The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers. The 737 is Boeing's only narrow-body airliner in production, with the -600, -700, -800, and -900ER variants currently being built. A re-engined and redesigned version, the 737 MAX, is set to debut in 2017.

Originally envisioned in 1964, the initial 737-100 flew in 1967 and entered airline service in February 1968.  Next the lengthened 737-200 entered service in April 1968. In the 1980s Boeing launched the -300, -400, and -500 models, subsequently referred to as the Boeing 737 Classic series. The 737 Classics added capacity and incorporated CFM56 turbofan engines along with wing improvements. In the 1990s Boeing introduced the 737 Next Generation with multiple changes including a redesigned wing, upgraded cockpit, and new interior. The 737 Next Generation comprises the four -600, -700, -800, and -900ER models, ranging from 102 ft (31.09 m) to 138 ft (42.06 m) in length. Boeing Business Jet versions of the 737 Next Generation are also produced.

The 737 series is the best-selling jet airliner in the history of aviation. The 737 has been continuously manufactured by Boeing since 1967 with 7,283 aircraft delivered and 2,759 orders yet to be fulfilled as of August 2012^[update].  737 assembly is centered at the Boeing Renton Factory in Renton, Washington. Many 737s serve markets previously filled by 707, 727, 757, DC-9, and MD-80/MD-90 airliners, and the aircraft currently competes primarily with the Airbus A320 family.  There are, on average, 1,250 Boeing 737s airborne at any given time, with two departing or landing somewhere every five seconds.

Specifications

	737-100	737-200	737-200 Advanced	737 Classic (-300/-400/-500)	737 Next Generation (-600/-700/-800/-900ER)
Cockpit Crew	Two
Seating capacity	124 (maximum) 85 (2-class, typical)	136 (maximum) 97 (2-class, typical)	136 (maximum) 102 (2-class, typical)	149 - 189 (maximum) 108 - 146 (2-class, typical)	130 - 215 (maximum) 108 - 177 (2-class, typical)
Length	94 ft (28.65 m)	100 ft 2 in (30.53 m)		102–120 ft (31–37 m)	102–138 ft (31–42 m)
Wingspan	93 ft (28.35 m)			94 ft 9 in (28.88 m)	112 ft 7 in (34.32 m) 117 ft 5 in (35.79 m) with winglets
Wing area	102.0 m2 (1,098 sq ft)			105.4 m2 (1,135 sq ft)	124.58 m2 (1,341.0 sq ft)
Wing sweepback	25 degrees				25.02 degrees
Overall height	36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)			36 ft 4 in (11.07 m)	41 ft 3 in (12.57 m)
Maximum Cabin Width	11 ft 7 in (3.53 m)
Fuselage Width	12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)
Cargo capacity	650 cu ft (18.4 m3)	875 cu ft (24.8 m3)		822–1,373 cu ft (23.3–38.9 m3)	756–1,835 cu ft (21.4–52.0 m3)
Operating empty weight, typical	62,000 lb (28,100 kg)	69,700 lb (31,600 kg)	69,800 lb (31,700 kg)	69,000–74,170 lb (31,300–33,600 kg)	80,200–98,500 lb (36,400–44,700 kg)
Maximum take-off weight (MTOW)	111,000 lb (50,300 kg)	115,500 lb (52,400 kg)	128,100 lb (58,100 kg)	138,500–150,000 lb (62,800–68,000 kg)	144,500–187,700 lb (65,500–85,100 kg)
Cruising speed	Mach 0.74 (485 mph, 780 km/h)				Mach 0.78 (511 mph, 823 km/h)
Maximum speed	Mach 0.82 (544 mph, 876 km/h)
Takeoff field length (MTOW, SL, ISA)	6,646 ft (2,026 m)	-	-	7,550–8,500 ft (2,300–2,600 m)	5,249–9,843 ft (1,600–3,000 m)
Maximum range, fully loaded	1,540 nmi (2,850 km; 1,770 mi)	1,900–2,300 nmi (3,500–4,300 km; 2,200–2,600 mi)		2,270–2,400 nmi (4,200–4,400 km; 2,610–2,800 mi)	3,050–5,510 nmi (5,650–10,200 km; 3,510–6,340 mi)
Maximum fuel capacity	4,720 US gal (17,900 l; 3,930 imp gal)	4,780 US gal (18,100 l; 3,980 imp gal)	5,160 US gal (19,500 l; 4,300 imp gal)	5,311 US gal (20,100 l; 4,422 imp gal)	6,875 US gal (26,020 l; 5,725 imp gal)
Service ceiling	35,000 ft (10,700 m)			37,000 ft (11,300 m)	41,000 ft (12,500 m)
Engines (×2)	Pratt & Whitney JT8D			CFM International 56-3 series	CFM International CFM56-7 series
Thrust (×2)	14,500 lbf (64 kN)	14,500–17,400 lbf (64–77 kN)		20,000–23,500 lbf (89–105 kN)	19,500–27,300 lbf (87–121 kN)

Source: Wikipedia