92 77 40 25 41 51 55 23 22 29 37 114 105 4 0

Incidents

Recent accidents

File:Alohaairlinesdisaster.jpg
The damaged 737 from Aloha Airlines Flight 243, 1988.

Accidents summary Statistics as of January 1, 2007:

  • Hull-loss Accidents: 115 with a total of 3272 fatalities
  • Other occurrences: 6 with a total of 242 fatalities
  • Hijackings: 96 with a total of 325 fatalities

References

  1. ^ a b 737 Facts. Boeing. Access date: 30 October 2006.
  2. ^ a b Frawley, Gerard. The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004. Fyshwick, Australian Capital Territory, Australia: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003, p. 53. ISBN 1-875671-58-7.
  3. ^ Sutter, Joe. 747: Creating the World's First Jumbo Jet and Other Adventures from a Life in Aviation. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Books, 2006, p. 76-78.ISBN 0-06-088241-9.
  4. ^ "Original 737 Comes Home to Celebrate 30th Anniversary", The Boeing Company press release, May 2 1997.
  5. ^ Report alleges faulty parts in jets. United Press International, 21 August 2006 [1] Access date: 22 August 2006.
  6. ^ Judge bans Fokker 100s and Boeing 737s from São Paulo airport
  7. ^ Boeing Launches Longest-Range 737 with ANA


Template:Boeing Airliners Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists