Marking of large modern airliners ends with zero, for example A320, or 7, for example - "Boeing 787". And to which manufacturer should 738 be attributed?
This aircraft is a classic example of the "demand creates supply" formula. Despite the release of new versions and modifications, the Boeing 737 is still the most popular airliner. During its almost half a century of history, it has experienced many improvements and improvements. There were cargo versions, there were combi, there was even board number 1 in its history (not long before the release of 747-200). Boeing 738-800 is a representative of the 737 family, or rather, one of the latest modifications of the 737, created as a direct competitor and rival to the European A320.
Why is it still 738?
With the popularity of the 737 family, it is at the same time the best representative among its fellows, having a large carrying capacity, flight range, and at the same time efficiency. He made his first flight before his closest relative 737-400. "Boeing 738" is a shortened name for the full name, but most service documentation uses the full name, 737-800. But it is worth mentioning that in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)- a system that coordinates all companies, airports and aircraft, this aircraft will receive the code B738 - "Boeing 738".
Perhaps the ICAO decision was influenced by the policy of the company, which called the latest modifications of the 737 Next Generation. The plane received this name long before the appearance of a direct competitor, practically speaking, from the moment of birth. And if the first versions of the aircraft were called that - 737-800, then after the appearance of the 320 "Airbus" - this aircraft received slightly reworked parts, as a result of which the range increased and it became possible to take 12 passengers more than in previous models.
Who was first?
Today it is believed that the Boeing 738 was supposed to be the successor to the 737-400, getting better from it. BUT! The development of the 738 (then still a 737-800) began before the 400, and it went on its first flight two years ahead of the 400 model, which was at that time a very unusual action. The first planes were ordered by the Germans, and in 1996 the first plane flew into their hangars. And certification in America (in the homeland of the Boeing-2) was received only in 1998. Needless to say, comparing the 737-400 with analog filling and 800 with digital filling would not be in favor of 400. Boeing did not have a digital aircraft until after the 320 hit the market.
Salon 738
When designing the cabin of this aircraft, the developments of the 777 model were taken into account, which allowed companies to quickly change the configuration of the seats. In just a few minutes, the layout of the business class (2 + 2) could be changedto the economy 3+3 layout and vice versa.
In addition, the 738 is one of the company's first aircraft to receive removable baffles. When planning only the economy class, the partitions between the salons were removed, which provided additional opportunities and space.
Layout options
For comparison, consider two layout options: a three-class Transaero aircraft and one of the European companies Ruanair. But first, we note that the "Boeing 738" "Transaero" has a slightly different marking of the salons. There is no tourist class on the plane, there are economy, economy deluxe and business.
This is how the interior of Transaero Airlines (Russia) looks like. Business class is represented by two rows. At the same time, both do not have a particularly good location, since front-row passengers can be annoyed by smells from the kitchen, and second-row passengers can be bothered by noise from neighbors from the economy. But business is business: a lot of space and the ability to freely recline chairs, since the partition is just a screen.
Rows 10 and 19 are considered good places - lots of legroom and the ability to lean back. But the 17th and 18th rows have rigidly fixed backs - emergency exits are located behind them.
With a minus sign, you can call the 35th row. The back does not recline, as there is a wall of the bathroom behind, and it is quite noisy. Passengers sitting at the aisle in row 34 will feel the same way.
Another example is the Boeing 738,cabin layout for Ryanair (Ireland). It should be noted that this Irish company is a low-cost carrier, therefore, in the entire fleet (and this is more than 100 B738 vessels), there are no other options except economy. Based on the low-cost - flying is cheap, but you have to pay for all additional services. The company's aircraft can be much newer than others - the prerogative of the low-cost airline.
Note that opposite the first row is the kitchen - so there are only three seats. But the main plus: the passengers in this row will be a little more spacious, and there is only a wall in front - no one will recline the chair. Good seats will be in rows 16 and 17, as there are emergency exits in front of these rows, and passengers will have more legroom. For these places in the company may be asked to pay extra.
And as in the previous case, we note row 33 - it can be noisy there, since the bathroom is right behind the wall.
Conclusion
"Boeing 738" is a fairly comfortable narrow-body aircraft from the popular 737 family, one of the latest developments of the Americans, which received some details from aircraft of future series. As with any aircraft with engines under the wings, the front of the cabin is quieter than the middle. It has a standard 3 + 3 layout for narrow-body machines, which even by the company's forces can be converted into 2 + 2. There is also the possibility of a quick conversion from an aircraft of 2-3 classes to an aircraft of one class, and vice versa.
