![]() ![]() The engines of the Boeing 737-300 have a flat-bottomed shape known as the "hamster pouch." MAURICIO LIMA/AFP via Getty Images “It became a very good profit-making machine,” says Simons. To add to these selling points, the 737 also had six seats per row versus the competitors’ five, meaning it could carry more passengers. All of that could reduce the turnaround time at a major airport from around 90 to 40 minutes. Instead, it had air stairs that came out from under the door and dropped down. “And it didn’t require external ladders for passenger access. ![]() It was also easier to refuel, because the wings were lower to the ground,” says Simons. ![]() “You could load the plane from the back of a truck, without specific machinery. This allowed the aircraft to sit very low to the ground, making it easier to load luggage. Unlike Boeing’s larger planes, however, the 737 didn’t have its engines mounted on pylons in front of the wing, but directly under it. Its main competitors at the time, the BAC-111 and the Douglas DC-9, also had two engines, but they were placed near the tail of the plane, making the back section of the cabin narrower and noisier.īoeing’s designers placed the 737 engines under the wing instead, much like the company’s other jets, which reduced noise and vibration and made maintenance easier, because they could be reached without a ladder. “A few European charter companies, at peak season, flew them for 18-20 hours a day without problems,” he adds.Ĭompared to Boeing’s previous two jets, the four-engined 707 and the three-engined 727, the 737 was a smaller, more economical plane. “Some of them were even used to land on gravel strips, and they’re still being used to do so in northern Canada. “In the early days, the 737 was a very strong, very reliable aircraft,” says Graham Simons, an aviation historian and author of the book “Boeing 737: The World’s Most Controversial Commercial Jetliner.” United Airlines received its first 737 the following day, in a version stretched three feet to fit more seats – and dubbed 737-200 – that proved more popular. German flag carrier Lufthansa took delivery of the production version of the plane, known as the 737-100, later that year, marking the first time a new Boeing aircraft was launched by a European airline. It was christened by flight attendants from the 17 airlines that had placed orders for it. The first 737 was rolled out on Januand took to the skies for the first time three months later. Photos on request.The maiden flight of the 737 took place on April 9, 1967. Preferbly to sell as a unit but may consider selling in parts. I spend most of the time enjoying building it though!! I am regretfully having to sell my simulator due to personal cercustances that i havent used much at all. Its all amber Leds, but the MIP backlighting (simworld pcbs) are Gold, so its just gels to make them amber.Īlso! The main PC i7, 16gb Ram GPU GTX 1080Ĭollection Only, preferbly to sell as a unit but may consider selling in parts. I have Flight Deck solutions board and digit boards from Hispapanels. Sim Solution Pedestal - except Fire panel ![]() Works fine except one of the trim wheels, doesn't spin as it should. This is one of Torsten Mullers, from Germany. The fire warnings cautions etc use the sim box (Simworld system) same loop as Overheads. I used their backlighting pcbs, and wired switches etc to Leo bodner cards. All gauges are simworld with the can bus system. Backlight has been done as per Elephant 737, if you’ve seen what he has done I used a similar approach. There is a mixture of Leo bodner and pokeys cards. I bought simworld Forward and Aft overhead panels and did the electronics and all the backlighting myself, its not to a high skill level but works fine. I spend most of the time enjoying building it though!! :) ![]()
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