Elena Rossi
The Boeing 737 prototype, nicknamed Baby Boeing, was a narrow-bodied, twinjet, medium-range plane that first flew on April 9, 1967. It was painted black and yellow and took off from Boeing Field, reaching a speed of 400 miles per hour. Today, airlines often paint their aircraft in special liveries to showcase partnerships or pay homage to cultural icons. For example, Alaska Airlines painted one of their Boeing 737s with a swirling salmon design by Indigenous artist Crystal Kaakeeyáa Rose Demientieff Worl. This design paid tribute to the tons of salmon the carrier transports from Alaska to Seattle annually.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prototype Boeing 737 first flight | April 9, 1967 |
| Prototype Boeing 737 pilots | Brien Wygle and Lew Wallick |
| Prototype Boeing 737 colour | Black and yellow |
| Current location of the prototype | Seattle's Museum of Flight |
| Latest custom-painted Boeing 737 | Alaska Airlines' 737-800 |
| Artist behind Alaska Airlines' 737-800 design | Crystal Kaakeeyáa Rose Demientieff Worl |
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What You'll Learn
The prototype Boeing 737 was black and yellow
The prototype 737, with the registration N73700, was piloted by Boeing test pilots Brien Wygle and Lew Wallick. They performed a number of tests and maneuvers en route, taking the plane up to 15,000 feet and reaching a speed of 400 miles per hour. Upon landing, the pilots were met by a crowd of media and congratulated by Boeing president William M. Allen. Wygle radioed before landing, saying, "We hate to quit; this airplane is a delight to fly."
The original prototype is now on display at Seattle's Museum of Flight on loan from the NASA Langley Research Center, its last owner. On April 9, 2017, the museum held a 50th birthday party for the plane featuring an appearance by original test pilot Brien Wygle. The 737 "Original" and its many variants and descendants (737-100 to 900, 737-Next Generation, and 737-MAX) have had a long career, and the plane is still in production today.
While the prototype Boeing 737 was black and yellow, airlines often paint their aircraft in conservative designs that are huge symbols of their brands. They occasionally debut liveries featuring sports teams, charities, or commercial partnerships with theme parks or consumer-facing companies, like Disney. For example, Alaska Airlines has featured Disney-themed 737s and a plane painted to depict orca whales. In 2023, Alaska Airlines unveiled a 737-800 featuring artwork from an Indigenous artist, Crystal Kaakeeyáa Rose Demientieff Worl, with a swirling salmon design in the Northwest Coast formline style.
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The maiden flight took place on April 9, 1967
On April 9, 1967, the prototype Boeing 737 made its maiden flight. The "Baby Boeing" is a narrow-bodied, twinjet, medium-range plane designed to fill the gap between the 727 and 707 markets. It was the first Boeing plane to be launched with orders from a foreign airline (Lufthansa) rather than a domestic carrier. The prototype was built at Boeing's Plant 2 on the Duwamish in Seattle.
The black and yellow plane took off from Boeing Field at about 1:15 p.m. and arrived at Everett's Paine Field two and a half hours later. Boeing test pilots Brien Wygle and Lew Wallick performed a number of tests and maneuvers en route, taking the plane up to 15,000 feet and reaching a speed of 400 miles per hour. An F-86 "chase plane" followed to observe.
Upon landing, the pilots were met by a crowd of media and congratulated by Boeing president William M. Allen. Prior to landing, Wygle radioed, "We hate to quit; this airplane is a delight to fly." The 737 "Original" and its many variants and descendants (737-100 to 900, 737-Next Generation, and 737-MAX) have had a long career; the plane is still in production today. As of January 2024, 11,685 jets had been built and 4,775 orders were waiting to be filled.
The original prototype is on display at Seattle's Museum of Flight on loan from the NASA Langley Research Center, its last owner. On April 9, 2017, the museum held a 50th birthday party for the plane featuring an appearance by Wygle.
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The prototype is now on display at Seattle's Museum of Flight
The prototype of the Boeing 737 is now on display at Seattle's Museum of Flight, on loan from the NASA Langley Research Center, its last owner. The Museum of Flight is the world's largest private air and space museum, attracting over 500,000 visitors annually. It is located at the southern end of King County International Airport (Boeing Field) in Tukwila, immediately south of Seattle. The museum was established in 1965 and is fully accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
The Museum of Flight offers a wide range of exhibits, including miniature models, galleries, and static aircraft displays. Visitors can explore a variety of aircraft, such as civilian, military, and space vehicles, with highlights like the Concorde, 747, and 787 Dreamliner. The museum also features interactive experiences, such as the Air Traffic Control tower exhibit, which provides a glimpse into the role of an air traffic controller, and the Space Shuttle Trainer Crew Compartment, where visitors can learn about astronauts' lives and work during their missions.
The museum's collection includes significant aircraft like the first jet-powered Air Force One (1959-1962) and the world's first jet airliner, which was in production from 1952 to 1964. The Boeing 737 prototype, known as the "Baby Boeing," is a significant addition to this collection. It made its maiden flight on April 9, 1967, and played a crucial role in the success of the 737 model, which became a best-seller and one of the most successful airliners in history.
The Museum of Flight also has educational programs, serving over 140,000 students annually through initiatives like the Challenger Learning Center, Aviation Learning Center, and summer camps. The museum's roots can be traced to the Pacific Northwest Aviation Historical Foundation, which was established in 1965 to restore a 1929 Boeing 80A-1 discovered in Anchorage, Alaska. The restored aircraft became the centerpiece of the museum when it opened.
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Alaska Airlines' Boeing 737 features a swirling salmon design
The prototype Boeing 737, which made its maiden flight on April 9, 1967, was black and yellow. The plane was built at Boeing's Plant 2 on the Duwamish in Seattle.
The swirling salmon design is done in the Northwest Coast formline style, a type of traditional formline art design that dates back thousands of years. Worl first dreamed up the design years ago and posted a mock-up on Instagram in 2020. The project took 12 days and 117 gallons of paint.
The Boeing 737 is the latest in a series of Alaska Airlines liveries. The airline has a longstanding connection to Northwest icon Boeing. Alaska Airlines has also featured liveries with sports teams, Disney characters, and commercial partnerships with consumer-facing companies.
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The 737 has been updated into the more efficient New Generation variants
The Boeing 737 prototype, nicknamed "Baby Boeing", first took flight on April 9, 1967. It was painted black and yellow and was a narrow-bodied, twinjet, medium-range plane.
The 737 has since been updated into the more efficient New Generation variants. The first NG to roll out was a 737-700, on December 8, 1996. The 737 Next Generation (NG) program was announced on November 17, 1993, and the aircraft has been in production since 1996 and introduced in 1997. The third generation 737 NG -600/700/800/900 variants feature updated CFM56-7 high-bypass turbofans, a larger wing, and an upgraded glass cockpit. The NG variants also have improved fuel efficiency, with the CFM56-7 engine being 7% more fuel-efficient than the previous CFM56-3 engine. The new wing design also helps to reduce community noise and improve takeoff and landing performance.
The Speed Trim System (STS) on the 737 NG has been updated to include a stall identification function, and the flight deck has been upgraded with modern avionics. The interior of the 737 NG has also been improved, with new pivoting overhead bins, new sidewalls, new passenger service units, and LED mood lighting.
The 737 NG is superseded by the fourth generation 737 MAX, which was introduced in 2017. The 737 MAX features more efficient CFM LEAP-1B high-bypass turbofans, aerodynamic changes, and airframe modifications. The newest 737 MAX series aircraft are expected to be 10-12% more efficient than the 737 NG series.
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Frequently asked questions
The prototype was painted black and yellow.
The maiden flight of the Boeing 737 prototype took place on April 9, 1967.
The original prototype is on display at Seattle's Museum of Flight on loan from the NASA Langley Research Center.
