Why The Boeing 737-200’s Gravel Kit Let It Land On Dirt & Will Never Be Built Into A Modern Jet

The Boeing 737 has come to be one of the best-selling series of commercial aircraft ever. In excess of 17,000 examples from a range of 20-plus distinct variants have rolled off the production line to grace the skies over the 737’s almost 60-year history. Key to its success has been commonality across different variants, ever-improving efficiency, and, perhaps most importantly, the versatility of the twin-engine jet itself. Indeed, where the earlier Boeing 707 and Boeing 727 did well to serve long-haul and longer US domestic routes, the 737 looked to fill a hole in the market for a smaller jet able to be used on a variety of missions.