Boeing B-737 Classic Scrapbook

Boeing 737-301 Classic wearing the eye-catching livery of Piedmont Airlines during November 1986.

Photos by Don Linn, Scott Jankowski and Ken Kula

Known as the Boeing 737 Classic group of airliners, these three versions contained a major powerplant change over the original -100 and -200 series of original 737. All Classics were fitted with more powerful CFM-56 turbofan engines, the cowlings of the engines were slightly flattened on the underside for ground clearance requirements. The three versions of the Classic comprise the B-737-300, -400 and -500 versions, each has different dimensions that allowed seating arrangements from approximately 140 to 190 passengers, depending upon an airline’s specifications.  

Model B-737-347 of Western Airlines

The Boeing 737-300 series airliner was the first Classic version to go into service, with a first flight during February 1984. 1,113 airframes were built before production switched to the newer “Next Generation” versions. This was by far the most successful version of the three Classic airframes. Here is a small sampling of the users of the 737-300:

Alaska Airlines B-737-4S3 full passenger variant 

The Boeing 737-400 series version was the longest and thus carried the most passengers of the three Classic versions. The first flight of a -400 series jet occurred during February, 1988 and some 486 airframes of this model were built.

Alaska Airlines B-737-4Q8 Combi modification

Alaska Airlines modified several of its B-737-400s into pure freighters, several others became Combi- versions with a smaller than normal passenger seating area while the front part of the fuselage carried freight. The cargo doors were installed on the left front side of the fuselage and passengers accessed their seats from the rear fuselage doors. 

Here are a few photos of 737-400s in use:

SkyEurope Airlines Model B-737-53C

The Boeing 737-500 is the shortest of the three Classic versions and was built to succeed the original 737-200 model. The least successful (in comparison of airframes ordered), it still garnered 389 airframe orders. The first flight of a -500 jet occurred during June 1989, here are a few of the airlines around the world which operated this 737 Classic version: