Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Southwest Airlines today celebrated the 5,000th 737 to come off the production line as thousands of Boeing employees and special guests attended an historic delivery ceremony at the company’s Renton, Wash., manufacturing facility. Guinness World Records has acknowledged the 737 as the most-produced large commercial jet airplane in aviation history.
“The 737 is an icon of efficiency in air travel and one of commercial aviation’s greatest success stories,” said Alan Mulally, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We are absolutely thrilled that the world’s largest 737 operator — Southwest Airlines — is the owner of this historic airplane. Our partnership with Southwest and hundreds of other 737 customers has resulted in continuous improvements to the 737 and its ability to help our customers be successful.”
With more than 4,100 airplanes in service, the 737 represents more than a quarter of the total worldwide fleet of large commercial jets flying today. More than 541 operators fly 737s into more than 1,200 cities in 190 countries. It is estimated that approximately 1,250 737s are in the air at any given moment, with one taking off or landing every 4.6 seconds.
Congratulations to Boeing on this marvellous feet! A tremendous aircraft that has stood the test of time and has survived all the ups and downs that has gone with it. Personally I never tire of seeing these aircraft in all their varieties and liveries, and am sure we will all be photographing them for decades to come!
By: Bmused55 - 15th February 2006 at 17:12
A comparison of the size, weights and performance of a -100 series with the same figures for the -900 series clearly demonstrates that the B737 is the textbook example of evolution in design.
Interesting observation.
By: Grey Area - 15th February 2006 at 17:03
A comparison of the size, weights and performance of a -100 series with the same figures for the -900 series clearly demonstrates that the B737 is the textbook example of evolution in design.
By: EGNM - 15th February 2006 at 15:45
Again, a good point indeed.
A point used all over when debating the final agreeable tally for DC3s. Some say that as the converted airframes were just that, converted, they shouldn’t be counted as true civilian airliners. Especialy when compared to the sales of the likes of the 737, purpose built comercial airliners. One should only count Commercial sales from the manufacturer.
But other argue, an airliner is an airliner, be it converted from a military transport or purpose built, that the count should be of airliners that saw service as passenger aircraft with civilian airlines.
Both arguments are right, IMO.
and again adding the Licence built Russian examples – LI-2 was it?
By: bobleeds - 15th February 2006 at 09:55
Some years ago, about early ’90’s I think, I remember boarding a then-new British Midland 737-300 which had a small plaque in the entrance proclaiming that it was the 1800 and something’ Boeing 737 which meant that the 737 had becoming the best selling commercial jetliner in history (superceding I think, the 727). 5,000 is a remarkable achievement.
By: Grey Area - 15th February 2006 at 07:13
Yes, I tend to agree.
Especially when we consider that there are a number of examples of civil/military production of the same basic type dating from roughly the same era – although not on the same scale.
I’m thinking in terms of the Ju52/3m, the Fw200, etc. The Lockheed Electra/Hudson isn’t quite the same thing but it’s still part of an overall pattern.
No, not that Electra – the other one. 😉
By: Bmused55 - 15th February 2006 at 07:03
Hmmm, a fair point from Sandy.
Given that the DC-3 and C-47 were both in widespread airline service post-War I think there’s some justice in counting them all even though, as Sandy mentions, the bulk were built as military transports.
It was a very different business in those days, after all. 🙂
Again, a good point indeed.
A point used all over when debating the final agreeable tally for DC3s. Some say that as the converted airframes were just that, converted, they shouldn’t be counted as true civilian airliners. Especialy when compared to the sales of the likes of the 737, purpose built comercial airliners. One should only count Commercial sales from the manufacturer.
But other argue, an airliner is an airliner, be it converted from a military transport or purpose built, that the count should be of airliners that saw service as passenger aircraft with civilian airlines.
Both arguments are right, IMO.
By: Grey Area - 15th February 2006 at 06:56
Hmmm, a fair point from Sandy.
Given that the DC-3 and C-47 were both in widespread airline service post-War I think there’s some justice in counting them all even though, as Sandy mentions, the bulk were built as military transports.
It was a very different business in those days, after all. 🙂
By: Bmused55 - 15th February 2006 at 06:43
Not a bad effort indeed, it’s second only to the ubiquitous DC3 with over 11000 built
No mean feat indeed.
But can we really count every single DC3? Well over half that number, probably closer to 3/4s were military variants built during and after WWII.
Its a point of debate on fora all over.
By: PMN - 15th February 2006 at 02:39
Southwest have 5000 737’s? I didn’t think they had so many…
OK, that was terrible, I’ll admit it. Congratulations Boeing! I seem to be on a 737 in one of its various versions every other week at the moment and I never get tired of them. I just wish there were more ‘200’s around!
Paul
By: steve rowell - 15th February 2006 at 02:15
Not a bad effort indeed, it’s second only to the ubiquitous DC3 with over 11000 built
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February 15, 2006 at 2:02 am