Editing Boeing 737 (section)

==== 737-200 ====
[[File:United 737-200 N3013U at CLE (17159967836).jpg|thumb|A 737-200 of its launch customer, [[United Airlines]]. The -200 was one of the most popular variants sold, with 1095 units.]]

The 737-200 was a 737-100 with an extended fuselage, launched by an order from United Airlines in 1965 and entered service with the launch customer in April 1968. Its unit cost was US$4.0M (1968)<ref name="AvWeek22jan1968" /> (${{Inflation|US|4.0|r=1|1968}}M today). The -200's unit cost was US$5.2M (1972)<ref>{{cite magazine |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1972/1972%20-%202020.html |title= Airliner price index |magazine= [[Flight International]] |date= August 10, 1972 |page= 183 |access-date= January 9, 2018 |archive-date= January 9, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180109181149/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1972/1972%20-%202020.html |url-status= live}}</ref> (${{Inflation|US|5.2|r=1|1972}}M today). The 737-200 Advanced is an improved version of the -200, introduced into service by [[All Nippon Airways]] on May 20, 1971.{{sfn|Bowers|1989|p=496|ps=}} After aircraft #135, the 737-200 Advanced has improved aerodynamics, automatic wheel brakes, more powerful engines, more fuel capacity, and hence a 15% increase in payload and range over the original -200s and respectively -100s.{{sfn|Redding|Yenne|1997|p=183|ps=}}{{sfn|Sharpe|Shaw|2001|p=41|ps=}} The 737-200 Advanced became the production standard in June 1971.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/commercial/airports/acaps/737.pdf |title= 737 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning |date= May 2011 |publisher= Boeing |access-date= February 7, 2015 |archive-date= February 7, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150207152159/http://www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/commercial/airports/acaps/737.pdf |url-status= live}}</ref> Boeing also provided the 737-200C ([[Combi aircraft|Combi]]), which allowed for conversion between passenger and cargo use and the 737-200QC (Quick Change), which facilitated a rapid conversion between roles. The 1,114th<ref>{{cite web |author1=The Boeing Company |title=Boeing Commercial Orders & Deliveries |url=https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/salesoperations/viz/shared/CMD3CKDC8 |website=[[Tableau Software|Tableau]] Public |access-date=6 August 2024 |format=Filtered data table }}</ref> and last delivery of a -200 series aircraft was in August 1988 to [[Xiamen Airlines]].<ref name="O_D_summ" /><ref name="About the 737 Family">[http://www.boeing.com/commercial/737family/background.html "About the 737 Family."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041209163449/http://www.boeing.com/commercial/737family/background.html |date=December 9, 2004}} ''The Boeing Company''. Retrieved: December 20, 2007.</ref>

Nineteen 737-200s, designated [[Boeing T-43|T-43]], were used to train aircraft navigators for the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]]. Some were modified into CT-43s, which are used to transport passengers, and one was modified as the NT-43A Radar Test Bed. The first was delivered on July 31, 1973, and the last on July 19, 1974. The [[Indonesian Air Force]] ordered three modified 737-200s, designated ''Boeing 737-2X9 Surveiller''. They were used as Maritime reconnaissance (MPA)/transport aircraft, fitted with SLAMMAR (Side-looking Multi-mission Airborne Radar). The aircraft were delivered between May 1982 and October 1983.{{sfn|Bowers|1989|pp=498–499|ps=}}After 40 years, in March 2008, the final 737-200 aircraft in the U.S. flying scheduled passenger service were phased out, with the last flights of [[Aloha Airlines]].<ref name="swretire">{{cite web|url=http://swamedia.com/releases/Southwest-Airlines-Retires-Last-of-Founding-Aircraft-Employees-Help-Celebrate-the-Boeing-737-200-s-Final-Flight?mode=print |title=Southwest Airlines Retires Last of Founding Aircraft; Employees Help Celebrate the Boeing 737-200's Final Flight |publisher=swamedia.com |access-date=August 27, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904131052/http://swamedia.com/releases/Southwest-Airlines-Retires-Last-of-Founding-Aircraft-Employees-Help-Celebrate-the-Boeing-737-200-s-Final-Flight?mode=print |archive-date=September 4, 2015}}</ref> As of 2018, the variant still saw regular service through North American charter operators such as [[Sierra Pacific Airlines]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/asset/24536|title=World Airline Census 2018|website=Flightglobal.com|language=en-GB|access-date=August 21, 2018|archive-date=November 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106212640/https://www.flightglobal.com/asset/24536|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:C-GANV landing in Vancouver.jpg|thumb| An [[Air North]] 737-200 fitted with a gravel kit.]]
The short-field capabilities of the 737-200 led Boeing to offer the [[gravel kit|"Unpaved Strip Kit"]] (see the Air North example, right).  This option reduced [[foreign object damage]] when operated on remote, unimproved or unpaved runways, that competing jetliners could not use safely. The kit included a gravel deflector on the nose gear and a vortex dissipator extending from the front of the engine. [[Alaska Airlines]] used the gravel kit for some of its [[combi aircraft]] rural operations in [[Alaska]]  until retiring its -200 fleet in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Airplane That Never Sleeps|url=http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2002-07-15-The-Airplane-That-Never-Sleeps|publisher=Boeing|access-date=November 19, 2014|date=July 15, 2002|archive-date=November 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129033740/http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2002-07-15-The-Airplane-That-Never-Sleeps|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117642845035668637 |title=Arctic Eagles Bid Mud Hens Farewell At Alaska Airlines |last=Carey |first=Susan |date=April 13, 2007 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=February 7, 2015 |archive-date=February 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207152612/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117642845035668637 |url-status=live}}</ref>  [[Air Inuit]], [[Nolinor Aviation]] and [[Buffalo Airways]] still use the gravel kit in Northern Canada.
[[Canadian North]] also operated a gravel-kitted 737-200 Combi, but this was due to be retired in early 2023.<ref>[https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/122390-canadian-north-to-retire-last-b737-200-in-early-2q23 ch-aviation.com – Canadian North to retire last B737-200 in early 2Q23] December 13, 2022</ref>

{{as of|2023|09}}, a relatively high number of 737-200s remain in service compared to other early jet airliners, with fifty examples actively flying for thirty carriers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Andrew |date=September 1, 2023 |title=Where Are Boeing 737-200s Flying in 2023? |url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2023/09/01/where-are-boeing-737-200s-flying-in-2023/ |access-date=September 23, 2023 |website=AirlineGeeks.com |language=en}}</ref> During the [[Boeing 737 MAX groundings|737 MAX groundings]], older 737s, including the 200 and [[Boeing 737 Classic|Classic series]], were in demand for leasing.<ref>{{cite web |last=LeBeau |first=Phil |title=Airlines hurt by the 737 Max grounding are scrambling to find replacement jets |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/09/airlines-hurt-by-737-max-grounding-are-scrambling-to-find-replacements.html |website=CNBC |date=August 9, 2019 |access-date=January 16, 2024}}</ref> C-GNLK, one of Nolinor's 737-200s, is the oldest jet airliner in commercial service as of 2024, having entered service 50 years prior in 1974.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=This is an unsupported superlative, though it may be true.}}