Infographic on the Types of Boeing Airplane Models

Boeing is a popular American aerospace and defense company. It is the largest in the world and also the foremost manufacturer of commercial jet transports. In addition to that, Boeing is also a leading producer of military aircraft, space vehicles, missiles, and helicopters. Being one of the top exporters from the United States, Boeing supports the domestic airlines and other government customers from 150 countries that have government ties with the United States. 

The company is involved in the design, manufacturing, and sale of planes, rockets, satellites, missiles, rotorcraft, and comms gear. Currently, it is divided into five various partitions and is consistently ranked on the lists of Forbes as being profitable. If you are wondering about what airplane models Boeing has, we are here to help you. In this post, we are giving you a detailed infographic on the types of Boeing airplane models. 

Boeing Commercial Airplane Models

In commercial aviation, Boeing is one of the two major aircraft manufacturers. Since 2000, it has delivered more than 10,000 aircraft, ranging from a handful of Boeing 747-400 combis all the way up to its most popular airplane models. Below are the types of Boeing commercial airplane models.

1. Boeing Next-Generation 737

This airplane model is usually abbreviated as 737NG or 737 Next Gen. It is a narrow-body aircraft that is powered by two jet engines. It was launched in 1993 as the third-generation derivative of the Boeing 737. It is also an upgrade to the classic 737. Its wing has a larger area and a wider wingspan. It also has greater fuel capacity and a longer range.

  • 737-700: This airplane model was launched in November 1993. It replaced the 737-300, usually seating 126 passengers in two classes to 149 in an all-economy configuration. By June 2018, around a thousand of these were in service. It also has a convertible version called the 737-700C, wherein the seats can be removed to carry cargo instead. The launch customer for the convertible version was the United States Navy under the military designation, C-40 Clipper.
  • 738-800: This one is a stretched version of the 737-700, replacing the 737-400. It seats 162 passengers in a 2-class layout or 189 in a one-class layout. It was launched on September 5, 1994. It can burn 850 gallons of jet fuel per hour. In 2011, United Airlines used a Boeing 737-800 from Houston to Chicago, which was the first U.S. commercial flight powered by a blend of traditional jet fuel and algae-derived biofuel to reduce its carbon footprint.
  • 737-900: This is the longest variant to date. However, since it retains the same exit configuration as the 737-800, its seating capacity is limited to 178 in a 2-classing seating type and 200 in a high-density 1-class layout. This airplane model was launched by Alaska Airlines in 1997. It also retains the fuel capacity of the 737-800 trading range for payload.

2. Boeing 737 MAX

The Boeing 737 MAX is the fourth generation of the Boeing 737. It is also a narrow-body airliner that succeeds the Boeing 737 Next Generation. It is based on the earlier designs of the 737, with more efficient CFM International LEAP-1B engines. It has variants that offer 138 to 204 seats in a typical two-class configuration. 

  • 737 MAX 7: This airplane model is originally based on the 737-700, accommodating two more seat rows for 138 seating capacity. It uses the 737-8 wing and landing gear. It has a pair of over-wing exits instead of the single-door configuration. It can also fly 1,000 nmi farther compared to the 737-700 with 18% lower fuel costs per seat. 
  • 737 MAX 8: This airplane model replaces the 737-800, having a longer fuselage than the MAX 7. It has a lower empty weight and higher maximum take-off weight compared to the A320neo. It was first tested in La Paz, Bolivia, at a 13,300-foot altitude at El Alto International Airport. It tested the aircraft’s capability to take off and land at high altitudes. Its first commercial flight was on May 22, 2017, which was operated by Malindo Air from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Singapore. 
  • 737 MAX 9: This airplane has a longer fuselage than the MAX 8. The launch customer for this model was Lion Air, with an order for 201 in February 2012. Its first flight took place on April 13, 2017, from Renton Municipal Airport, landing at Boeing Field after a 2-hour 42-minute flight. The Boeing 737 MAX 9 was also presented at the Paris Air Show in 2017. 
  • 737 Max 10: This is a larger variant compared to the MAX 9. It has a larger engine, stronger wings, and telescoping landing gear in mid-2016. It was launched on June 19, 2017, with United Airlines as its largest customer. 

3. Boeing 747-8

This is a wide-body aircraft and also the largest variant of the 747. It was launched on November 14, 2005. Its First Class and Business Class sections enable airlines to offer passengers the most private and premium accommodations in the sky.  It has more than 400 seats available, creating a unique opportunity to maximize the bottom-line potential of any high-volume route. This airplane has lengthened fuselage and redesigned wings. It is available in both passenger and freighter variants. 

4. Boeing 767

This one is a wide-body airplane that was launched as the 7X7 program on July 14, 1978. It first entered service with United Airlines in 1982. Boeing has delivered over 1,000 767s that are utilized by more than 80 operators worldwide. In fact, it has accumulated over 9 million flights. This makes it the most widely used aircraft on cross-Atlantic routes. 

5. Boeing 777

This aircraft is commonly called the Triple Seven. It is a long-range wide-body airplane and is also the largest twinjet in the world. It was made to bridge the gap between the other wide-body airplanes of Boeing, the twin-engined 767 and quad-engined 747. It offers exceptional fuel economy, reliability, efficiency, and high levels of cabin comfort for its passengers. 

6. Boeing 777X

This is the latest series of the long-range, wide-body, twin-engine jetliners included in the Boeing 777 family. It features new GE9X engines, new composite wings with folding wingtips, greater cabin width, and seating capacity, and technologies from the Boeing 787. It was introduced in November 2013 with two variations:

  • 777-8: This Boeing 777X variant can provide seating for 384 passengers. It has a range of 8,730 nmi. The Boeing 777-8 aircraft would fill the niche market for an airplane that can fly with a full payload from hubs in the Gulf states to the West Coast of the United States.
  • 777-9: This airplane is longer by three extra seat rows compared to the 777-8. It has a seating capacity of 426 and a range of more than 7,285 nmi. Its first flight took place on January 25, 2020. It is to supersede the 250 ft. 2 in. Boeing 747-8 is the longest aircraft. 

7. Boeing 787 Dreamliner

This is a wide-body jet airliner that introduced various technical innovations to the world of commercial air travel. Its primary structure uses composite materials, more electric systems architecture, and advanced aerodynamic and engine technology. It also achieved a 20% reduction in fuel burn compared to previous airplanes that belong in its class. Roughly, it is the size of the 767 but with the longer range of the 777. 

  • 787-8 Dreamliner: This is a long-range, mid-sized, wide-body, twin-engine jet aircraft. It is the first airliner in the world that used composite materials for most of its construction. It is the base model of the 787 families and was also the first to enter service in 2011. It has a typical capacity of 248 passengers and a range of 7,305 nmi.
  • 787-9 Dreamliner: This is a longer and strengthened variant with a 20 feet longer fuselage and 54,500 lbs. higher maximum take-off weight. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner seats 296 passengers in a usual 3-class arrangement over a 7,565 nmi range. It has active boundary-layer control on its tail surfaces to reduce drag. 
  • 787-10 Dreamliner: In 2005, Boeing was pushed by the interest of Qantas and Emirates to study the possibility of stretching the 787-9 further to accommodate 290 to 310 passengers. With that, the vice president and general manager for the 787-development program at the time, Mike Bair, said it was easier to go with the 787-10 development after other customers followed the request of Emirates. The launch customer of this aircraft was Singapore Airlines on May 30, 2013. 

Boeing Military Airplane Models

In addition to commercial airplanes, Boeing is also known for making some of the best military aircraft. During World War I and World War II, the company was at the forefront of engineering some of the most iconic military aircraft of the 20th century. If you are curious about these, take a look at the infographic of the Boeing military airplane models below.

1. Boeing AH-64 Apache

This military aircraft is also known as the AH-64D Apache Longbow. It is the newest version of the combat-proven AH-64A Apache. It does attack helicopter and reconnaissance requirements of some armed forces in the world. This airplane can make loops, left and right rolls and turns, split S, and hammerhead maneuvers. In addition to that, it can also perform 360-degree turns while flying at a full mission weight of around 16,000 pounds. 

2. AV-8B Harrier II

This aircraft was made to provide fast and effective close air support to ground forces. It is capable of operating from field clearings, bomb-damaged runways, roads, and small ships. From 1978 to 1995, there were a total of 377 AV-8Bs were made in St. Louis. Its newest version was the AV-8B II Plus, which first flew on September 22, 1992. Other variants of this include a two-seat trainer version, the TAV-8B, and a night attack version that had a forward-looking infrared sensor mounted on its nose. 

3. B-17 Flying Fortress

Boeing designed B-17 bombers as the storm of WW2 shook the world. These airplanes darkened the skies, dropping over 640,000 bombs on designated targets. These aircraft are described as the backbone of the worldwide aerial offensive. It served in every World War II combat zone. This bomber aircraft became legendary for its aptitude to stay in the air after taking ruthless beatings. 

4. B-29 Superfortress

This is the most technologically advanced aircraft that was made during the Second World War. It had features like guns that could be fired through remote control. The B-29 Superfortress was also the heaviest produced aircraft due to its increased range, bomb load, and defensive requirements. It utilized the high-speed Boeing 117 airfoil. It also has larger Fowler flaps that are added to the wing area as they increase lift. 

5. B-47 Stratojet

This is a six-engine aircraft and the first multi-engine, swept-wing jet bomber in America. It has a thin 116-foot wing that is flexible and swept back at a 35-degree angle. It had 18 small rocket units for jet-assisted takeoff. It also had a ribbon-type drag parachute that reduced its landing speed as anti-skid brakes had not yet been developed back then. Later models of this aircraft were powered by 5,200-pound-thrust axial-flow jet engines. The top speeds were 600 mph. 

6. B-52 Stratofortress

This was the first long-range, swept-wing bomber aircraft of the United States. By the 21st century, it was in its 5th decade of operational service. It was originally made as an intercontinental high-altitude nuclear bomber. These airplanes are skilled in low-level flight, conventional bombing, extended-range flights, and missile launch hundreds of miles from targets. 

7. F/A-18 Hornet

This military aircraft by Boeing has flown the whole spectrum of tactical missions, both in combat and in peacekeeping operations globally. It was the first airplane to have carbon fiber wings and also the first tactical jet fighter to utilize digital fly-by-wire flight controls. It first flew on November 18, 1978, and entered operational service in 1983. In 1989, an upgraded version was introduced, which was called the Night Strike F/A-18C/D, which could give precision-guided weapons at night and even during bad weather conditions.

8. McDonnell Douglas F-15

This is a single-seat aircraft by Boeing that first entered service in 1974. It could stand on its tail and climb straight up, accelerating to supersonic speed. In fact, it could reach 98,000 feet in just three and a half minutes or less. The F-15 Eagle was the premier fighter of the U.S. Air Force by 2002, and over 1,500 of it were in operational service. It is one of the most technologically advanced tactical aircraft in the world. It has a perfect combat record of 100 victories and no defeats in air-to-air combat.

Conclusion

These are the different types of Boeing airplane models. There are many more airplane models by Boeing that are not included in this post, but the ones here are some of their most-used commercial airplane models and most popular military airplane models. Boeing is indeed one of the best and the biggest aerospace company in the world. No wonder most of the commercial airplanes used by various airlines all over the world are made by them. We hope this post helped you learn more about the types of Boeing airplane models.

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