The astonishing longevity of the Boeing 737
Published 10:29 am Saturday, March 26, 2016
The Boeing 737 has been a key product for half of the company’s existence, and a lot has happened in the 50 years since Boeing began designing the seminal single-aisle jetliner. The newest iteration, the 737 MAX, flew for the first time in January. Here’s a 737 timeline, with historical events thrown in for context.
Feb. 19, 1965: Lufthansa places the first 737 order (for 21 planes).
Feb. 25, 1965: Douglas’ competing DC-9 makes its first flight.
April 13, 1966: Boeing announces its building the 747. Site construction in Everett starts in June.
July 15, 1966: Boeing celebrates its 50th anniversary.
April 9, 1967: Boeing 737-100 maiden flight. The larger 737-200 flies in August.
Dec. 28, 1967: First 737 delivery (a 737-100 to Lufthansa).
July 20, 1969: Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon.
May 20, 1971: The first major upgrade — the 737-200 Advanced — goes into service with All Nippon Airways.
Feb. 9, 1974: Lowell Paper Mill smokestack demolished in Everett.
Oct. 18, 1979: First flight of the DC-9 Super 80 (later renamed the MD-80).
May 18, 1980: Mount St. Helens erupts, killing 57 people.
Feb. 24, 1984: First flight of the 737-300, the program’s first new version since production began.
Feb. 22, 1987: Airbus A320 first flight.
June 17, 1987: Ken Griffey, Jr. hits his first professional home run at Everett Memorial Stadium.
March 28, 1988: First A320 delivery.
Aug. 8, 1988: 737-200 production ends after 1,114 deliveries and more than 20 years.
Nov. 9, 1989: The Berlin Wall opens.
March 28, 1990: 737 becomes the world’s best-selling jetliner with its 1,832nd delivery (to United Airlines).
April 30, 1991: Boeing 707 production ends.
Nov. 17, 1993: Boeing announces the 737 Next Generation (the -600, -700, -800 and -900) versions.
Aug. 24, 1995: Microsoft Windows 95 hits stores.
Feb. 9, 1997: First flight for a 737 Next Gen (a 737-700).
Oct. 3, 1997: Boeing temporarily halts 737 and 747 production due to supply chain problems.
Sept. 1, 1998: The first Harry Potter novel goes on sale in the United States.
Dec. 9, 1999: Boeing ends production of the 737 Classic versions (-300, -400 and -500) after 1,988 airplanes.
Feb. 28, 2001: The Nisqually earthquake hits the Puget Sound region.
May 16, 2001: Alaska Airlines takes delivery of the first 737-900.
Sept. 4, 2001: Boeing moves corporate headquarters from Seattle to Chicago.
Jan. 8, 2004: Donald Trump’s reality TV show, “The Apprentice,” debuts.
Feb. 13, 2006: Boeing delivers the 5,000th 737 (to Southwest Airlines).
Dec. 15, 2009: First flight for Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.
Aug. 30, 2011: Boeing confirms plans to make the 737 MAX (the 737-7, -8 and -9) to compete with Airbus’ A320neo.
Dec. 13, 2011: Southwest places the first 737 MAX order.
Jan. 20, 2012: Airbus delivers the 5,000th A320 produced.
Sept. 8, 2014: Boeing unveils the 737 MAX 200 with Ryanair.
Jan. 20, 2016: First A320neo delivery.
Jan. 29, 2016: 737 MAX first flight: A 737-8 takes off from Renton Municipal Airport.
Sources: Everett Herald archives, Boeing Co., Airbus Group, Historylink.org
