At 1:15 p.m., 9 April 1967, the prototype Boeing 737-130, N73700, (internal number PA-099) took off from Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington, with test pilots Brien Singleton Wygle and Samuel Lewis (“Lew”) Wallick, Jr., in the cockpit. After a 2 hour, 30 minute flight, the new airliner landed at Paine Field, Everett, Washington.
When asked by a reporter what he thought about the new airplane, Boeing’s president, Bill Allen, replied, “I think they’ll be building this airplane when Bill Allen is in an old man’s home.”
He was right. In production since 1968, the Boeing 737 is the most popular airliner ever made and it is still in production. On 13 March 2018, the 10,000th 737 was delivered.
Boeing 737-130 N73700 was a twin engine, medium-range airliner, operated by a pilot and co-pilot. It was designed to carry up to 124 passengers. The airplane is 97 feet (28.57 meters) long with a wingspan of 87 feet (26.52 meters) and overall height of 37 feet (11.3 meters). It has an empty weight of 56,893 pounds (25,807 kilograms) and gross weight of 111,000 pounds (50,350 kilograms).
The airliner’s cruise speed is 575 miles per hour (925 kilometers per hour) and its range is 1,150 miles (1,850 kilometers).
After the flight test and certification program was complete, Boeing handed N73700 over to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at Langley Field, Virginia, 12 June 1973, where it became NASA 515 (N515NA). The airliner was used for research in cockpit design, engine controls, high lift devices, etc. Because of it’s short and stubby appearance, NASA named it “Fat Albert.”
The prototype Boeing 737 ended its NASA career and was returned to Boeing, landing for the last time at Boeing Field’s Runway 31L, 3:11 p.m., PDT, 21 September 2003. Today, PA-099 is on display at the Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington.
© 2019, Bryan R. Swopes
Excellent aeroplane.
Flew the -200 for Southwest from ’84 to ’04. Airplane knew its way around Texas. Would love to fly one again. Also flew -300’s, -500’s, -700’s and -800’s. -200 was everyone’s favorite. Did not fly the max. Understand I didn’t miss much. Over 20,000 737 hours, 30 years.
Avionics and A&P Tech in Alaska for 15 years on this type. Started out with tech data on microfiche(!?); and fresh out of the military and fresh off the F-15 Eagle I thought it was Back to the Future, and maybe I made a mistake getting out!
Stable systems tho, and generally when the pilot’s broke it we knew what to do to fix it and had parts ready before it landed. I am glad technology has progressed, but this “MudHen” fed my family for years.
An engineer I know is on a team working to reduce weight on Airbus 320 aircraft. So far, the engineers have eliminated over 440 pounds (200 kilograms.)
No doubt, Boeing has also reduced the weight of the 737 aircraft.
On a tour of the Boeing plant, there are examples of old parts that have been redesigned to save weight and costs.
I first flew in a Lufthansa 737 in November 1972, from Birmingham UK to Frankfurt. Fifty three years ago, two thirds of my life away. I would never have believed that the 737 would still be in production so many years later. Wonderful plane, although some of the recent history has been very sad.