Tell Me If You Love The B737-200

Capital146 · Sat Jul 12, 2003 7:36 am

The B737-200 was the first aircraft I flew on (with Britannia Airways, still love the retro 70's livery) and I still love the type. OK, the A320 is roomier (and I love the 320) but the 732 still holds a very special place in my heart.

My favourite 732 operator that I've flown was Orion Airways (they always made the effort) and I can still enjoy the 732 from my local airport, Leeds/Bradford, to Dublin with Ryanair (at very reasonable fares!).

So who was your favourite operator of then 732?

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JayDavis · Sat Jul 12, 2003 7:38 am

In a word, No.

When that engine does its reverse thrust movement, the first time I saw it scared the sh** out of me !!

AvObserver · Sat Jul 12, 2003 7:47 am

Just an aesthetic view here, since I haven't flown on a 732 but I don't like the stubby wings and integrated engine pods on the oldest 737s. I much prefer the larger, advanced wings and pod-mounted engines of the 737NG series.

DIA · Sat Jul 12, 2003 7:49 am

"When that engine does its reverse thrust movement, the first time I saw it scared the sh** out of me !! LOL! Laugh out loud

That happened to me too. . .way back!

Anyway, my sentiments are comletely opposite of JayDavis's.

I LOVE the old 732. Can't get enough of this old bird. I've been on UAL, Vanguard, Bahamasair, Frontier and America West's 732s.

Loud, bumpy, short and stubby. . . .love it to death.

DIA

Sabena332 · Sat Jul 12, 2003 7:51 am

I don`t like the 732! I am happy that I got two rides on it (FR: DUB-PIK and PIK-STN) but I don`t need more flights on this aircraft type. I like the 737-Next Generation because it fits in the year 2003, the 732`s are way too old, I prefer to travel comfortable.

Patrick

raven111 · Sat Jul 12, 2003 7:51 am

I like the 732's because they were the first, they are quite noisy but, I love to sit next to the window at the back of the exhaust and watch the thrust reverse deploy.

Aviationman · Sat Jul 12, 2003 7:52 am

I love the B-737-200. Here is my favorite one:

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Photo © Felix Sieder

Aviationman

AAmericanguy · Sat Jul 12, 2003 8:05 am

I know that a number of the 732 flight crews love the way the airplane flies. Go to http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=88203&highlight=737200 and you can read replies from a number of former pilots.

AngelAirways · Sat Jul 12, 2003 8:09 am

i did fly one once.. i was in the very last row and i tell you.. on take off those JT8D engines caused not only the interior part of the window (plastic) but the entire wall panels to vibrate with the noise... it was fun and the climb surprisingly steep

however, i wouldn't feel safe in them anymore.. they are getting quite old and after that sudan airways crash... not to mention the other problems they've had:

- rudders jamming (boeing made some mod to resolve that but still)
- fuselage fatigue failure (when Aloha had the roof rip off)
- quite a few engine failures.

I'd feel safer on an aeroflot Tu-154 frankly... they are well built and sturdy

L.1011 · Sat Jul 12, 2003 8:11 am

Remember,
JayDavis LOVES that god-awful Peter Max livery so since when did his opinions make sense? Big grin

BTW, I also love the 732. I remember flying on one with dlx BOS-TPA in '96 and getting the sh*t scared out of me. (Not by the reversers, but the snack bag they gave you when you boarded) That was also the flight where I swallowed my gum on climbout when we hit some turbulence and thought I was going to die. I thought all my food would get stuck to the gum and I would starve. lol Big thumbs up

Craigy · Sat Jul 12, 2003 8:28 am

I flew on the old BA ones - fond memories.

When I am at the airport taking photos, I love to stand close and feel the P&W's power. Yes, if you are close enough, you can actually feel a pounding on your chest when they use takeoff thrust. Still plenty of these flying into EGCC - Air Malta, European Aircharter and Ryanair.

Regards,
Craig.

apurnicus · Sat Jul 12, 2003 9:02 am

Howdy all, new member here. My first post.

Wow, B732 memories. It was 1984, I was six-years old at the time and flying on Indian Airlines from Ahmedabad to Delhi. At Ahmedabad (VAAH) passengers gather in common area after passing through security and then walk out on to the tarmac to board the flight. As a lover of planes, it was a magnificent sight- a grungy, pudgy plane. Big grin

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The ride was equally intense. Imagine an airport with no taxi-ways parallel to the runway. The pilot takes the aircraft to the appropriate end and then does a 180 degree turn. Then you sit back and hold on tight. Since India is hot, the pilots then perform a short-field take-off. As soon as the aircraft rotates you can see the end of the runway pass underneath, not more than a hundred feet or so. Simplicity at its best.

God bless those pilots. In those days they would let me visit the flight deck. No glass cockpits, just good old steam gauges. It's what flying is all about and why I do it today, granted I'm in a C172 or C182.

In summary: B732, Love it. Big thumbs up

apurnicus

SWA TPA · Sat Jul 12, 2003 9:14 am

I like them! Love the "CLACK" noise the thrust reversers make when they open! Its the best Smile

I think each type of aircraft has its own little idiosyncrasies that makes it special! Therefore each time a series is retired I will always find something to miss about them. Except Airbuses. Don't like em'. No sir, I don't like it. Don't like it one bit. ( No offense naturally Big grin

)

L.1011 · Sat Jul 12, 2003 9:57 am

SWA TPA
I agree totally. Big thumbs up

winair · Sat Jul 12, 2003 10:12 am

I LOVE IT!!! I love its short stubbiness. The thing is rock solid and I love the look of the long integrated engines.

will · Sat Jul 12, 2003 10:17 am

B737-200's... You gotta LOVE them ...... I miss the Ansett B737-200..... they looked great.

I guess missing those Ansett B732''s is showing my age..... Wink/being sarcastic

See yah,

Will.............

GD727 · Sat Jul 12, 2003 10:24 am

The 732 rocks! What other type of jet airliner can use a 3,200 gravel runway? IMO, the 732 is not that loud, it is no louder than the -300 IMO. The 732 is also solid as a rock, just like it's big brother the 727! Big thumbs up

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-GD727

CV990A · Sat Jul 12, 2003 10:30 am

I LOVE it! I've flown it on the original Frontier and on Continental. I remember my first 737-300 flight was on CO and I was pissed because I wanted the -200 which I thought looked much better (and 10+ years later, still do...)

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Capital146 · Sat Jul 12, 2003 10:38 am

Will, hope these beauties make you happy.....

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N754PR · Sat Jul 12, 2003 10:39 am

The -200 (and -100) is the best of any of the 737's.

srbmod · Sat Jul 12, 2003 11:08 am

From the point of view of a ramper, I had a love/hate relationship with the 732. I loved the fact I could almost stand up in the bins (as opposed to the cramped confines of a DC-9 bin); I loved that you could really stuff the plane with a sh!tload of bags or mail. I hated having to do the pushbacks (because we either couldn't find a 737 towbar or a pushback unit because we didn't have enough of them on the ramp, it was better as the airline started the retirement of them and only a few gates got 732 flights). I hated climbing into the back bin (I ususually had to get a boost from someone, as we didn't have a beltloader on our gate, and I'm 6' tall). I've never liked flying in 737s anyway, I'm not a fan of 3 across seating, and the 737s always seemed more cramped to me than a DC-9.

Continental · Sat Jul 12, 2003 11:28 am

I love the 737-200! Here's a pic of the last one I flew on!

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Photo © Paul Jongeneelen

United Airlines
ORD-MSP
(right after 2 long connections on LH ZAG-FRA-ORD)

I wasn't really down for flying again that day, I wanted to go to sleep. I was on the 737-200. I got on, and noticed the old interior. It looked great at 10:45 pm! The flight was amazing, not one bump. It was a fast flight as well. I was amazed by the little aircraft! That was probably the last time I'll be on a 732.

co

ual767ord · Sat Jul 12, 2003 11:32 am

I love it!!! I flew UA, DX, NW 732's.

JayDavis · Sat Jul 12, 2003 11:51 am

Bite me !!
If you don't love the Peter Max scheme, you need some serious help. I would go see a counselor/psychiatrist as soon as possible. You need help. STAT !!
ha ha !!

I still fly the 737-200, between DAL and IAH and IAH back up to DAL.
Still also see all those extra rivets on the side and top of this plane,
since Aloha had to go topless on one of theirs.........still amazes me
that that aircraft was actually able to land............

If it ain't a Boeing, I ain't a going !!

Jay

POSITIVE RATE · Sat Jul 12, 2003 11:58 am

The 737-200 looked great in Ansett colours. I can't remember seeing them myself because they were retired in the mid 1980's, but in the pics they look so cool. Gotta love that Ansett shooting stars livery from the early 80's Smile

BR715-A1-30 · Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:01 pm

The 732 was the first aircraft I flew on with WN (Ok, My mom was 7 mos pregnant with me, but still, It was the first)

The first aircraft I flew on and actually sat in the seat was an FL DC9-32 Ship 930.

The 717 is my favorite as I have flown on 14 of them (Soon to be 17 as of July 21st)

On July 21st, I will also fly on my first CRJ with FLJetconnect. I'm racking up all kinds of flights this year, and I still have 1 or 2 more itinerarys waiting for me this year.

lamyl_hhlco · Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:02 pm

"When that engine does its reverse thrust movement, the first time I saw it scared the sh** out of me !!"

That's why I love it :P it still remains one of the most beautifull airliner, very flexible, good performance, and it can take as many options as possible...truly lovely.

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CV990 · Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:15 pm

Hi!

Love, love the 737-200? Well I love my wife very much, but yeah, the classic 737 was a nice airplane. A few weeks ago I still saw one from America West t/off from SFO, great noise, great climb. That was one of the most outstanding things from this "little plane". Here goes the ones I flew:

1981/09/07
GVA/FRA
Airline: LH
Registration: D-ABEA - A 737-100 First in service in the world!!!

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Photo © Eduard Marmet

1981/09/24
BRU/CDG
Airline: SABENA
Registration: OO-SDJ

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Photo © AirNikon

1982/06/18
LIS/LGW
Airline: BA
Registration: G-BGDP

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Photo © Robert Schönherr Jr.

1983/07/14
LIS/ROM
Airline: TAP
Registration: CS-TEM

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Photo © Bimbo

1987/09/20
PDL/LIS
Airline: TAP
Registration: CS-TEP

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Photo © Dietmar Schreiber

Enjoy!
Regards

Pronto · Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:16 pm

Of course!! This type was my first flight - the a/c was still pretty new at the time with Pacific Western - I will never forget it...and I have built quite a few models of -200 series...

hockey55dude · Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:25 pm

I love the 737-200! It has the smoothest ride!

MarcoPolo747 · Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:47 pm

When VASP introduced the 737s in Brazil back in 1971 they were the ultimate development in terms of short and medium haul travel. The five first aircraft (PP-SMA/B/C/D/E) were still -100s and were soon followed by 5 other -200s until VASPs fleet reached 23 of the type. Load factors soon reached 90% and quickly displaced Varig's L188 Electras, Cruzeiro's Caravelles VIR and Sadia's (later renamed TransBrasil) 1-11-500s in the traveling public preference.
Although they were last stable and noisier in flight then the rear engined jets, they were roomier, faster and their climb rate very impressive then. I loved to see those bucket type thrust reversers working hard to stop the Baby Boeing in short runways such as Ilheus (IOS). Now they are definitely outdated.

VASP still flies PP-SMA and I would bet it is the oldest 737 still flying. Does anyone know about other 737-100s still earning their living ?

The 737 program was launched thanks to Lufthansa that placed an order for 18, its start was very uncertain and picked up only after its performance and low maintenance costs were proven.

noelg · Sat Jul 12, 2003 6:59 pm

In a word - NO!!!!

The 732 is a noisy, cramped rust bucket (and that was a BA one a few years ago!). Yuck!!

LGW · Sat Jul 12, 2003 7:08 pm

I love it, great looking and sounding aircraft with real character unlike modern jets.

I was lucky enough to fly on a 732 a few years back, G-BGDA MAN-LGW in 1999 Smile

Ben Pritchard

RayChuang · Sat Jul 12, 2003 9:52 pm

While the 737-200 introduced shorter-range jet travel, its noisy JT8D engines means the plane will probably be out of service by 2010.

I remember flying SJC-LAS/LAS-SJC on HP in 1988 and PHX-MCI-MDW and MDW-MCI-PHX on WN in 1989 on the 737-200--they're not exactly the quietest planes. Unless DL can figure out a way to quiet down the JT8D's to meet the upcoming ICAO Stage IV noise rules, DL will have to phase them out, too.

BR715-A1-30 · Sat Jul 12, 2003 10:03 pm

Man, I would hate it if someone came up one day and told me I couldn't drive my car anymore because it was too noisy. I have a noisy muffler system.

Jj · Sat Jul 12, 2003 11:25 pm

You gotta love the feeling of the take-off and runway from row 15-17!!!!!!!!!

I mean, having flown plenty of other types, nothing equals this tiny little great jet!

I have flown more than 50 times on lots of different 737-200's, particularly on the Buenos Aires-La Rioja-Catamarca (BUE-IRJ-CTC)and the Catamarca-La Rioja-Buenos Aires/Catamarca-Buenos Aires (CTC-IRJ-BUE/CTC-BUE) route. I am sure that I will never be able to fly so much on other type, unless I become a pilot =). I've flown mainly in argentina. they include:

Varig: PP-CJT / PP-VMN?

Lan Chile: Can't remember reg.

Aerolineas Argentinas: LV-JMW / LV-JMY / LV-JTD / LV-LIV / LV-LEB / LV-WGX / LV-WSY / LV-YEB / LV-ZTD / LV-ZRE / LV-ZTT / LV-ZSD / LV-ZTY / Plus others I've not written down

LAPA: LV-WBO / LV-WJS / LV-WRZ / LV-WPA / LV-WSH / LV-YBS / LV-YGB

Austral: LV-ZXB / LV-ZTI / LV-ZTX / LV-ZXP

Dinar: OB(4 NUMBERS, CAN'T REMEMBER), was a peruvian registration.

Southern Winds: LV-ZZA

American Falcon: LV-WGX

Geez quite a lot of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I'm sure I've flown them more than nce, especially the LAPA ones!

I'm grateful I've been able to fly so much on this beauty!

jj

UN_B732 · Sun Jul 13, 2003 2:53 am

My favorite 732 carrier WAS MetroJet... I mean it is but they are defunct.
If it is a carrier currently flying, make it Transaero (Russia).
-UN
The 732 is fine, I can't complain...except for the fact that it is very noisy.

XQ737 · Sun Jul 13, 2003 3:29 am

Hey,

in about one months I gonna fly on the 732 for the first time. I can't wait! I'm just 19 years old and I can't wait to fly on a really old aircraft.

Question:

IS IT VERY NOISY INSIDE THE CABIN ?

@ Jj @ Jj @ Jj @ Jj @ Jj @ Jj

Why are the rows 15 - 17 the best ???

Guest · Sun Jul 13, 2003 3:47 am

The B732.................. Not a fan.

Why?

1.) NOISY! And that's inside the cabin!
2.) Maintenance......... The first airline I worked for flew B732's. Always broke.
3.) Dirty. The rear of the fuselage was always darker because of those fuel guzzling engines.
4.) Metrojet......... Of the 2 times I flew them the flights were CXLD because of Maintenance.
5.) B737-700/800/900 When you fly modern and new why fly old and dirty

Just my opinion, don't throttle me too bad!

CanyonBlue

astrojet · Sun Jul 13, 2003 4:17 am

The 200 series is the nicest of all for me, I like those long engines under the wing better than the oval ones on the newer generations.

MarcoPolo747 · Sun Jul 13, 2003 4:56 am

Jj,

Seats on the wing and beyond are very noisy but also the funniest ones to fly. I would suggest you to fly behind the wing to check those mighty thrust reversers in action after landing. The noise is not as nice as in a propeller driven aircraft but very reassuring even with all the vibration.

I hope you will enjoy your flight in the 73S !

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trintocan · Sun Jul 13, 2003 6:08 am

I have only flown on the 737-200 twice, largely because it was little used by Eastern Caribbean airlines. The first time I flew on one was in 1979 from DEN to YWG with Frontier but I was little then and did not recall much about the flight other than a stop in Bismarck, ND. The last time was with Air Caribbean in 2000 from TAB to POS. The plane was certainly loud on take-off but climbed very steeply and certainly felt much faster than the MD80s of BWIA with which I was more acquainted. That flight was just 15 minutes long but was quite smooth.

I have observed the 732s take-off and yes, again, they seem to rocket off much quicker than MD80s. Air Caribbean, which flew 2 of the type, went into receivership later that same year and the 732s were sold by the receiver.

TrintoCan.

SRD737NG · Sun Jul 13, 2003 8:22 am

737-200 is a well built machine.....it can take alot of pounding. Example: Other than the unfortunate incident at Aloha years back (737-100 by the way).....the 200's flying interisland fly up to 12 landings a day everyday for years and years and still hardly break, ever. You talk about a classic well built machine, this is it. I'll bet the family of airbus 320's won't live up to a Boeing built in 25 years!!!! Time will tell.

737doctor · Sun Jul 13, 2003 8:48 am

As someone who is paid to maintain 737's, I would honestly have to say that I prefer working on the NG737's.

BUT, I do respect the way the our old -200's keep going after so many cycles day after day. We fly the heck out of them. Granted they all require skin lap modifications and window post repairs after being "blown up" so many times. But when properly maintained, the 737-200 is an excellent aircraft. I feel that the Aloha incident is not necessarily a valid example of the plane's durability (for many reasons that I won't go into detail here, having researched the topic extensively). I enjoy flying on them and I am proud to say that I have worked on several of them and helped keep them in the sky. I think that a part of me will miss them when they're gone, which won't be much longer here at Southwest.

MSYtristar · Sun Jul 13, 2003 9:10 am

I never really was a fan of the 737-200 until I started working with Vanguard. There, I really learned to appreciate them. In fact, they were more realiable than the newer MD-80's Vanguard got towards the end. Passengers didn't really care for them, flight attendants seemed indifferent to them, but the pilots LOVED them. Even here with Frontier, I always speak to pilots who say "Yeah the Airbus is fine and dandy, but there's nothing like flying a 737 classic."

My first flight on a 732 was in June 1995, Delta airlines from CVG to ORD. I hated the flight due to the beat up interior, overly loud noise...and yeah, when we landed the thurst reverser scared the bejesus out of me. But since that flight, I've probably been on 30 or so 737-200's, and I enjoyed every one...even the 8.5 hour flight from LAX to MSY via ELP and HOU flying through a level 4 thunderstorm.

The 732's may be a bit long in the tooth, but they are true workhorses. I still smile when I see an old Southwest -200 pull up to the gate here in New Orleans....soot-stained fuselage and all. She's a classic!!!

Steve in New Orleans

upsmd11 · Sun Jul 13, 2003 9:51 am

I have had some great flights on the 732. Once on WN from MDW - SDF there was a terrible storm with tornadic activity that we flew around but had the most severe turbulence I've ever had in my life.

I thought the 732 was gone from SDF until I saw this beauty land here today...

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fanofjets · Sun Jul 13, 2003 11:45 am

I enjoyed flying the -100s and -200s; they always felt safe and secure. I flew PeoplExpress, USAir, Piedmont, and Canadi>n. The last offered excellent service, including being able to stand in the cockpit as we flew over spectacular glacial lakes on our descent into Vancouver. It's a good solid airplane.

Corners · Sun Jul 13, 2003 12:05 pm

I have a soft spot for the old 737-200's. Up here in British Columbia, Canada they opened up many smaller towns to full jet service back in the 60's and 70's. Both CPAir and Pacific Western Airlines used them to fight severe weather, high mountains and short runways and Westjet still uses them! I remember flying into and out of Kelowna, Kamloops, and Prince George in quite bad snow storms years ago...white knuckles for sure but we always made it! The scariest flight was the first one....I too thought we were goners when the thrust reversers were deployed!

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aztec01 · Sun Jul 13, 2003 12:34 pm

I do, I do, I do love the 732!! Tiny, nice lines...sexy! Oh yeah, and loud! I'll never forget the rush to my lower GI tract when I first saw those thrust reversers deploy.

kevin752 · Sun Jul 13, 2003 1:22 pm

I Love the 737-200. It is an old plane but It is still one plane that I love. I have enjoyed this plane on Croatia airlines.

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