Boeing 737: The World's Most Controversial Commercial Jetliner

by Graham M Simons

Overview

In this in-depth study of the 737, the renowned aviation historian and author Graham M. Simons explores the whole story of the type’s design and introduction.

The Boeing 737 is an American short- to medium-range twinjet narrow-body airliner developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, a division of the Boeing Company. Originally designed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from the 707 and 727, the 737 has grown into a family of passenger models with capacities from 85 to 215 passengers, the most recent version of which, the 737 MAX, has become embroiled in a worldwide controversy.

Initially envisioned in 1964, the first 737-100 made its first flight in April 1967 and entered airline service in February 1968 with Lufthansa. The 737 series went on to become one of the highest-selling commercial jetliners in history and has been in production in its core form since 1967; the 10,000th example was rolled out on 13 March 2018.

There is, however, a very different side to the convoluted story of the 737’s development, one that demonstrates a transition of power from a primarily engineering structure to one of accountancy, number-driven powerbase that saw corners cut, and the previous extremely high safety methodology compromised. The result was the 737 MAX. Having entered service in 2017, this model was grounded worldwide in March 2019 following two devastating crashes. 

In this revealing insight into the Boeing 737, the renowned aviation historian Graham M. Simons examines its design, development and service over the decades since 1967. He also explores the darker side of the 737’s history, laying bare the politics, power-struggles, changes of management ideology and battles with Airbus that culminated in the 737 MAX debacle that has threatened Boeing’s very survival.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526787231
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	03/15/2021
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Graham M. Simons is a highly regarded Aviation historian with extensive contacts within the field. He is the author of Mosquito: The Original Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (2011), B-17 The Fifteen Ton Flying Fortress (2011), and Valkyrie: The North American XB-70 (also 2011), all published by Pen and Sword Books. He lives near Peterborough.

Table of Contents

Introduction 5

Chapter 1 Project Origins 7

Chapter 2 The -100 Series 25

Chapter 3 The -200 Series 39

Chapter 4 Rivals from Europe 65

Chapter 5 The -300/700 Series 77

Chapter 6 The Rudder Mysteries 97

Chapter 7 The -400/800 Series 125

Chapter 8 The -500/600 Series 135

Chapter 9 The -900 Series 139

Chapter 10 Hirings, Firings and Take-Overs 143

Chapter 11 Taking it to the MAX 157

Chapter 12 Two MAX Crashes 171

Chapter 13 Groundings, and Ways Out 183

Chapter 14 Can We Fix It? 235

Chapter 15 Can Boeing Survive the 737? 255

Appendix 1 271

Bibliography 277

Index 279

Editorial Reviews

"An exceptionally detailed, impressively informative, expertly written, organized and presented study..."

Midwest Book Review

"...handsomely published on coated paper that allows the amazing number of Boeing 737 photographs to look their best."

New York Journal of Books