Boeing 737-100
Boeing · United States · first flew 1967 · airliner
The 737-100 was the original, shortest-fuselage 737 variant, seating around 85–100 passengers and now entirely retired from passenger service.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Very short fuselage at 28.6 m — noticeably stubbier than any other 737 |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Very short fuselage at 28.6 m — noticeably stubbier than any other 737
- JT8D engines in distinctive flat-bottomed oval nacelles flush under the wing
- No winglets; small fin relative to later variants
The -100 is by far the shortest 737 ever built — nearly 9 m shorter than the -800. Its tiny size and very short cabin make it unmistakable beside any later variant.
Specifications
- The Boeing 737-100 has a length of 28.6 m (94 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 28.3 m (93 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 876 km/h (544 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 flight crew.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Lufthansa was the launch customer, introducing the type in February 1968. Only 30 were built as airlines quickly preferred the stretched -200. The JT8D engines mounted directly under the wing — unlike later CFM56-equipped variants — gave the nacelles their distinctive flattened underside.
Variants
No formal sub-variants; all 30 were to the same basic configuration.
Where you'll see it
All passenger examples retired decades ago; none are believed airworthy as of 2026.
Related aircraft
- Boeing 727-200
- Boeing 737-200
- Boeing VC-96
- Boeing 747-100
- BAC One-Eleven 500
- Douglas DC-8 Super 63
- Fokker F27-500 Friendship
- Fokker F28 Fellowship
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