Catholic2006 From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 357 posts, RR: 2 Posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 6414 times:
Okay, can someone help me understand this...??
What is the difference between the Boeing 737-300 and the 737-500???
What do those numbers mean (300, 500, 700, etc.)???
Why is the 737-300 longer than the 737-500, when the 737-400 is longer than the 737-300??? This is so confusing. But could be interesting tho. Let me know.
-Chris
Ne vous inquietez pas. Je ne vous hais pas . . . . encore, mais faites attention !
Jhooper From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 6195 posts, RR: 13 Reply 1, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 6377 times:
-200, -300, -800, etc. is just the series designator. The -200 series, for example, are older generation models, while the -800 series is a Next Generation model.
Last year 1,944 New Yorkers saw something and said something.
Catholic2006 From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 357 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 6321 times:
Ohhhh, okay!
thank you.
so it really doesn't have anything to do with size?
J/w cuz i always found that interesting why plane models are like that.
thank you very much!!
-Chris
Ne vous inquietez pas. Je ne vous hais pas . . . . encore, mais faites attention !
Boeing757/767 From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 2264 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 6287 times:
It has to do when it came out, really.
the -100 was the original 737. Then came the venerable -200. The -300 was next, followed by a stretched -400 and a shrunken -500.
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15871 posts, RR: 66 Reply 4, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 6194 times:
The 737s are generally classified in three generations:
"Original". First flight 1967.
737-100 (baseline)
737-200 (stretch)
"Classic" with the new engines. First flight 1984.
737-300 (baseline)
737-400 (stretch)
737-500 (shrink)
"Next Generation" with new wing, even newer engines, new avionics... First flight 1997.
737-600 (shrink)
737-700 (baseline)
737-800 (stretch)
737-900 (streeetch) 737-900ER (proposed 900 with longer range).
Size does matter when it comes to the series designator, but the 737 has been around for so long and through so many permutations that look and feel similar that it easily gets confusing. The reason that the Classic shrink (500) has a higher sequence number than the 300 and 400 is, IIRC, that it was not originally envisioned as part of the program.
Phollingsworth From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2004, 825 posts, RR: 6 Reply 5, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 6162 times:
Well, sometimes it has to do with size, and other times not.
the -200 is longer than the -100, the -300 is longer than the -200, and the -400 is longer than the -300. Of course time of launch is the real determent. the -500 is basically a -200 replacement. The -6/7/800 were created with in short order of each other, so it was sensible to label them in size order. The -600 is the NG version of the -500, the -700 corresponds to the -300. The -800 is larger than the -400. The -900 came even later and is the longest of all. Boeing has typically numbered their airplanes in the order in which the program was started, i.e the 757 was started before the 767 even though the 767 went into service first. This may change with the 7E7 which depending on the version that comes out first may have a -300 and then a -200, or some such.
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15871 posts, RR: 66 Reply 6, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 6115 times:
And to further add to the confusion...
Although you rarely see it outside enthusiast environments like A.net, the last two digits (00) are used for customer code (Boeing) and for engine type/airframe subvariant (Airbus). For example, Lufthansa is "30" at Boeing, so their 747-400s are actually 747-430s.
Confused yet?
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
B747Skipper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 5995 times:
Dont feel bad - I heard this - about 747s
xxx
747-100 is small (as small as 747SP, did not say)
747-200 is bigger
747-400 is biggest
xxx
757 is bigger than 747 (bigger number)
767 is bigger than 757
777 is bigger than 767...
xxx
Manufacturers: please use "bigger numbers" for "bigger airplanes".
That is the general public I.Q. -
xxx
So Mr. Airbus, please note - 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 380...
The 300 is small, then 310 bigger, and 320 even bigger, etc...
xxx
So nice that it comes from people that know that -
100 is less than 200, which is less than 300...
And "they" even have to use their fingers, when over three...
On my tombstone, write "he was frustrated with mankind's stupidity"
xxx
Happy contrails
(s) Skipper
DfwRevolution From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 5754 times:
so it really doesn't have anything to do with size?
I can see how this is confusing, especially for the 737. The number means both fuselage length, generation type, and customer. I'll try to consolidate what everyone has said into one summary.
Take this Southwest 737... Boeing 737-7H4
Boeing 737-7H4 indicates that the aircraft is a Boeing 737
Boeing 737-7H4 indicates this 737 is a -700 model
Boeing 737-7H4 indicates the customer is Southwest Airlines
Okay, so there have been 9 models of the 737 over time-
First Generation 1965-1987
Boeing 737-100, 110 passengers, 30 ordered
Boeing 737-200, 119-130 passengers, 991 ordered
Second Generation 1981-1999
Boeing 737-300, 149 passengers, 1113 ordered
Boeing 737-400, 168 passengers, 486 ordered
Boeing 737-500, 138 passengers, 389 ordered
Third Generation 1993-Today
Boeing 737-600, 138 passengers, 71 ordered
Boeing 737-700, 149 passengers, 940 ordered
Boeing 737-800, 168 passengers, 1109 ordered
Boeing 737-900, 177 passengers, 57 ordered
Improvements from generation to generation include upgraded engines, upgraded avionics, wing improvements, ext. More about that can be found on Boeing's website.
The last two numbers of letters of the aircraft type confuse the most people, but doing a photo search will show you that the ending has to do with customer not a major type difference.
Catholic2006 From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 357 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 5641 times:
OHHHHHHH!!!!
(I've seen the light!!!) lol
See, that was what I was just about to ask....'WHAT DOES THE 5H4 MEAN??"
Okay, now this is much easier for me to understand. I was always wondering why Southwest had H4 at the end of their model numbers and why Lufthansa had 747-430 at the end. I was like "does a certain airline have a model which is bigger than all others?"
This is soooo cool!!!! Thank you to all of you who have contributed to answering. I now clearly understand and am no longer confused!!!
THANX A TON!!!
-Chris
Ne vous inquietez pas. Je ne vous hais pas . . . . encore, mais faites attention !
Amhilde From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 643 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 5556 times:
So was the -900 the one that is so long that it looks like a pencil almost? I remember seeing an AS once that was wow, really long.
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15871 posts, RR: 66 Reply 12, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 5659 times:
Don't forget that Airbus number differently. As they should. They're European
At the risk of making a very long post, here is a nice list for you. Airbus first (alphabetical, don't read anything into it). I probably stole it off some old post.
AIRBUS
1st digit : version
2nd digit : engine manufacturer :
0 = General Electric
1 = CFM International
2 = Pratt and Whitney
3 = IAE (International Aero Engines)
4 = Rolls Royce
6 = Alliance (for the A380)
3rd digit : engine type (depends on the aircraft model) :
Note that this nomenclature does NOT apply to early versions of the A300 (versions B1, B2-1C, B2K-3C and SA)">B4-2C), all powered by GE CF6-50C2R.
For the A300-600, the nomenclatures SA)">B4 (passenger), C4 (combi) and F4 (freighter) are still used.
You will also see the following codes :
CJ = Corporate Jet (A319)
E = Extended range (A319CJ, A330 and A340)
ET = Extended twin (ETOPS, for the A310 only)
F = Freighter
R = Extended range (A300-600)
ST = Super transporter (only A300-600ST "Beluga")
BOEING
01 Piedmont
02 Northern Consolidated / Wien Air Alaska
03 Caribair
04 Britannia Airways
05 Braathens SAFE
06 K.L.M - Royal Dutch Airlines
07 Luftwaffe / West German Air Force
08 Icelandair
09 China Airlines
10 Wien Colsolidated / Wien Air Alaska
11 Wardair
12 M.S.A / Singapore Airlines
13 Ariana - Afghan Airlines
14 Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA)
15 Lake Central
16 LAN Chile
17 CP Air / Canadian International
18 B.E.A
19 NZ National Airways Corp / Air New Zealand
20 Boeing
21 Pan American World Airways
22 United Air Lines
23 American Airlines
24 Continental Airlines
25 Eastern Airlines
27 Braniff Airways
28 Air France
29 SABENA
30 Lufthansa
31 T.W.A
32 Delta Air Lines
33 Air Canada
34 Transair Sweden
35 National Airlines
36 B.O.A.C / British Airways
37 Air India
38 Qantas
39 Cubana
40 Pakistan International Airlines
41 Varig
42 Nordair
43 Alitalia
44 South African Airways
45 Seaboard World Airlines
46 Japan Air Lines
47 Western Air Lines
48 Aer Lingus
49 Flying Tiger Line
50 Trek Airways
51 Northwest Airlines
53 United States Air Force
54 Mohawk Airlines
55 Executive Jet Aviation
56 Iberia
57 Swissair
58 El Al
59 Avianca
60 Ethopian Airlines
61 F.A.A
62 Pacific Northern
63 Ghana Airways (ntu) / Faucett
64 Mexicana
65 British Eagle
66 United Arab Airlines / Egyptair
67 Cathay Pacific Airways
68 Saudia / Saudi Arabian Airlines
69 Kuwait Airways
70 Iraqi Airways
71 Trans International / Transamerica
72 Airlift International
73 World Airways
74 Iraqi Airways (ntu) / Libyan Arba (ntu)
75 Pacific Western Airlines
76 Trans Australian
77 Ansett Airlines
78 B.W.I.A
79 Saturn Airlines
80 Bankers Trust (TWA)
81 All Nippon Airways
82 T.A.P - Air Portugal
83 S.A.S
84 Olympic Airways
85 American Flyers
86 Iran Air
87 Aerolineas Argentinas
89 Toa Domestic / Japan Air System
90 Alaska Airlines
91 Frontier Airlines
92 Air Asia / Air America
93 Pacific Air Lines / Air California
94 Syrian Arab Airlines / Syrianair
95 Northeast Airlines
96 Quebecair
97 Aloha Airlines
98 Air Zaire
99 British Caledonian
1A Martinair Holland
1B China Southern Airlines
1C Government of Romania
1H Emirates
1K Airtours International Airways Ltd.
1L China Xinjiang Airlines
1M Oman Air
1Q Tombo Aviation Inc.
1R Virgin Atlantic Airways
1S Deutsche BA
1U BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
2A Hawaiian Airlines
2C Air UK Leisure
2J Arab Leasing
2K Turkmenistan Airlines / Akhal
2L Azerbaijan Airlines
2Q Ukraine International Airlines
2R Pegasus Airlines
2T BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
2U JABJ / Picton II Ltd. (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
3A Ansett Worldwide (AWWAS) / Nordstress Ltd.
3B Air Mauritius
SA)">3C Euralair International
3N American Trans Air
3P Uzbekistan Airways
3Q Boeing (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
3R Western Pacific Airlines
3S Pembroke Capital
3T Real Estate Exchange Inc. (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
3U Chartwell Aircraft Company (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
3V Easyjet Airline Co Ltd.
4A United Parcel Service - UPS
4K Air Nippon
4N China United Airlines
4P Hainan Airlines
4Q Mid East Jet
4S SA)">GB Airways
4T GECAS (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
4U Air Shamrock (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
4V BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
SA)">5A Presidential Airways
SA)">5B Germania
5C Xiamen Airlines
5D LOT - Polish Airlines
5E EVA Air
5F GATX Capital Corp
5H Itochu AirLease Corp.
5N Shandong Airlines
SA)">5P Air Europa
5R Jet Airways (India)
5S CSA - Czech Airlines
5T First Union Commercial Corp. (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
5U Dobro Ltd. (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
5V General Electric Corporation (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ)
6B Cal Air / Novair International Airways
6D Shanghai Airlines
6E VIVA Air
6J Air Berlin
6K Vietnam Airlines Corporation
6M Virgin Express
6N GE Capital Aviation (GECAS)
6Q Boullion Aircraft Holding
6R Wuhan Airlines
7A Far Eastern Air Transport
7B Air Holland
SA)">7C Japanesse Self Defence Force
7D Air Seychelles
7G Malev - Hungarian Airlines
7K Zhongyuan Airlines
7Q Novel Leasing Company
7U Atlas Air
8A Air 2000 Limited
8B Istanbul Airlines
8E Asiana Airlines
8J Tarom
8N Chilean Air Force
8S China Xinjiang Airlines
9A ARAVCO
9D Linjeflyg
9H Leisure International
9J Shorouk Air
SA)">9K Shenzen Airlines
SA)">9L Air China
9M Air Austral
SA)">9N Mid East Jet
9P China Eastern Airlines
9R Pro Air
9T BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
9U Wilmot Trust company (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
A0 Lloyd Aereo Boliiviano
A1 VASP
A3 Pluna
A4 Air California
A6 Essex International / LTV Capital
A7 Trans Caribbean
A8 Indian Airlines
A9 Transair Canada
B1 DETA Mozambique / LAM
B2 Air Madagascar
B3 U.T.A
SA)">B4 M.E.A
B5 Korean Air
SA)">B6 Royal Air Maroc
B7 Allegheny / USAir / US Airways
C0 GATX / Boothe
C3 Cruzeiro do Sul
C9 Luxair
D1 Universal Airlines
D3 ALIA - Royal Jordanian Airlines
D4 Ozark Airlines
D6 Air Algerie
D7 Thai Airways International
E0 Dubai Air Wing (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
E0 Dubai Air Wing
E1 Eastern Provincial
E3 LADECO
E7 Arkia
F1 Air New Zealand (ntu)
SA)">F2 THY - Turkish Airlines
F5 Government of Portugal / Portuguese Air Force
F6 Philippine Airlines
F8 Royal Nepal Airways
SA)">F9 Nigeria Airways
G1 Government of Saudi Arabia
SA)">G4 United States Air Force
G5 L.T.S / L.T.U.
G7 America West Airlines
H2 I.T.T
H3 Tunis Air
H4 Southwest Airlines
H5 Mey Air
H6 Malaysian Airlines
H7 Cameroon Airlines
H9 J.A.T - Jugoslav Airlines
J0 Air Jamaica
J1 Dominicana
J4 Sterling Airways
J6 C.A.A.C / Air China
J7 National Aircraft Leasing
J8 Sudan Airways
J9 Iranian Air Force
K1 Tarom / Romanian Government
K2 Transavia / KLM
K3 Aviogenex
K5 Hapag Lloyd
K6 SAHSA
K9 Bavaria Flug
L4 American Capital Aviation
L5 Libyan Arab Airlines
L6 Aviation Services & Support
L7 Air Nauru
SA)">L8 Government of Yugoslavia
L9 Maersk Air
M0 ARIA - Aeroflot Russian International Airlines
M1 Pelita Air Service
M2 TAAG - Angola Airlines
SA)">M6 Royal Brunei
M7 Hughes Air West
M8 Trans European Airways
M9 Zambia Airways
N0 Air Zimbabwe
N1 Government of Venezuela
N3 Government of Brazil
N6 Government of Nigeria
SA)">N7 Government of Egypt
N8 Yemen Airways
N9 Government of Niger / Air Niger
P1 Goverment of Qatar
P3 HRH Talal bin Abdul Aziz (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
P5 Thai Airways
SA)">P6 Gulf Air
P8 Bahrain Amiri Flight
Q2 Air Gabon
Q3 Southwest Air Lines / Japan TransOcean
Q4 Transbrasil
SA)">Q5 Government of Liberia / Air Liberia
Q6 LACSA
Q8 I.L.F.C
Q9 Itel Corp.
R1 Government of Cameroon
R4 Alyemda
R6 Air Guinee
R7 Cargolux Airline International
R8 Air Tanzania
S1 TACA International Airlines
S2 Federal Express
S3 Air Europe / Sunrock Capital Corp.?
S4 Air Afrique
SA)">S5 Eldorado Aviation
S7 North Central Airlines / Republic Airlines
S9 Maritime Investment
T0 Texas Air Corp / Continental Airlines
T2 Dome Petroleum
T3 Evergreen
T4 Air Florida
T5 Orion Airways
T7 Monarch Airlines
T8 Polaris Leasing
SA) and AB Varmlandsflyg (Sweden)">T9 Boeing
U3 Garuda Indonesia
U4 OSL Villa Holidays
U5 Government of Jordan
U8 Kenya Airways
U9 Polynesian Airlines
V2 TAME
V3 COPA Airlines
V5 Bahamasair
V6 Petrolair Systems SA
V8 Air Executive / Busy Bee
W0 China Yunnan Airlines
W2 Aerotour
W6 Government of Morocco
W8 NOGA Import
X2 Air Pacific
X3 Air Charter International
X4 Supair
X6 Markair
X8 Wistair Corp
X9 Indonesian Air Force
Y0 G.P.A Group
Y4 Rafic B Hariri (Saudi customer)
Y5 Air Malta
Y9 Air Malawi
Z0 China Southwest
Z5 United Arab Emirates Royal Flight
Z6 Royal Thai Air Force
Z8 South Korean Air Force
Z9 Lauda Air
AB AB Airlines
AD Eastwind Airlines
AH BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
AJ BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
AK Privitair (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
AN Saudi OGER (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
AR Taiwan Air Force
AS Ryanair
AV Newsflight II Inc. (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
AW BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
AX ARAMCO
BC Boeing NetJets (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
BD AirTran Airways Inc.
BF Funair Corp. (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
BG Flightlease AG
BH BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
BJ Atlas Air (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
BK CIT Leasing Corp.
BQ GECAS
BS North American Airlines
BX Midway Airlines
CB Hawaiian Airlines
CG GKW Aviation LLC (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
CJ BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ One Inc. (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
CM Aerolineas de Baleares Aebal
CN Privatair (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
CP Ford Motor Company (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
CQ JMC Airlines Limited
CT Westjet
CU Tutor-Saliba corp. (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
CX GATX - Flightlease
DF BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
DM BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
DO BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
DP BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
DR Multiflight (BBJ2 Customer)
DT BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
DV Lowa Ltd. (BBJ2 Customer)
DW BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
DX Kazakhstan Airlines
EA Azteca Airlines
EC Dubai Air Wing (BBJ2 Customer)
ED BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
EF BBJ2 Customer
EG Samsung Aerospace (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
EJ Grupo Omnilife S.A. de C.V. (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
EL Swiflite Aircraft Corporation (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
EM BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
EQ BBJ2 Customer
ES Royal Australian Air Force (BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer)
ET BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
EV BBJ2 Customer
EX BBJ2 Customer
FB BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
FD BJ / EDRB) (closed), Germany">BBJ Customer
FE Virgin Blue
[Edited 2004-03-15 22:25:59]
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
Cory6188 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2686 posts, RR: 6 Reply 13, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 5373 times:
Amhilde, I am in agreement with you that the 739 is long.
However, if you want to see a plane that is really a pencil, check out the 753. The effects are especially exaggerated because it is a narrowbody. I have flown on a CO 753 from EWR-PBI - the aisle just goes on, and on, and on, and on. It takes the F/A's a good thirty seconds to walk from the back to the front at a fast pace.
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15871 posts, RR: 66 Reply 14, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 5331 times:
Getting off topic of course but my colleague said he was flying "one of those... ehm... tubes" from Stockholm to Dublin. Turns out he was flying what I see as the ultimate flying pencil, the ERJ-145.
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
Cory6188 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2686 posts, RR: 6 Reply 15, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 5295 times:
On a side note, it took two F/A's with a drink cart almost the entire 2 hour flight to do one beverage service down the length of the plane.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 357 posts, 
From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15871 posts, 
when it comes to the series designator, but the 737 has been around for so long and through so many permutations that look and feel similar that it easily gets confusing. The reason that the Classic shrink (500) has a higher sequence number than the 300 and 400 is, IIRC, that it was not originally envisioned as part of the program.
From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2004, 825 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Canada, joined Mar 2004, 218 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
