Forty-one years since its launch, the 5,000th example of the Boeing 737 has rolled off the production line. Flight International experts look into the past, present and the future of the venerable narrowbody.
It is almost 40 years old, but, bolstered by a record sales backlog, Boeing is pushing its venerable and vigorous 737 off in new directions. Guy Norris investigates.
The best-selling 737 is a true record breaker, but surprisingly struggled for life in its early years. Boeing even once offered to sell it to the Japanese. Read more on the project story by Guy Norris.
With the narrowbody market so valuable, it is vital for Airbus and Boeing to be spot on with their A320 and 737 successors, both in technology and timing. Chris Kjelgaard reports.
While officially downplaying the prospects for next-generation replacements for the A320 and 737, Airbus and Boeing are increasingly engaged in the early study stages, with formal initiatives launched on both sides. Guy Norris researches how.
Senior Stress Engineer
Senior Manufacturing Engineer
Design Engineer
Mechanical Design Engineer
Reliability and Maintainability Engineer
THE 737 STORY: Smoke and mirrors obscure 737 and Airbus A320 replacement studies (07/02/06)
Picture: Boeing delivers 2,000th 737 Next Generation aircraft, with Southwest Airlines taking 737-700 (27/07/06)
Pictures: Airbus aims to thwart Boeing’s narrowbody plans with upgraded 'A320 Enhanced' (20/06/06)
Boeing firms up 737 replacement studies by appointing team (03/03/06)
THE 737 STORY: Next in Line (07/02/06)
THE 737 STORY: Little wonder (07/02/06)
THE 737 STORY: Boeing 737 hits the 5,000 mark (07/02/06)
THE 737 STORY: The Long Stretch (07/02/06)
NBAA 2008: Bizjet boom will continue, claims Honeywell survey (5)
NBAA 2008: Delaying the inevitable? (5)
Australian Senate inquiry slams aviation regulator (5)
High temperature fuel cell readied for first ever take-off (5)
Further airline consolidation not likely, predicts Boyd (5)
NBAA 2008: Gulfstream know-how buoys G250 performance claims (5)
Japan unveils stealth fighter mock-up (5)
NBAA 2008: Easy does it with 3M’s latest products (5)
NBAA 2008: Citation 850 deal fuels growth for Eaton (5)
NBAA 2008: Dassault and Honeywell launch upgraded EASy (5)
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