Boeing 737 Original

Boeing 737 Original
Name	Boeing 737 Original
Caption	Scandinavian Airlines System SAS Boeing 737-100 in service
Role	Narrow-body short- to medium-range airliner
Manufacturer	Boeing
First flight	April 9
Introduced	February 10, 1968
Status	Retired from mainline service; some in secondary markets

Boeing 737 Original The Boeing 737 Original series comprises the initial Boeing 737 designs introduced in the late 1960s as the company's first short-haul jetliner alongside contemporaries such as the McDonnell Douglas DC-9, Fokker F28 Fellowship, and BAC One-Eleven. Developed to serve airlines including Lufthansa, United Airlines, SAS, and Avianca, the Original family sought to replace older turboprop types like the Vickers Viscount and Convair 440. Its entry into service coincided with broader industry shifts driven by aircraft such as the Boeing 727 and the emerging low-cost carriers exemplified later by Southwest Airlines.

Development and Design

The Boeing 737 Original was developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in response to orders from carriers including Piedmont Airlines, KLM, Philippine Airlines, Lufthansa, and Viasa. Design work built on lessons from the Boeing 707 and Boeing 727, emphasizing a low-wing, twin-engine layout, short-field performance for airports such as London Gatwick and LAX, and commonality with existing Boeing cockpit ergonomics influenced by the Captain and First Officer operational concepts. Early development involved collaborations with suppliers like Pratt & Whitney for turbofan engines and airframe partners in the United States and United Kingdom. Certification processes engaged regulators including the Federal Aviation Administration and the UK CAA.

Variants

The Original family included primary variants tailored to different operators and routes: the -100 and the stretched -200. Major customers such as SAS, Lufthansa, United Airlines, Air France, and AeroMéxico ordered both types, while specialized versions appeared for cargo conversion, VIP transport, and regional operations. Engine options and avionics packages were influenced by manufacturers like General Electric and Honeywell. Later modernization programs led to upgrades akin to avionics retrofits familiar from programs on aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737 Classic.

Operational History

After introduction into commercial service the 737 Original entered fleets across North America, Europe, Asia, and South America, operating routes that linked hubs like Newark, O'Hare, Schiphol, and Barajas. Regional and flag carriers including United Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, Austrian Airlines, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Japan Airlines, and Cathay Pacific used the type. The aircraft saw secondary roles with cargo operators, governmental flight departments, and smaller carriers such as Piedmont (US), Olympic Airways, and Air India. Over time the Original was succeeded in airline service by the Boeing 737 Classic, Boeing 737 Next Generation, and competitors like the Airbus A320 family.

Technical Specifications

Typical Original-series specifications reflected compact dimensions and systems common to late-1960s designs. The airframe featured a two-crew cockpit influenced by Captain and First Officer standards, pneumatic and hydraulic subsystems supplied by companies akin to Goodrich Corporation and Hamilton Sundstrand, and flight controls with manual reversion characteristics comparable to earlier types including the Douglas DC-9. Engines used on Original variants were early-generation turbofans provided by firms such as Pratt & Whitney and CFM International partners that later supported derivative models. Performance metrics—range, cruise speed, and payload—matched short- to medium-haul competitors like the BAC One-Eleven and Fokker F28.

Incidents and Safety Record

The 737 Original experienced incidents and accidents over its operational lifetime in contexts involving airlines including United Airlines, SAS, Lufthansa, Avianca, and smaller regional operators. Events ranged from hard landings at airports such as JFK and Gatwick to more serious accidents investigated by authorities like the National Transportation Safety Board and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Accident causation analyses often referenced factors observed in other types—human factors studies influenced by research at NASA and accident investigations involving organizations including Flight Safety Foundation.

Operators and Military Use

Major civilian operators of the 737 Original included SAS, Lufthansa, United Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Iberia, Aer Lingus, KLM, Philippine Airlines, Avianca, and Olympic Airways. Secondary and regional airlines across Africa, Asia, South America, and Oceania operated types in fleets alongside aircraft such as the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and Fokker F28. Limited military and governmental operators employed conversions for transport and training roles similar to missions undertaken by aircraft like the Lockheed C-130 Hercules in different contexts; agencies included national air forces and defense ministries in countries such as Argentina and Colombia.

Category:Boeing aircraft Category:Single-aisle jet airliners