Boeing 737-400
Boeing · United States · first flew 1988 · airliner
The 737-400 is the stretched high-capacity Classic, seating up to 168 passengers on a fuselage 3 m longer than the -300.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Longest Classic at 36.4 m — 3 m longer than -300, visible in the extended forward fuselage plug |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Longest Classic at 36.4 m — 3 m longer than -300, visible in the extended forward fuselage plug
- CFM56-3C engines with flat-bottomed nacelles; taller fin than -300 to maintain directional authority
- Seats up to 168; longer window count than -300 distinguishable at the gate
Distinctly longer than the -300 Classic with more cabin windows; shorter than the NG -800 by 3.1 m, with the same flat-bottomed CFM56 nacelles.
Specifications
- The Boeing 737-400 has a length of 36.4 m (119 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 28.9 m (95 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
Piedmont Airlines launched the -400 in October 1988. A total of 486 were built before the Next Generation -800 offered greater range in a similar capacity. The taller fin was required to handle the greater yawing moment of the longer fuselage.
Variants
No significant production sub-variants; freighter conversions are in active service with cargo operators.
Where you'll see it
Passenger examples are largely retired in Europe and North America; significant numbers remain active in Asia, Africa and South America.
Related aircraft
- Boeing 747-400
- Boeing Condor
- Boeing 737-500
- Boeing VC-25
- ATR 72
- E-8 Joint STARS
- Ilyushin Il-96
- Ilyushin Il-96-300
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