Editing Boeing 737 (section)

=== Introduction ===
[[File:Boeing 737-130, Lufthansa AN2056613.jpg|thumb|737-100 introduced by Lufthansa on February 10, 1968|alt=Lufthansa 737-100 in flight]]

The first -100 was rolled out on January 17, 1967, and took its maiden flight on April 9, 1967, piloted by [[Brien Wygle]] and Lew Wallick.<ref name=737_30th>{{cite web|title=Original 737 Comes Home to Celebrate 30th Anniversary|url=http://boeing.mediaroom.com/1997-05-02-Original-737-Comes-Home-to-Celebrate-30th-Anniversary|website= boeing.com|publisher=Boeing|access-date=November 18, 2014|date=May 2, 1997|archive-date=November 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129031351/http://boeing.mediaroom.com/1997-05-02-Original-737-Comes-Home-to-Celebrate-30th-Anniversary|url-status=live}}</ref> After several test flights the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) issued Type Certificate A16WE certifying the 737-100 for commercial flight on December 15, 1967.{{sfn|Sharpe|Shaw|2001|p=20|ps=}}<ref name="Type_Cert_A16WE">[http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/e038ae3ed2dbc2ae86257479004d1e57/$FILE/A16WE.pdf "Type Certificate Data Sheet A16WE."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909234057/http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/e038ae3ed2dbc2ae86257479004d1e57/$FILE/A16WE.pdf |date=September 9, 2008}} ''faa.gov.'' Retrieved: September 3, 2010.</ref> It was the first aircraft to have, as part of its initial certification, approval for [[Instrument approach|Category II approaches]],{{sfn|Redding|Yenne|1997|p=183|ps=}} which refers to a precision instrument approach and landing with a decision height between {{Convert|30|and|60|m|ft|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Scott |title=CAT II – Category II – Approach |url=https://aviationglossary.com/cat-ii-category-ii-approach/ |website=Aviation Glossary |access-date=October 30, 2018 |date=January 18, 2009 |archive-date=October 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031005411/https://aviationglossary.com/cat-ii-category-ii-approach/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Lufthansa received its first aircraft on December 28, 1967, and on February 10, 1968, became the first non-American airline to launch a new Boeing aircraft.{{sfn|Sharpe|Shaw|2001|p=20|ps=}} Lufthansa was the only significant customer to purchase the 737-100 and only 30 aircraft were produced.{{sfn|Sharpe|Shaw|2001|p=120|ps=}}

The -200 was rolled out on June 29, 1967, and had its maiden flight on August 8, 1967. It was then certified by the FAA on December 21, 1967.<ref name="Type_Cert_A16WE" />{{sfn|Endres|2001|p=124|ps=}} The inaugural flight for United Airlines took place on April 28, 1968, from [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago]] to [[Gerald R. Ford International Airport|Grand Rapids, Michigan]].{{sfn|Sharpe|Shaw|2001|p=20|ps=}} The lengthened -200 was widely preferred over the -100 by airlines.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://modernairliners.com/boeing-737/boeing-737-history |title=Boeing 737 History |publisher=ModernAirlines.com |access-date=August 10, 2015 |date=July 29, 2015 |archive-date=August 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822194856/http://modernairliners.com/boeing-737/boeing-737-history |url-status=live}}</ref> The improved version, the 737-200 Advanced, was introduced into service by [[All Nippon Airways]] on May 20, 1971.{{sfn|Bowers|1989|p=496|ps=}}

The 737 original model with its variants, known later as the ''Boeing 737 Original'', initially competed with SE 210 Caravelle and BAC-111 due to their earlier entry into service and later primarily with the [[McDonnell Douglas]] DC-9, then its [[McDonnell Douglas MD-80|MD-80]] derivatives as the three European short-haul single aisles slowly withdrew from the competition. Sales were low in the early 1970s<ref name="Flying blind">{{cite news |last1=Podsada |first1=Janice |title=Small local suppliers flying blind through 737 Max crisis |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/small-local-suppliers-flying-blind-through-737-max-crisis/ |access-date=January 17, 2020 |work=The Everett Herald |date=January 11, 2020 |archive-date=January 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117014533/https://www.heraldnet.com/business/small-local-suppliers-flying-blind-through-737-max-crisis/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and, after a peak of 114 deliveries in 1969, only 22 737s were shipped in 1972 with 19 in backlog.<!--<ref name=FG170406 />--> The [[US Air Force]] saved the program by ordering [[Boeing T-43|T-43s]], which were modified Boeing 737-200s.<!--<ref name=FG170406 />--> African airline orders kept the production running until the 1978 US [[Airline Deregulation Act]], which improved demand for six-abreast narrow-body aircraft. Demand further increased after being re-engined with the [[CFM56]].<ref name=FG170406 /> The 737 went on to become the highest-selling commercial aircraft in terms of orders until surpassed by the competing [[Airbus A320 family]] in October 2019, but maintains the record in total deliveries.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Slotnick|first=David|title=Boeing's 737 officially lost the title of world's most popular airplane. Airbus' competitor just passed it in sales.|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-beats-worlds-most-popular-plane-a320-737-2019-11|access-date=October 18, 2021|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}</ref>

The fuselage is manufactured in [[Wichita, Kansas]], by Boeing spin-off company [[Spirit AeroSystems]], before being moved by rail to Renton.<ref>[https://www.railwayage.com/freight/bnsf-mrl-move-10000th-boeing-737-fuselage/?RAchannel=news BNSF, MRL move 10,000th Boeing 737 fuselage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103185122/https://www.railwayage.com/freight/bnsf-mrl-move-10000th-boeing-737-fuselage/?RAchannel=news |date=November 3, 2019}} ''[[Railway Age]]'' February 20, 2018</ref> The [[Boeing Renton Factory|Renton factory]] has three assembly lines for the 737 MAX; a fourth is planned to open at the [[Boeing Everett Factory|Everett factory]] in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gates |first=Dominic |date=January 30, 2023 |title=Boeing to set up a new 737 MAX assembly line in Everett |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeing-to-set-up-a-fourth-737-max-assembly-line-in-everett/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref>