1997 - 2010 Boeing 737 Next Generation

by Julia Baciu, on March 3, 2010, 16:33

The Boeing 737 Next Generation is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short to medium range, single aisle, narrow body jet airliners. Produced since 1996, 3,172 737NG aircraft have been delivered as of January 2010.

1997 - 2010 Boeing 737 Next Generation
Year:

1997- 2010
Make:

Boeing
Model:

737
Engine:

Two CFM56-7B18 turbofans

The Boeing 737 twin-engine airliner is considered the bestselling jetliner in the world.
For example in February 2006, the 5,000th 737 aircrafts was delivered and the airplane has transported the equivalent of the world’s population, about seven billion passengers.
Over 3,000 aircraft of the first generation of 737s, which first flew in 1967, were created until the production run was finished in the year 2000.
The aircraft has permited airlines to provide domestic routes and short-range international flights for more than 30 years.
The design of the next-generation family of 737s began in 1991 and the newest 737s provide transcontinental and medium-range international flights. Nearly 5,000 of the new generation aircraft have been ordered and the 2,000th was delivered in July 2006.

Wingspan - 117 ft 5 in (35.7 m)

The 737 - airplane - is based on a key Boeing philosophy of giving added value to airlines with simplicity, reliability and reduced operating and maintenance costs.
The 737 is considered the world’s most successful commercial airliner because the Next-Generation 737 models were built on the strengths.
Advanced technology winglets permits airlines to save on fuel, carry more payload, extend its range and reduce engine maintenance costs.
Blended winglets provide many benefits to airplane operators, like increasing the Next-Generation 737’s lead as the newest and most technologically highly developed airplane in its class.
Having a new look the passenger cabin on the Boeing Next-Generation 737s will provides the necessary comfort and also very pleasant surroundings.

The design and development of Boeing 737 Next Generation

In 1991 Boeing begin development of an updated series of aircraft.
After working with potential customers, the 737 Next Generation (NG) program was declared on November 17, 1993.
The 737NG includes the -600, -700, -800 and -900, and is to date the most substantial upgrade of the airframe. The performance of the 737NG is essentially that of a new airplane, but important commonality is retained from previous 737.
The wing was modified, its area becoming larger by 25% and span by 16 ft (4.88 m), these changes enhance the total fuel capacity by 30%.
Now the CFM56-7B engines are quieter and fuel-efficient. These enhancements combine to increase the 737’s range by 900 nmi, now allowing transcontinental service. A flight test program was sustained by 10 aircrafts; 3 -600s, 4 -700s, and 3 -800s.

TopSpeed - 544 mph

The new style interior on the passengers cabin was improved on the previous style interior used on the Boeing 757-200 and the Boeing 737 Classic by including select characteristics of the 777-style interior, most noticeably larger, more rounded overhead bins and curved ceiling panels. The interior of the 737 Next Generation also became the standard interior on the Boeing 757-300.
The first NG to roll out was a -700, on December 8, 1996. This airplane, the 2,843rd 737 constructed, first flew on February 9, 1997, on board with the pilots Mike Hewett and Ken Higgins.
The prototype -800 rolled out on June 30, 1997 and first flight was on 31 July 1997, again with the same pilots, Hewett and Jim McRoberts.
The -600s is the smallest of the new variants and has the same size as the -500, it was the last in this versions to launch, in December 1997. On January 22, 1998 flew for the first time and on August 18, 1998, the aircraft received the certification.
In 2004, Boeing offered a Short Field Performance package in response to the needs of Gol Transportes Aéreos, who repeatedly operate from restricted airports. The enhancements improve takeoff and landing functioning. The optional package is available for the 737NG versions and standard equipment for the 737-900ER.

New improvements

New carbon brakes was offered for the Next-Generation 737s, in July 2008, which are intended to substitute steel brakes and will reduce the weight of the brake package by 550-700 pounds (250-320 kilograms) depending on whether standard or high-capacity steel brakes were fitted.
The weight was reduced of 700 pounds on a Boeing 737-800, resulting a 0.5% reduction in fuel burn.
On August 21, 2006, Sky News suspected that Boeing’s Next Generation 737s built from 1994 to 2002 contained defective components.
The report stated that different components of the airframe produced by Ducommun were found to be defective by Boeing employees but that Boeing refused to take action. Boeing declared that the accusations were "without merit".
Boeing has already hinted that a "clean sheet" substitution for the 737 (internally dubbed "Boeing Y1") could follow the Boeing 787.
Boeing has also hinted that they could put new engines on the 737, to make that model stay more competitive.

Boeing 737 Interior

The Boeing 737 cabins are typically arranged in a two-class configuration with first-class passengers four abreast and tourist-class passengers six abreast. The cabins are air conditioned with a three-wheel air cycle environmental control system.
There are two underfloor luggage holds. The rear hold can be fitted with a telescopic baggage conveyor.

Boeing 737 Engines

The CFM56-7B engines used are more fuel-efficient and quieter. All three changes combined increase the 737’s range by 900 NM, now permitting transcontinental service.
The enhancements improve landing and takeoff performance. Engines on the 737 Classic series (300, 400, 500) and Next-Generation series (600, 700, 800, 900) appear not to have circular inlets, as most aircraft do. The accessory gearbox was moved from the 6 o’clock position under the engine to the 4 o’clock position.
This was done because the 737 sits lower to the ground than most airliners and the original 737s were designed for small P&W engines, but additional ground clearance was needed for the larger CFM56 engines.

Boeing 737 Landing gear

The aircraft is outfitted with tricycle-type hydraulically operated retractable landing gear. The gear is fitted with oleo-pneumatic shock absorbers. The main wheels retract inwards with the wheels forming the well seal; the wells have no doors. The main wheels are fitted with Honeywell or Goodrich wheel brakes. The twin nose wheel retracts forward.
In April 2008, Boeing finished certification testing of new carbon brakes for the 737 NG. The carbon brakes provide a weight saving of between 250kg (550lb) and 320kg (700lb), varying on airplane model, compared to steel brakes.

Boeing 737 specifications

Measurement	737-600	737-700 / 737-700ER	737-800	737-900ER
Cockpit crew	Two	Two	Two	Two
Seating capacity	132 (1-class, dense),123 (1-class, standard)	149 (1-class, dense),140 (1-class, standard)	189 (1-class, dense),175 (1-class, standard)	215 (1-class, high-density),204 (1-class, dense),187 (1-class, standard)
Seat pitch	30 in (1-class, dense), 32 in (1-class, standard)	30 in (1-class, dense), 32 in (1-class, standard)	30 in (1-class, dense), 32 in (1-class, standard)	28 in (1-class, high-density), 30 in (1-class, dense), 32 in(1-class, standard)
Seat width	17.2 in (1-class, 6 abreast seating)	17.2 in (1-class, 6 abreast seating)	17.2 in (1-class, 6 abreast seating)	17.2 in (1-class, 6 abreast seating)
Length	102 ft 6 in (31.2 m)	110 ft 4 in (33.6 m)	129 ft 6 in (39.5 m)	138 ft 2 in (42.1 m)
Wingspan	117 ft 5 in (35.7 m)	117 ft 5 in (35.7 m)	117 ft 5 in (35.7 m)	117 ft 5 in (35.7 m)
Height	41 ft 3 in (12.6 m)	41 ft 2 in (12.5 m)	41 ft 2 in (12.5 m)	41 ft 2 in (12.5 m)
Wing sweepback	25.02° (437 mrad)	25.02° (437 mrad)	25.02° (437 mrad)	25.02° (437 mrad)
Aspect ratio	9.45	9.45	9.45	9.45
Fuselage width	12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)	12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)	12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)	12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)
Fuselage Height	13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)	13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)	13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)	13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
Cabin width	11 ft 7 in (3.54 m)	11 ft 7 in (3.54 m)	11 ft 7 in (3.54 m)	11 ft 7 in (3.54 m)
Cabin height	7 ft 3 in (2.20 m)	7 ft 3 in (2.20 m)	7 ft 3 in (2.20 m)	7 ft 3 in (2.20 m)
Empty weight	80,031 lb (36,378 kg)	84,100 lb (38,147 kg)	91,108 lb (41,413 kg)	98,495 lb (44,676 kg)
Maximum take-off weight	145,500 lb (66,000 kg)	Basic: 154,500 lb (70,080 kg) ER: 171,000 lb (77,565 kg)	174,200 lb (79,010 kg)	187,700 lb (85,130 kg)
Maximum landing weight	121,500 lb (55,112 kg)	128,928 lb (58,604 kg)	146,300 lb (66,361 kg)	146,300 lb (66,361 kg)
Cargo capacity	756 ft³ (21.4 m³)	966 ft³ (27.3 m³)	1,591 ft³ (45.1 m³)	1,852 ft³ (52.5 m³)
Takeoff run at MTOW	8,016 ft (2,400 m)	8,283 ft (2,480 m)	8,181 ft (2,450 m)	8,181 ft (2,450 m)
Service ceiling	41,000 ft (12,500 m)	41,000 ft (12,500 m)	41,000 ft (12,500 m)	41,000 ft (12,500 m)
Cruising speed	Mach 0.785 (514 mph, 828 km/h)	Mach 0.785 (514 mph, 828 km/h)	Mach 0.785 (514 mph, 828 km/h)	0.78 (511 mph, 823 km/h)
Maximum speed	Mach 0.82 (544 mph, 876 km/h, 473 kt)	Mach 0.82 (544 mph, 876 km/h, 473 kt)	Mach 0.82 (544 mph, 876 km/h, 473 kt)	Mach 0.82 (544 mph, 876 km/h, 473 kt)
Range fully loaded	3,050 NM (5,648 km)	Basic: 3,365 NM (6,230 km) WL: 3,900 NM (7,220 km) ER: 5,510 NM (10,205 km)	3,060 NM (5,665 km)	2,700 NM (4,996 km) in 1 class layout, 3,200 NM (5,925 km) in 2 class layout with 2 aux. tanks
Max. fuel capacity	6,875 US gal (26,020 L)	6,875 US gal (26,020 L)	6,875 US gal (26,020 L)	7,837 US gal (29,660 L)
Engine (x 2)	CFM 56-7B20	CFM 56-7B26	CFM 56-7B27	CFM 56-7
Max. thrust (x 2)	20,600 lbf (91.6 kN)	26,300 lbf (116.0 kN)	27,300 lbf (121.4 kN)	27,300 lbf (121.4 kN)
Cruising thrust (x 2)	5,210 lbf (23.18 kN)	5,480 lbf (24.38 kN)	5,480 lbf (24.38 kN)	5,480 lbf (24.38 kN)
Fan tip diameter	61 in (1.55 m)	61 in (1.55 m)	61 in (1.55 m)	61 in (1.55 m)
Engine length	98.7 in (2.51 m)	98.7 in (2.51 m)	98.7 in (2.51 m)	98.7 in (2.51 m)
Engine ground clearance	18 in (46 cm)	18 in (46 cm)	18 in (46 cm)	19 in (48 cm)