Flight systems[edit]

The 737 is unusual in that it still uses a hydro-mechanical f light control system, similar to the
Boeing 707 and typical of the period, that transmits pilot commands to control surfaces by steel
cables run through the f uselage and wings rather than by an electrical f ly-by-wire system as used
in all of the Airbus f leet and all later Boeing models. [119] This has been raised as a saf ety issue
because of the impracticality of duplicating such a mechanical cable-based system in the way
that an electrical or electronic system can be. This leaves the f light controls as a single point of
f ailure, f or example by metal f ragments f rom an uncontained engine f ailure penetrating the wings
or f uselage. [120]
The primary f light controls have mechanical backups. In the event of total hydraulic system
f ailure or double engine f ailure, they will automatically and seamlessly revert to control via servo
tab. In this mode, the servo tabs aerodynamically control the elevators and ailerons; these servo
tabs are in turn controlled by cables running to the control yoke. The pilot's muscle f orces alone
control the tabs.
The 737 Next Generation series introduced a six-screen LCD glass cockpit with modern avionics
but designed to retain crew commonality with previous 737 generations. [121]

Original 737-200 cockpit

Classic 737-300 cockpit

Next Generation 737-800 cockpit

Aerodynamic[edit]
The Original -100 and -200 series were built without wingtip devices but these were later
introduced to improve f uel efficiency. The 737 has evolved f our winglet types: the 737-200 Mini-
winglet, 737 Classic/NG Blended Winglet, 737 Split Scimitar Winglet, and 737 MAX Advanced
Technology Winglet. [112] The 737-200 Mini-winglets are part of the Quiet Wing Corp modif ication
kit that received certif ication in 2005. [112]
Blended winglets were standard on the 737 NG and are available f or retrof it on 737 Classic
models. These winglets stand approximately 8 f eet (2.4 m) tall and are installed at the wing tips.
They improve f uel ef f iciency by up to 5% through lif t-induced drag reduction achieved by
moderating wingtip vortices.[122][123]
Split Scimitar winglets became available in 2014 f or the 737-800, 737-900ER, BBJ2 and BBJ3,
and in 2015 f or the 737-700, 737-900 and BBJ1. [124] Split Scimitar winglets were developed
by Aviation Partners Inc. (API), the same Seattle-based corporation that developed the blended
winglets; the Split Scimitar winglets produce up to a 5.5% f uel savings per aircraf t compared to
3.3% savings f or the blended winglets. Southwest Airlines f lew their f irst f light of a 737-800 with
Split Scimitar winglets on April 14, 2014. [125] The next generation 737, 737 MAX, will f eature an
Advanced Technology (AT) Winglet that is produced by Boeing. The Boeing AT Winglet
resembles a cross between the Blended Winglet and the Split Scimitar Winglet. [126]
An optional Enhanced Short Runway Package was developed f or use on short runways.

Blended Winglet, standard on NGs, a retrofit option for Classics

Split Scimitar Winglet standard on later NGs

Advanced Technology Winglet standard on MAX

Interior[edit]
The f irst generation Original series 737 cabin was replaced f or the second generation Classic
series with a design based on the Boeing 757 cabin. The Classic cabin was then redesigned
once more f or the third, Next Generation, 737 with a design based on the Boeing 777 cabin.
Boeing later of fered the redesigned Sky Interior on the NG. The principle f eatures of the S ky
Interior include: sculpted sidewalls, redesigned window housings, increased headroom and
LED mood lighting,[127][128] larger pivot-bins based on the 777 and 787 designs and generally more
luggage space, [128] and claims to have improved cabin noise levels by 2–4 dB. [127] The f irst 737
equipped Boeing Sky Interior was delivered to Flydubai in late 2010. [127] Continental
Airlines, [129][130] Alaska Airlines, [131] Malaysia Airlines,[132] and TUIFly have also received Sky Interior-
equipped 737s. [133]
737 Classic interior in 3–3 economy class layout

Boeing 737NG standard interior with curved panels

Boeing 737NG Sky Interior with pivot bins and LED lighting

Other variants[edit]
Enhanced Short Runway Package[edit]
This short-f ield design package is an option on the 737-600, -700 and -800 and is standard
equipment f or the new 737-900ER. These enhanced short runway versions could increase pay
or f uel loads when operating on runways under 5,000 f eet (1,500 m). Landing payloads were
increased by up to 8,000 lb on the 737-800 and 737-900ER and up to 4,000 lb on the 737-600
and 737-700. Takeof f payloads were increased by up to 2,000 lbs on the 737-800 and 737-
900ER and up to 400 lbs on the 737-600 and 737-700. The package includes: [134]

• A winglet lif t credit, achieved through additional winglet testing, that reduces the
minimum landing-approach speeds.
• Takeof f perf ormance improvements such as the use of sealed leading-edge slats on
all takeof f flap positions, allowing the airplane to climb more rapidly on shorter
runways.
• A reduced idle thrust transition delay between approach and ground-idle speeds,
which improves stopping distances and increases f ield -length-limited landing weight
• Increased f light-spoiler def lection from 30o to 60o, improving aerodynamic braking on
landing.
• A two-position tailskid at the rear of the aircraf t to protect against
inadvertent tailstrikes during landing, which allows higher aircraf t approach attitudes
and lower landing speeds.
The f irst enhanced version was delivered to Gol Transportes Aéreos (GOL) on July 31, 2006. At
that time, twelve customers had ordered the package f or more than 250 airf rames. Customers
include: GOL, Alaska Airlines, Air Europa, Air India, Egyptair, GE Commercial Aviation Services
(GECAS), Hapagf ly, Japan Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Ryanair, Sky Airlines and Turkish
Airlines. [135]

737 AEW&C[edit]
737 AEW&C

Main article: Boeing 737 AEW&C

The Boeing 737 AEW&C is a 737-700IGW roughly similar to the 737-700ER. This is an Airborne
Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) version of the 737NG. Australia is the f irst customer (as
Project Wedgetail), f ollowed by Turkey and South Korea.
T-43/CT43A[edit]

A USAF T-43

Main article: Boeing T-43

The T-43 was a 737-200 modif ied f or use by the United States Air Force f or training navigators,
now known as USAF combat systems officers. Inf ormally ref erred to as the Gator (an
abbreviation of "navigator") and "Flying Classroom", nineteen of t hese aircraf t were delivered to
the Air Training Command at Mather AFB, Calif ornia during 1973 and 1974. Two additional
aircraf t were delivered to the Colorado Air National Guard at Buckley ANGB (later Buckley AFB)
and Peterson AFB, Colorado, in direct support of cadet air navigation training at the nearby U.S.
Air Force Academy.
Two T-43s were later converted to CT-43As, similar to the CT-40A Clipper below, in the early
1990s and transf erred to Air Mobility Command and United States Air Forces in Europe,
respectively, as executive transports. A third aircraf t was also transf erred to Air Force Material
Command f or use as a radar test bed aircraf t and was redesignated as an NT-43A. The T-43
was retired by the Air Education and Training Command in 2010 af ter 37 years of service. [136]

C-40 Clipper[edit]
USAF C-40A Clipper being loaded

Main article: Boeing C-40 Clipper

The Boeing C-40 Clipper is a military version of the 737-700C NG. It is used by both the United
States Navy and the United States Air Force, and has been ordered by the United States Marine
Corps. [137] Technically, only the Navy C-40A variant is named "Clipper", whereas the USAF C-
40B/C variants are of f icially unnamed.

P-8 Poseidon[edit]
Main article: Boeing P-8 Poseidon

USN P-8

The P-8 Poseidon (f ormerly Multimission Maritime Aircraft) developed for the United States
Navy by Boeing Def ense, Space & Security, based on the Next Generation 737-800ERX. The P-
8 can be operated in the anti-submarine warf are (ASW), anti-surf ace warf are (ASUW),
and shipping interdiction roles. It is armed with torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and other
weapons, and is able to drop and monito r sonobuoys, as well as operate in conjunction with
other assets such as the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV).
Boeing Business Jet (BBJ)[edit]
Main article: Boeing Business Jet

BBJ cabin example

In the late 1980s, Boeing marketed the 77-33 jet, a business jet version of the 737-300. [138] The
name was short-lived. Af ter the introduction of the Next Generation series, Boeing introduced the
Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) series. The BBJ1 was similar in dimensions to the 737-700 but had
additional f eatures, including stronger wings and landing gear f rom the 737-800, and had
increased range over the other 737 models through the use o f extra f uel tanks. The f irst BBJ
rolled out on August 11, 1998 and f lew f or the f irst time on September 4. [139]
On October 11, 1999 Boeing launched the BBJ2. Based on the 737-800, it is 19 f eet 2 inches
(5.84 m) longer than the BBJ, with 25% more cabin space and twice the baggage space, but has
slightly reduced range. It is also f itted with auxiliary belly f uel tanks and winglets. The f irst BBJ2
was delivered on February 28, 2001. [139]
Boeing's BBJ3 is based on the 737-900ER. The BBJ3 has 1,120 square f eet (104 m2) of f loor
space, 35% more interior space, and 89% more luggage space than the BBJ2. It has an auxiliary
f uel system, giving it a range of up to 4,725 nautical miles (8,751 km), and a Head-up display.
Boeing completed the f irst example in August 2008. This airc raf t's cabin is pressurized to a
simulated 6,500-f oot (2,000 m) altitude. [140][141]

Boeing Converted Freighter program[edit]

The Boeing Converted Freighter program (BCF), or the 737-800BCF program, was launched by
Boeing in 2016. It converts old 737-800 passenger jets to dedicated f reighters. [142] The f irst 737-
800BCF was delivered in 2018 to GECAS, which is leased to West Atlantic. [143] Boeing has
signed an agreement with Chinese YTO Cargo Airlines to provide the airline with 737-800BCFs
pending a planned program launch. [144]

Competition[edit]
Main article: Competition between Airbus A320 and Boeing 737

United Airlines Airbus A320 (front) and Boeing 737-900 on final approach
737 vs A320 family deliveries per model 1967-2018

The Boeing 737 Classic, Next Generation and MAX series have f aced significant competition
f rom the Airbus A320 f amily f irst introduced in 1988. The relatively recent Airbus A220 f amily now
also competes against the smaller capacity end of the 737 variants. The A320 was developed to
compete also with the McDonnell Douglas MD-80/90 and 95 series; the 95 later becoming
the Boeing 717. Since July 2017, Airbus had a 59.4% market share of the re-engined single aisle
market, while Boeing had 40.6%; Boeing had doubts on over-ordered A320neos by new
operators and expected to narrow the gap with replacements not already ordered.[145] However, in
July 2017, Airbus had still 1,350 more A320neo orders than Boeing had f or the 737 MAX. [146]
Boeing delivered 8,918 of the 737 f amily between March 1988 and December
2018, [147][148] while Airbus delivered 8,605 A320 f amily aircraf t over a similar period since f irst
delivery in early 1988. [149]

• Airbus A320 f amily deliveries [150]

• Boeing 737 series deliveries [151]

Operators[edit]
Civilian[edit]
Main article: List of Boeing 737 operators
The 737 is operated by more than 500 airlines, f lying to 1,200 destinations in 190 countries: over
4,500 are in service and at any given time there are on average 1,250 airborne worldwide. On
average, somewhere in the world, a 737 to ok off or landed every f ive seconds in 2006. Since
entering service in 1968, the 737 has carried over 12 billion passengers over 74 billion miles (120
billion km; 65 billion nm), and has accumulated more than 296 million hours in the air. The 737
represents more than 25% of the worldwide f leet of large commercial jet airliners. [152][153]

Military[edit]
Many countries operate the 737 passenger, BBJ, and cargo variants in government or military
applications. [154] Users with 737s include:
 • Argentina
• Australia
• Brazil
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Kazakhstan
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Mongolia
• Netherlands
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Peru
• South Af rica
• Saudi Arabia
• South Korea
• Taiwan (Republic of China)
• Thailand
• Turkey
• United Kingdom
• United States

Orders and deliveries