As a part of the method of renewing its transport fleet by changing the recently-retired Boeing 727, the Colombian Air Drive ( Fuerza Aérea Colombiana, FAC) has simply integrated the second of the 2 Boeing 737-732s bought on the finish of 2021, following supply of the primary in April. The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body plane produced by Boeing at its Renton Manufacturing facility in Washington. One of many plane will likely be modified for digital intelligence missions, together with the set up of apparatus from Elbit Techniques ordered below a separate $8.9 million contract. The precise system for use has not been confirmed, however will doubtless be the Air Keeper suite, as at present used within the drive’s EW CN-235. The FAC already operates a 737-74V as a presidential transport, a 737-4S3S and a 737-46BF in Navy Transport Command (CATAM).
Two Boeing 737-732 fashions have been ordered with AAR-group late final yr, and each have been famous at Oklahoma Metropolis-Will Rogers (OK) not too long ago, the place they obtain modifications price round 8 million USD earlier than coming into service. The 2 737s will likely be used for transportation with the Comando Aéreo de Transporte Militar (CATAM) from Bogota-El Dorado, and their buy will doubtless see the final operational Boeing 727 FAC1204 Vulcano being retired. The 2 newly acquired 737s have been each previously operated by Delta Air Strains (N306DQ, msn 29633 and N302DQ, msn 29648) and acquired serials FAC1219 Muisca and FAC1220 respectively. The title of the latter is as of but unknown to us.
Commercial
Envisioned in 1964, the preliminary Boeing 737-100 made its first flight in April 1967 and entered service in February 1968 with Lufthansa. The lengthened 737-200 entered service in April 1968, and advanced by way of 4 generations, providing a number of variants for 85 to 215 passengers. The 737-100/200 authentic variants have been powered by Pratt & Whitney JT8D low-bypass engines and provided seating for 85 to 130 passengers. Launched in 1980 and launched in 1984, the 737 Traditional -300/400/500 variants have been upgraded with CFM56-3 turbofans and provided 110 to 168 seats. Launched in 1997, the 737 Subsequent Technology (NG) -600/700/800/900 variants have up to date CFM56-7s, a bigger wing and an upgraded glass cockpit, and seat 108 to 215 passengers.
The newest technology, the 737 MAX, 737-7/8/9/10 MAX, powered by improved CFM LEAP-1B excessive bypass turbofans and accommodating 138 to 204 folks, entered service in 2017. Boeing Enterprise Jet variations are produced for the reason that 737NG, in addition to navy fashions. As of July 2022, 15,293 Boeing 737s have been ordered and 11,089 delivered. Initially, its fundamental competitor was the McDonnell Douglas DC-9, adopted by its MD-80/MD-90 derivatives.It was the highest-selling business plane till being surpassed by the competing Airbus A320 household in October 2019, however maintains the report in whole deliveries. The 737 MAX, designed to compete with the A320neo, was grounded worldwide between March 2019 and November 2020 following two deadly crashes.
