The Boeing 737 Classic is a series of narrow-body airliners produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, the second generation of the Boeing 737 series of aircraft.
Development began in 1979 and the first variant, the 737-300, first flew in February 1984 and entered service that December.
The stretched 737-400 first flew in February 1988 and entered service later that year. The shortest variant, the 737-500, first flew in June 1989 and entered service in 1990.
Boeing 737 Classic
The initial 737-300 (foreground) is 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) longer than the 737-200 (background) and is re-engined with wider and more efficient CFM56 turbofans
Engine inlet of a CFM56-3 engine on a Boeing 737-400 series showing the non-circular design
A 737-300 of United Airlines
A narrow-body aircraft or single-aisle aircraft is an airliner arranged along a single aisle, permitting up to 6-abreast seating in a cabin less than 4 metres (13 ft) in width.
In contrast, a wide-body aircraft is a larger airliner usually configured with multiple aisles and a fuselage diameter of more than 5 metres (16 ft), allowing at least seven-abreast seating and often more travel classes.
Four-abreast cross-section
Narrow-body Boeing 737-300 in front of a Boeing 777-300ER wide-body
Airbus A320 (foreground) and Boeing 737-900 (background), both narrow-bodies
Two-abreast Beech 1900