You don't see a 717 very often. The Boeing 717 is an American commercial airliner that was built from 1998 to 2006. Originally this aircraft was the McDonnell Douglas MD-95 and it was the last relative of the successful series of the Douglas DC-9 and McDonnell Douglas MD-80 and MD-90 aircraft. The MD-95 has the same fuselage dimensions as the DC-9-30 and MD-87, but with the advanced wings and engines of the larger MD-90.
The Boeing 717-200 was the smallest type that the American aircraft manufacturer had in its program at that time. An extended version, the Boeing 717-300, was considered, but the plans for it were not realized.
B717
B727
The Boeing 727 was a popular narrow-body aircraft from Boeing with T-tail and three engines, two of which were mounted in the rear of the fuselage and one in the tail. It was the best-selling jet airliner for a long time until it was surpassed by Boeing 737.
Many 727s made it to the year 2000 in active service, especially in the United States. However, after September 2001 they were removed en masse. More than 1000 aircraft are now inactive or have already been demolished in an aircraft graveyard. At the moment, many 727s are still in use, which have been converted from passenger version to full-freighter version.
The Boeing 737 is a twin-engine narrow-body passenger aircraft that has been manufactured by Boeing since 1967. With more than 10,000 built aircraft, it is the world's best-selling commercial aircraft. Southwest Airlines is the largest user worldwide, in Europe Ryanair has the largest fleet with Boeing 737 aircraft.
The design of the Boeing 737 Classic began in November 1964. The 737 was designed to complement the larger 707 and 727 jetliners and as an aircraft for regional flights. Initially, a plane for 60 to 85 passengers was assumed, but because the German airline Lufthansa found this insufficient, the number of seats was increased to 100. A number of parts were based on those of the Boeing 727, such as the fuselage. The Boeing 737 (Type 100) made its first flight on April 9, 1967: a 100-seat aircraft with a flight range of 1,100 km.
Lufthansa was the first customer with 24 Boeing 737-100 aircraft, of which only a few were built. Less than a year after the introduction of the 737-100, Boeing introduced the extended Boeing 737-200. The Boeing 737-200 was much more successful than the Boeing 737-100. A Boeing 737-200 in all economy-class version could carry 129 passengers and had a double flight range compared to the Boeing 737-100: 2200 km. This allowed European charter airlines to fly directly from the European mainland to the Canary Islands.
In 1980, Boeing started developing the 737 Present Generation, an extended version of the Boeing 737, the Boeing 737-300. In addition to a longer fuselage, this version also received new engines, the CFM-56. These did not fit under the wings. In order to keep them sufficiently clear of the ground, they were placed 'in front of' the wing edge and the underside was flattened. The 737-300 first flew in 1984. Later, in 1988, the further extended 737-400 followed and in 1989 the shorter Boeing 737-500, the same size as the 737-200. These new models are now referred to as 737 'Present Generation' (PG), it is the second generation of the 737.
In the mid-1990s, Boeing had another new Series 737 on the drawing board to begin production in 1998, Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG). The main difference with the 'Classic' is the application of a new wing design. The 737-500 and 737-300 were succeeded by the equally sized Boeing 737-600 (100-130 passengers) and Boeing 737-700 (110-149 passengers), respectively. Before the 737-400 came the larger Boeing 737-800 (150-189 passengers), which was given the same capacity as the competing Airbus A320. Two extra doors have been added to the 737-900ER, bringing the maximum capacity to 215 passengers.
In August 2011, Boeing announced that it would again develop a new version, the 737 MAX. The existing variants were equipped with a new generation of engines, the CFM International LEAP-X (later LEAP-1). These engines are 10 to 12 percent more fuel efficient. In addition, technology from the Boeing 787 was used. The 737 MAX was delivered from 2017.
In terms of capacity, the different versions of the 737 MAX partly correspond to that of the Next Generation. The 737-800 will be replaced by the 737 MAX 8 and the 737-900 by the 737 MAX 9. The 737-700 will be replaced by the slightly larger 737 MAX 7, which can carry 12 more passengers due to a longer fuselage. An all-new version is the 737 MAX 10 for 192 to 232 passengers.
B737 Family
B737
B747 family
The Boeing 747, often referred to as the Jumbo Jet, is a four-engine passenger and cargo aircraft. It is one of the most recognizable aircraft and also the first widebody. The first model of the 747 could carry two and a half times as many passengers as the Boeing 707, popular in the 1960s. On November 5, 2022, it was announced that the Boeing 747 assembly and production line in Seattle will be dismantled. From its first commercial flight in 1970 to the introduction of the Airbus A380 in 2007, the 747 was the largest passenger airliner in the world.
The 747 has two decks over part of the hull. The cockpit was placed above the main deck by Boeing to create extra space for a first class lounge or (as is customary today) extra seats. In addition, it offered the possibility to convert a passenger aircraft into a cargo aircraft by removing the seats and installing a cargo door in the nose. Boeing assumed that supersonic aircraft would make the 747 and other subsonic passenger jets obsolete, while the demand for subsonic cargo planes would continue. Initially it was assumed that only 400 aircraft would be sold. Things turned out differently: 1,527 Boeing 747s had been built by the end of September 2016, with 15 orders remaining for the 747-8.
The 747-400, the most widely used passenger variant, is one of the fastest airliners with a subsonic cruising speed of mach 0.83-0.86. The aircraft has an (intercontinental) flight range of 7,260 nautical miles (13,450 km). It can carry 416 passengers in a standard three-class configuration, with 524 passengers in two classes and 660 passengers in a cramped one-class configuration. The latest version, the 747-8, has been in production since 2011. Delivery of the cargo version (747-8F) to Cargolux started in October 2011; delivery of the passenger version (747-8I) to Lufthansa in May 2012.
B757
The Boeing 757 is a narrow-body aircraft with a capacity of 180 to 289 passengers. The aircraft was intended for medium-haul flights but also for short busy routes. Today, airlines also use the 757 on transatlantic flights.
The Boeing 757 was designed as a successor to the Boeing 727, of which it has partly been given the fuselage structure. The aircraft was developed together with the Boeing 767, so that pilots and maintenance personnel can work with both aircraft in a short time and cost. There are two types, the 757-200 and the 757-300. The latter is 7.1 meters longer.
There was also a freight version of the 757-200 and many older passenger aircraft are being converted for this and are used by DHL and UPS, among others. There was also a combi version, and some 757-200s were also delivered as VIP transport (for example the C-32 of the US Air Force) and as private aircraft. The engines were supplied by 2 manufacturers: Rolls Royce or Pratt & Whitney.
The Boeing 757 made its first test flight on February 19, 1982. Production ran from 1982 to October 28, 2004. The last aircraft was destined for Shanghai Airlines. A total of 1050 aircraft were built. The task of the 757 is increasingly taken over by the Boeing 737-800 and -900/-900ER and by the Airbus A321.
B767
The Boeing 767 is a twin-engine widebody jet airliner. The aircraft was developed together with the Boeing 757, so that pilots and maintenance personnel could quickly work with both aircraft. The Boeing 767-200 was introduced in 1978, and production started in 1982. This was followed by the extended versions 767-300 (1986) and 767-400.
The original Boeing 767-200, with a capacity of 180 to 250 passengers, was not an immediate success, and was initially intended as a replacement for the Boeing 727 in US domestic air traffic. Boeing soon decided to further develop the 767. First, the flight range was improved with the -200ER which can cover a distance of 13,000 km. This made the 767 also suitable for intercontinental air traffic.
In 1986, the company presented the extended Boeing 767-300 with a capacity of 210 to 300 passengers. The Boeing 767-300(ER) soon followed with a flight range of 12,000 km. The latter version has proved particularly successful and nearly two-thirds of all 767s built are of this variant. Oddly enough, the last passenger version, the even more lengthened 767-400ER, proved unsuccessful.
B777
The Boeing 777, a.k.a. "Triple Seven" is a series of widebody airliners. The aircraft model, which can carry between 305 and 550 passengers, entered service in 1995. It is the largest twin-engine aircraft in the world and is widely used for long- to very long-haul flights. The Boeing 777 is assembled at the Boeing plant in Everett.
The 777 was designed in the early 1990s to replace outdated Boeing models and to fill the gap between the 767 and 747. On October 14, 1990, United Airlines placed the first order for 34 aircraft with options on 34 more. The first flight took place on June 12, 1994. The first 777-200 was delivered to United Airlines on May 15, 1995, the first commercial flight was operated on June 7, 1995. In 1998, Boeing introduced an extended version, the 777-300. The 777 program was expanded in the years after the turn of the century with variants with an increased flight range: the 777-300ER and the 777-200LR. A freight version, the 777F, also followed in 2009. The most successful variant is the 777-300ER with 815 orders (725 delivered) through April 2017.
At the Dubai air show in November 2013, a new update of the 777 family was announced under the name 777X. Two new variants are being developed: the 777-8X and the 777-9X. The former is the successor to the 777-200(LR/ER), the latter the successor to the 777-300(ER). The devices came on the market in 2020, but due to delays and problems, the first delivery has been postponed until 2025.
B787 Dreamliner
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a wide-body airliner for long-haul flights.
The aircraft is assembled at the Boeing factories in Everett (Washington) and Charleston (South Carolina). The first device was shown to the public on July 8, 2007 (7/8/7 in the American date format). The first flight of the 787 took place on December 15, 2009. The aircraft, registered 'N787BA', took off from Paine Field in Everett and completed a test flight of approximately three hours before returning to Boeing Field in Seattle.
It was originally planned to go into operation in May 2008, but due to various delays, the type approval was only obtained more than three years later on August 26, 2011. The first aircraft was handed over to the Japanese company ANA on September 25, 2011. On October 26, 2011, the first commercial flight from Narita to Hong Kong by All Nippon Airways took place.
In 2012, Boeing delivered twice as many Dreamliners as analysts predicted. However, critics say the fast pace of delivery comes at the expense of manufacturing precision and attention to start-up issues. In January 2013, Boeing's share price fell after a number of Japan Airlines Dreamliners suffered technical problems.
On January 16, 2013, all Dreamliners were banned from flying due to a possible fire risk with lithium batteries, following several incidents of 787 aircraft in a very short time. On March 12, 2013, the FAA approved Boeing's plan for improved batteries for the 787. The battery will be better protected and better ventilated, and the internal cells will be modified to prevent short circuits in the battery. Commercial flights were still not allowed, but Boeing was given permission for test flights with two aircraft. On April 27, 2013, Ethiopian Airlines - as the first airline - resumed flights with the 787 with a flight to Nairobi.
There are three versions of the Boeing 787 in production.
The 787-8 is the aircraft developed to replace the 767-200, 767-300 and 767-300ER. It has a much wider scope than those types. The aircraft is optimized for long haul flights. The aircraft offers 223 seats in normal three-class configuration. The range is 15,200 km.[15]
Boeing claims the 787-9 offers the best passenger-kilometre cost of any aircraft in the 200-300 LCA market. The 787-9 has 263 to 282 seats as standard. The aircraft is the competitor of the Airbus A350-900 and the replacement of the Boeing 767-400ER and 747-400M. The device has a range of 15,750 km. The first flight of the 787-9 took place on September 17, 2013.[16] The first Boeing 787-9 has entered service with Air New Zealand.
The 787-10 was created at the request of several major airlines and was officially announced on June 18, 2013 at the Paris Air Show. At the announcement, Boeing received 102 orders, including from Singapore Airlines (30), Air Lease Corporation (30), United Airlines (20), British Airways (12) and GE Capital Aviation Services (10).
The 787-10 was to replace the older 777-200, A330 and A340 aircraft. The aircraft must compete with the new Airbus A350-900XWB. The 787-10 is an extension of the 787-9.
The 787-10 is currently the largest variant of the 787 family in production. The 787-10 took to the air for the first time on March 31, 2017. 20 feet are added to the fuselage while retaining the 787-9's wing. The advantage of this is that development and production costs remain low, while the aircraft is almost as fuel efficient as the 787-9, but with lower passenger-kilometer costs. The disadvantage, on the other hand, is that the aircraft flies less far, namely 13,000 km compared to the 15,700 km of the 787-9. The 787-10 can accommodate approximately 323 seats in its standard three-class configuration.
