From ‘Baby Boeing’ to the longest 737, 1965–1998
How a short twinjet from the 1960s grew into the Next-Generation 737-800.
The original 737
When Boeing announced its new twinjet in 1965, the 737 quickly picked up the nickname ‘Baby Boeing’. Boeing: Select Products in Boeing History, 737 Commercial Transport (PDF) The first 737 was the last new aeroplane built at Plant 2 on Boeing Field in Seattle. The building wasn’t tall enough for the 737’s tail, so it was attached with a crane in the car park. Boeing: Select Products in Boeing History, 737 Commercial Transport (PDF)
The first 737 was shown to the world on 17 January 1967 at Boeing’s Thompson Site, christened by flight attendants from the 17 airlines that had ordered it. Boeing: Select Products in Boeing History, 737 Commercial Transport (PDF) The first 737 (a 737-100) first flew on 9 April 1967. Boeing: Select Products in Boeing History, 737 Commercial Transport (PDF)
The first production 737-100 was delivered on 27 December 1967; the first 737-200 followed the next day. Boeing: Select Products in Boeing History, 737 Commercial Transport (PDF)
Why it worked
To save time, Boeing gave the 737 the same upper fuselage lobe as the 707 and 727, so the same upper-deck cargo pallets fitted all three. Boeing: Select Products in Boeing History, 737 Commercial Transport (PDF) Six-abreast seating was a selling point: the rival Douglas DC-9 seated five abreast. Boeing: Select Products in Boeing History, 737 Commercial Transport (PDF)
Mounting the engines under the wing freed up room for more seats, buffered some noise and made maintenance easier at ground level. Boeing: Select Products in Boeing History, 737 Commercial Transport (PDF) At first the 737 was called the ‘square’ aeroplane, because it was as long as it was wide. Boeing: Select Products in Boeing History, 737 Commercial Transport (PDF)
Its two-person flight deck, with no flight engineer, became standard among airlines. Boeing: Select Products in Boeing History, 737 Commercial Transport (PDF)
Growing up
Boeing’s history says that by 1987 the 737 was the most-ordered aeroplane in commercial history. Boeing: Select Products in Boeing History, 737 Commercial Transport (PDF) By 1993 customers had ordered 3,100 737s, and Boeing was developing the Next-Generation 737s: the -600, -700, -800 and -900. Boeing: Select Products in Boeing History, 737 Commercial Transport (PDF)
The 737-700 was launched in November 1993 and first delivered in December 1997. Boeing: Select Products in Boeing History, 737 Commercial Transport (PDF) The 737-800 was launched on 5 September 1994 at the Farnborough Air Show, with customer commitments for more than 40 aircraft. Boeing news release: Longest Boeing 737 makes first flight (31 Jul 1997)
Its launch order was for 16 aircraft from Hapag-Lloyd of Germany. Boeing news release: Boeing Next-Generation 737 takes to the skies (9 Feb 1997)
A new wing
The Next-Generation wing grew by 25% to 1,340 sq ft (125 m²), giving 30% more fuel capacity. Boeing news release: Boeing Next-Generation 737 takes to the skies (9 Feb 1997) In February 1997 Boeing gave the Next-Generation fuel capacity as 6,878 US gallons (26,136 litres). Boeing news release: Boeing Next-Generation 737 takes to the skies (9 Feb 1997)
The first 737-800 fuselage was built at Boeing’s Wichita, Kansas plant and taken to Renton by railcar for final assembly. Boeing news release: Boeing Next-Generation 737 takes to the skies (9 Feb 1997)
Before the first one flew
By the first flight of the first 737-700, in February 1997, 24 airlines had ordered 523 Next-Generation 737s, before the first one had even been rolled out. Boeing news release: Boeing Next-Generation 737 takes to the skies (9 Feb 1997) In February 1997 Boeing said a 737 was taking off somewhere in the world every six seconds. Boeing news release: Boeing Next-Generation 737 takes to the skies (9 Feb 1997)
30 June 1997: roll-out
The first 737-800 was rolled out at Boeing’s Renton, Washington factory on 30 June 1997, in front of several thousand employees. Boeing news release: Boeing introduces longest 737 ever (30 Jun 1997) At 129 ft 6 in, it was the longest 737 built up to that time. Boeing news release: Boeing introduces longest 737 ever (30 Jun 1997)
It was the 2,906th 737 built and the 6,508th commercial aeroplane Boeing had built at Renton. Boeing news release: Boeing introduces longest 737 ever (30 Jun 1997) The -800 is a stretched 737-400 for 160 to 189 passengers, with a new, larger wing, higher cruise speed, more range and new engines. Boeing news release: Boeing introduces longest 737 ever (30 Jun 1997)
At the -800’s roll-out in June 1997, Boeing counted 627 Next-Generation orders from 29 customers. Boeing news release: Boeing introduces longest 737 ever (30 Jun 1997)
31 July 1997: first flight
The first 737-800 took off at 9 a.m. on 31 July 1997 from Renton Municipal Airport, flown by Boeing Captains Mike Hewett and Jim McRoberts, and landed at Boeing Field, Seattle, three hours and five minutes later. Boeing news release: Longest Boeing 737 makes first flight (31 Jul 1997) From 17,000 feet, Hewett reported: “We’ve got a flawless flight.” Boeing news release: Longest Boeing 737 makes first flight (31 Jul 1997)
The Next-Generation flight-test fleet was 10 aircraft: four 737-700s, three 737-800s and three 737-600s. Boeing news release: Longest Boeing 737 makes first flight (31 Jul 1997) In July 1997 Boeing gave the 737-800’s price as between $48 million and $54 million. Boeing news release: Longest Boeing 737 makes first flight (31 Jul 1997)
The new models kept crew commonality with the 737s already flying. Boeing news release: Longest Boeing 737 makes first flight (31 Jul 1997)
Into service
Boeing applied to the FAA for 737-800 certification on 4 February 1993. EASA: Type-Certificate Data Sheet IM.A.120, Boeing 737, Issue 30 (PDF) The FAA type-certificated the 737-800 on 13 March 1998, and European (JAA) validation followed on 9 April 1998. EASA: Type-Certificate Data Sheet IM.A.120, Boeing 737, Issue 30 (PDF)
Boeing announced the first 737-800 delivery, to launch customer Hapag-Lloyd of Germany, on 23 April 1998: the first of 16 the airline had ordered. Boeing news release: First Next-Generation 737-800 goes to Hapag-Lloyd (23 Apr 1998) Boeing’s own 2004 milestone table for the 737-800: first order 5 Sep 1994, roll-out 30 Jun 1997, first flight 31 Jul 1997, FAA certification 13 Mar 1998, first delivery 22 Apr 1998, in service 24 Apr 1998. Boeing: 737 family background page (archived 9 Dec 2004)
In April 1998 Boeing said the 737, with almost 4,000 orders, was the best-selling commercial jetliner of all time, with more than 825 in the air at any time. Boeing news release: First Next-Generation 737-800 goes to Hapag-Lloyd (23 Apr 1998) Boeing certified and delivered the first three Next-Generation models in less than a year. Boeing: Select Products in Boeing History, 737 Commercial Transport (PDF)
Boeing’s 2004 table and its 1998 news release are a day apart on the delivery date. More on when sources disagree.
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