CAL 737 guys

[Otto77]

Just curious from a pilot perspective which is your favorite version? Does the -900 fly as well as the others? From a passenger perspective only, Ive always enjoyed ridding on the -800s etc. Is it random from leg to leg which model you could be flying or do they seem to keep you on the same model generally? Thanks for any input.

 

[calfo]

It's pretty random... Some city pairs can count on having the bigger planes most of the time, but it changes seasonally. One week, we're going to FLL in full -800's, the next week, we're in full -500's.

Personally, the -800's are nice to fly. I don't see enough -900's to really get much of a feel for them. The -700's take more work to get a good landing (lots of lift and not as much weight as the -800's).

As far as overall flying characteristics though, I like the -300's. Nice docile and predictable - you never get the "What's it doing now?" feeling while flying it.

 

[jetjockey#1]

Anything but the 300's. The 900 is very very stable, you put it where you want it, and forget about it, it won't go anywhere untill you change the input. To me the 300's plain suck, no SA, going across country on that thing is hideous, I like to see my airports on my tv screens...

 

[Palomino]

put me down for the -300 also. it's the best airframe for the 737 platform i think. feels well balanced and rigged.

the -700 is my favorite though. feels good, easy to work. no tail issues.

-800 is ok. -900 is not much fun. both have tail strike potential and the brakes don't haul it down too well. i rarely see a -900 but i don't miss it.

-500 is a bit squirrely but kinda fun to play catch up with.

my personal rankings based on flying qualities. the -300 is a lot of work compared to the rest. but it flies very nicely.

1) -700
2) -300
3) -800
4) -500
5) -900

 

[bearcat]

You guys are crazy about the -300...POS. We had our jackets on the other night with the packs on manual full hot.....boiling in back and freezing up front..this things get cold soaked and suck...Oh, bleeds off improved climb..always. Never cool off in the summer with the BOS shuttle at 16K....You can have it. The 73XXXX is the easisest landing airplane in the world...whatever model...don't pull the power off on a heavy -900 in the flare.

To answer your question..-700 best performing 737. -800 very good, 900 stable, but smame engines as -800. It is just an airplane and just a J. O. B. Job.


Anyone can fly the 73...
Cheers

 

[Otto77]

great stuff so far..which one has the best performance?! I would assume the 700 or 500s?

 

[skiutah]

I would say of all the airplanes I have flown the -300 is the biggest POS of all! To add to it the 737 is good for what it used for but Boeing what's up with the nasty, loud, painful TRIM WHEEL!!!!! Oh yea the yoke also sucks, come on it's 2006!

 

[SuperFLUF]

The -300 has the best flying characteristics. Sure they're old and run on steam power but they do handle the best.

-700 is my favorite to fly, best performer.

-500 is my favorite to land,

the -8/900 are ok. The best thing about them is they pay more.

As far as the mix in the pairings, I have flown all 4 types in one day and back when we had 5 types (EFIS -300's) I had flown all 5 in one pairing.

 

[Deerkiller]

-300...best flyer, usually get my best landings out of this one
-500...little go cart, pretty easy to land
-700...climbs like a bat out of he!!, this one i like(borat)
-800...little heavy on the controls compared to the others, but it:smash: pays
-900...same as -800


I'd say the 800/900 are my favorite b/c they are the easiest to manage and did i mention they pay more.

dk

 

[calfo]

Good point about the cooling... I forget all about that stuff once summer's over. The -300 and -500's packs don't cut it once the oat gets above 70. The 7/8/900's are great a'cause you can run both packs off the apu on the ground.

The most fun is on a light 700 on a cool morning - you're at V1 before you know it, and most likely at V2+15 before the mains are off. Then, it's 4000 fpm and "get that ^%$ rj outta the way!".

 

[flatspin7]

I might be an odd ball --- In fact I know I am... I like flying the 500s the best. It might just be me but I like the control loading on them the best. The performance isnt bad at all, not as good as a 700 but they don't seem to reduce the thrust as much on the -500 as the do on the 7/8/9s.
The 3s and 5s are a joy to land, I was hired after the 300 efis airplanes went away but those would have been my abosulte fave, but you feel really naked in the round dial aiplanes especially when you are doing the over water stuff (gulf of mexico and the AR routes)

I like the 800s but CAL likes to reduce the thrust as much as humanly possible its not abnormal to see a flex temp in the 50s when the oat is 10C. The approach speeds on the 800/900 can get very high with ref speeds around 145. You always add 5 but with some wind you are coming down the pipe at 155+. Flaps 40 drops the speeds about 7 kts but I think the airplane lands better with 30flaps.

Just my opinion.

 

[catIIIc]

300, best flying qualities
500, likes to sink on landing but fun to fly
700,800 good performance the best of the bunch.
900, a pig and can't wait till the 900ER's show up.

 

[cocknbull]

superfluf,

At first I just saw the picture on your avitar, and I was like what the F---. I'm glad I read it because that is funny stuff.

Good input on the 737 stuff guys.

Thanks

 

[ATRedneck]

great stuff so far..which one has the best performance?! I would assume the 700 or 500s?

The -700 by far.

A couple weeks ago we did a red-eye from OAK and never got stopped in the climb... leveled at FL410 18 minutes after brake release.

 

[Old School 737]

Not a CAL guy but have time in the 200,300,400,700,800,900 and I think the 200 was the most fun to fly and the 700 reminds me a lot like a -17 powered 200. But I have to say the 400 is the most stable one of the bunch and might be my fave. Ours are under powered with only 22K but I know most airlines have 24K power and I am sure that would help the performance a bunch.

 

[RJAA]

I would like to have all 800s and 700s to dispatch. The 900s are always landing weight limited and wouldn't carry a lot of fuel with high payload. It sucks.

 

[SuperFLUF]

......At first I just saw the picture on your avitar, and I was like what the F---. I'm glad I read it because that is funny stuff.....

It usually takes a while for people to figure that one out.

Here's some more: http://www.thoseshirts.com/anticheshirts.html

 

[cocknbull]

Superfluf

Thanks great stuff