DooKey
[H]F Junkie
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2001
- Messages
- 13,759
The venerable 737 has been flying since 1967. This week Boeing announced that the 10,000th plane has left the factory. As a matter of fact airlines still want 4,600 more 737's. Honestly, it's hard to believe how well this aircraft has stood the test of time. In many ways it reminds me of the 747 and how well that aircraft has withstood changes in technology. The 737 has gone from analog instruments to a glass cockpit and other high technology and keeps on flying. I guess that old saying "don't fix it if ain't broke" comes into play here.
Boeing’s history of the type says the company wanted to get the 737 to market fast and therefore used “the same upper lobe fuselage as the 707 and 727 so that the same upper deck cargo pallets could be used for all three jets.” But other elements were new in important ways: placing the engines beneath the wings made for a wider fuselage and six-abreast seating, which beat other small jets of the time.
Boeing’s history of the type says the company wanted to get the 737 to market fast and therefore used “the same upper lobe fuselage as the 707 and 727 so that the same upper deck cargo pallets could be used for all three jets.” But other elements were new in important ways: placing the engines beneath the wings made for a wider fuselage and six-abreast seating, which beat other small jets of the time.