The Boeing 737-500, the last model of the "Classic" Boei737 made its first flight on this day in 1989, it was the first flight of a flight test program that took 375 flight hours, flown by a single prototype.
Boeing 737-500
The Boeing 737-500 is the smallest of the classic Boeing 737 series. It was developed as a result of customer demand, as a replacement of the Boeing 737-200 aircraft, with a slightly longer fuselage than the -200 (~19’ or 48 cm). The program was launched as the Boeing 737-1000 in May 1987 when Southwest Airlines placed an order for 20 aircraft. On the last day of February 1990, the first aircraft was delivered to the launch customer Southwest Airlines. With its newer engines, it provided a 25% fuel saving in comparison with its predecessor the Boeing 737-200.
To keep commonality between the different versions of the B737 Classic the cockpit layout was available in two basic versions, the Glass Cockpit and the mechanical gauges as used on earlier models of the B737 Classic.
Like its bigger family members the B737-500 would is powered by the cfm56-3 engine, only rated at 20.000 lbs of thrust, lower than that of its bigger siblings. A total 0f 389 Boeing 737-500 aircraft would be built between 1990 and 1999 when it was succeeded by the Boeing 737-600.
Specifications of the Boeing 737-500
Flight Crew 2 Cabin crew 3 / 4
Passengers 108 / 122, max. 149
Engines CFM Intl. CFM56-3B1Engine Power (each)89,4 kN20100 lbf
Speed 946 km/h - 511 kts - 588 mph Mmo Mach 0.82
Ceiling 11.278 m37.000 ft
Range 5.463 km - 2.950 NM
Empty Weight 31.300 kg69.005 lbsmax.
MTOW 60.555 kg - 133.500 lbsmax.
MLW 49.895 kg - 110.000 lbs
Wing Span 28,88 m - 94 ft 9 in
Wing Area 105,4 m² - 1135 ft²
Length 31,01 m - 101 ft 9 in
Height 11,07 m - 36 ft 4 in
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