737- why?

[Ijineda]

Some question which is in my head since longtime...where do the names from the civil planes come from? why did airbus for example choose the number 300 for its first one? why not airbus 1? and boeing with its 7X7-series-who started that all and why? I see no obvious reason...

[Felix/FFDS]

Ultimately, it's a marketing decision....

This page explains "why" the number 707 was chosen, considering that the prototype's model number was 367-80.

[Icelandair Pilot]

300 horsepower 310 horsepower 320 horsepower 330 horsepower 340 horsepower 350 horsepower 380horsepower

707horsepower 717 horsepower 727 horsepower 737 horsepower 747 horsepower 757 horsepower 767 horsepower 777 horsepower 787 horsepower

The -100 to -900 is just the aftershocks in volts



Jk I dont know

[C]

If I was marketing an expensive aeroplane I would want it to have an identity that would make it both different from the competition and also be memorable, hence the 7X7 series from Boeing and the A3XX series from Airbus (considering up to that point most European airliners had names, and being a multinational company, it would be difficult to agree a common name in 4 languages)

[Jakemaster]

It is mostly marketing, especially with the 787.  Although it is the "next in line"  It appeals to Asian buyers because 8 is considered lucky in china

[Felix/FFDS]

... which leads me to believe that Boeing had some sort of vision, which is why they assigned the otherwise orphaned "717"  to the MD-95.

[Nexus]

[quote]... which leads me to believe that Boeing had some sort of vision, which is why they assigned the otherwise orphaned "717"

[Felix/FFDS]

The whole thing about the 717 and the way Boeing tried to market it as a RJ is laughable. Basicly it was capable of everything the 736 can.

It was doomed from that day, I mean how can you compete with a 717 against the dominant ERJs and CRJs? I don't think you can, really. Just look at Airbus and their attempts with A318, aswell as Boeing own 736. Not too many orders for neither one of them.

It is, and it isn't.  I've been reading where the market for RJs - as jets - is softening.  For shorter range sections, a turboprop is more economical, and for longer range sections, well, a 737 is better.  With the introduction of the 170/190 series, EMBRAER is getting into airliner territory....

Maybe an EMBRAER 290-ER to rival the Airbus 340-600??

[SilverFox441]

Canadair is also looking at building a plane in the "big RJ/small airliner" class...make you think that the market for them isn't quite as soft as some might argue.

[Felix/FFDS]

Canadair is also looking at building a plane in the "big RJ/small airliner" class...make you think that the market for them isn't quite as soft as some might argue.

Maybe they ought to bring back the DHC-7 and hang a couple of tubofans.  Work the wings up a bit, ....

[Hai Perso Coyone?]

What is going to happen after a Boeing 797? And after an A390? I hope they don't make an A375 or something

[Felix/FFDS]

What is going to happen after a Boeing 797? And after an A390? I hope they don't make an A375 or something

Well, if I remember right, the Boeing SST was touted as the Model 2707, so .... they might "Jump"

Who knows?

[TacitBlue]

Someone mentioned a 736. Isn't that the same thing as a 737? If not, what makes it different from a 737? While we're on the subject, how do they decide on the second half of the name? "737-200" do they want to show that it's different but 737-2 doesn't sound impressive enough? I've always been mystified by airplane names, not just airliners either, a lot of them don't make sense.

[Nexus]

Someone mentioned a 736. Isn't that the same thing as a 737? If not, what makes it different from a 737? While we're on the subject, how do they decide on the second half of the name? "737-200" do they want to show that it's different but 737-2 doesn't sound impressive enough? I've always been mystified by airplane names, not just airliners either, a lot of them don't make sense.

A "736" is a 737-600  :)
Just as a 744 is the Boeing 747-400 etc  8)

[C]

What is going to happen after a Boeing 797? And after an A390? I hope they don't make an A375 or something

To be fair we still have the A360 (who'd bet against that being the name of the A350 style A340 development), 370, and 390 to go...