6000th 737 Rolls off the line

One thing that has always struck me as rather odd about the B737 is the way the main wheels still remain exposed even after retraction. Presumably there must be at least some aerodynamic penalty for that, so does anyone know if Boeing ever considered “fixing” it?

The aerodynamics of the B737 are “dirty”, especially in that area. You have quite a thick boundary layer, due to many influences (antennas, air conditions, heat exchanger). That is the downside.
Advantage is less structural weight, less complexity, better cooling for the brakes (remember: the B737 comes without brake fan, big issue for some operators).

One thing that has always struck me as rather odd about the B737 is the way the main wheels still remain exposed even after retraction. Presumably there must be at least some aerodynamic penalty for that, so does anyone know if Boeing ever considered “fixing” it?

Obviously it works or the Boeing engineers would have rectified it long before now!!!

One thing that has always struck me as rather odd about the B737 is the way the main wheels still remain exposed even after retraction. Presumably there must be at least some aerodynamic penalty for that, so does anyone know if Boeing ever considered “fixing” it?

I’ve read where either Airbus or Boeing (can’t remember which…but probably both would agree) that they’re not going to replace the 737 or 320 until it’s replacement can offer a 20% savings in fuel costs and expenses.

I’m not sure we’ll see that anytime soon unless there is a huge switch back to turboprops.

(BTW: Horizon Air, the commuter subsidiary of Alaskan Air has said they’ll rationalize their fleet to all Q-400s…that means getting rid of their Bombardier RJs).

A full use of current technology would probably yield this 20%.
But why take the risk?
The economics on short routes are much different from long routes.

Most airlines using A320/B737 do not use the aircraft correctly!

That is, they fly short routes with oversized aircraft. Airbus and Boeing need to evaluate what the airlines actually want. Just giving them a better A320/B737 would in many cases not solve the problem. Airlines flying a 500-700nm leg with ~130Pax (typical EasyJet, Ryanair) is waste with any A320/B737 model.

Conclusion: the whole thing is not about a better aerodynamics or better engines, but the operational reality of airlines and how to adapt to it. Today an A319 operates routes previously operated by DC-9-51, and I doubt it really beats it on distances below 800nm in fuel burn (guess why NWA retains its DC-9s).

I’ve read where either Airbus or Boeing (can’t remember which…but probably both would agree) that they’re not going to replace the 737 or 320 until it’s replacement can offer a 20% savings in fuel costs and expenses.

I’m not sure we’ll see that anytime soon unless there is a huge switch back to turboprops.

(BTW: Horizon Air, the commuter subsidiary of Alaskan Air has said they’ll rationalize their fleet to all Q-400s…that means getting rid of their Bombardier RJs).

I’d guess there’s a lot more than sentiment involved.
Spares & training costs would be greatly reduced.
I shudder to think of all the paperwork…manuals, charts, procedures that would have to be changed with a different AC type.

And it goes far byond pilots and maintenance workers, everything from gate parking markings to dispatch paperwork…new emergency cards, maybe even catering procedures, waste pumping…

Ah, that shouldn’t be that expensive, especially as the competing airframer would give you a discount on the package price. Anyways, the difference in performance of A320 and B737NG sometimes doesn’t justify a fleet change. But the decision B737/A320 was mainly done on pure price & slot considerations, means the cheaper offer with better availability of slot positions won the contract. Rarely an airline chose a B737 over an A320 for technical reason or vice versa, although the A320 is a different league when it comes to technology (with side effects).

Perhaps the old saying “Go with what you know” is true in those cases?

And what you can get. Although the A320 is claimed to be more efficient, it is not much better than a B737NG. Anyways, it shows that innovation in the aviation industry is sometimes painstakingly slow. The B737NG is to some extent a ******* child of 1990s, 1980s and 1960s tech.

Perhaps the old saying “Go with what you know” is true in those cases?

I’d guess there’s a lot more than sentiment involved.
Spares & training costs would be greatly reduced.
I shudder to think of all the paperwork…manuals, charts, procedures that would have to be changed with a different AC type.

And it goes far byond pilots and maintenance workers, everything from gate parking markings to dispatch paperwork…new emergency cards, maybe even catering procedures, waste pumping…

Perhaps the old saying “Go with what you know” is true in those cases?

Quite interesting to see that some airlines have twice replaced B737s with B737s, from 100/200 to Classic to NG.

Oh, most probably

6000 737’s that’s one hell of an achievement.

I’m quite sure it’s a feat that will be duplicated by the A320!!!

I’m at OSL, hopefully Norwegain will keep tail that way. I would imagine they will, they have blank tails and tails with famous Norwegians so no real uniformity throughout the fleet. Also it’ll show up SAS’s ratty old wingtip-less 737’s.

…and the first P-8A Poseidon is getting ready for its maiden flight! Incredibly versatile aircraft.

indeed…. the IAF has ordered a few recently.

6000 ac…that’s a lot of aluminum.

I don’t have my Putnam Boeing book at hand, but production began in 65 or 66? Other long production run ac….Beech Bonanza, C-130, Beech King Air,(though Bonanza may have had a interruption in production…which is why the Cessna 172 and 182 don’t make the list).

Norwegian are probably the 2nd largest operator here in WAW in terms on flight numbers,so i’m hoping to see this here in the near future.Recently they have been sendig the -300 series now fitted with winglets,only caught the -800 once though and it was almost dark when it landed so no pics as yet.