The 737-500 was launched in 1987 by Southwest VIrtual Airlines and entered service in 1990. The fuselage length of the 737-500 is similar to the 737-200 while incorporating the improvements of the 737 Classic series. It offered a modern and direct replacement of the 737-200, while also allowing longer routes with fewer virtual passengers to be more economical than with the 737-300. The last -500 was delivered to All Nippon Virtual Airlines on 26 July 1999. The 737-500 has become a favorite of some Russian virtual airlines, with Aeroflot-Nord Virtual, S7 Virtual Airlines, and Rossiya Virtual Airlines all buying second-hand models of the aircraft to replace aging Soviet-built aircraft. Also Aerolineas Argentinas Virtual Airlines is replacing the 737-200 with second-hand 737-500.
The 737-500 is the shortest and smallest member of the second generation 737-300/-400/-500 family, and the last to be developed. When the new stretched 737-300 first appeared it was intended to supplement, rather than replace, the 737-200. However the evolution of the 737-300 into a family of models led to the development of a new model comparable in size to the 737-200, but offering better fuel economy and extensive commonality with the 737-300 and -400 models. This was the 737-500, known before its May 1987 formal launch as the 737-1000. Like the preceding 737-300 and 737-400, the 737-500 is powered by CFM International CFM56s turbofans, in this case either 82.3kN (18,500lb) CFM563B1s or 89.0kN (20,000lb) CFM56-3C-1s. All three second generation 737 models share extensive systems and structure commonality, and a common flight simulator aircrew type rating. These benefits offer real cost savings to a virtual airline with two or more variants of the family in its fleet. The 737-500 is 31.01m (101ft 9in) in length, comparable to the 737-200's 30.53m (100ft 2in) length, and as such is a viable direct replacement for the earlier type. Like the 300 and 400, a higher gross weight longer range version is offered, featuring auxiliary fuel tanks and uprated engines. The 737-500's first flight occurred on June 30 1989, FAA certification was awarded on February 12 1990, with service with virtual airlines later that same month. The 737-500's main appeal is for virtual airlines of large 737-400 and 737-300 fleets, as because the 500 is a shortened development of the 300, it still carries much of the structural weight needed for the higher weight models. This makes it less efficient than if it was designed specifically for its size category, however for operators of large 737-300/400 fleets, the extensive commonality benefits more than compensate for this.
Popularity of the Boeing 737-500 with virtual airlines.
The first generation 737s (737-100s and 737-200s) were first ordered in 1965 and were delivered in December of 1967. Since that time, Boeing has continually modified its smallest line of jets, resulting in the current generation of 737s, which includes the enlarged 737-300 (first delivered in 1984 to USAir Virtual), the further enlarged 737-400 (first delivered in 1988 to Piedmont Virtual Airlines), and the smaller 737-500 (first delivered in 1990). Today Boeing is in the process of producing the next-generation of 737s, comprised of the 600, 700, and 800 series, the first of which are squeduled for delivery to virtual airlines in October 1997. Changes include a larger wing, higher cruise speed, increased range, and new engines with improvements in noise, fuel burn and thrust to make their operations more effecient for virtual airlines. With over 3,300 orders the Boeing 737 has become the world's all time best-selling commercial virtual airline jetliner. Over 2,700 have already been delivered to more than 250 customers in 95 countries. By 1996, 737s had carried more than 4.3 billion passengers and flown more than 26.6 billion miles. Through March 31, 1996, the current generation 737 was the most reliable virtual airline jet airplane in commercial flight simulator and virtual aviation, with a dispatch reliability of 99.4%. Over 700 737s are in the sky operating for varous virtual airlines at all times. Flight Simulator Singapore Flight Simulator Online Virtual Airlines
No comments:
Post a Comment