Boeing Business Jet 2 (BBJ 2)
Boeing Business Jets · United States · first flew 1998 · airliner
The BBJ 2 is the executive-transport version of the Boeing 737-800, offering a large private cabin with the range and reliability of a modern airliner.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Long narrow-body fuselage on a corporate jet |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Stretched 737-800 airframe with blended winglets
- Long narrow-body fuselage on a corporate jet
- Underwing CFM56 turbofan nacelles
Look for a full-length 737 fuselage combined with tall blended winglets and a small window count, marking it out from a standard airline 737.
Specifications
- The Boeing Business Jet 2 (BBJ 2) has a length of 39.5 m (130 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 35.8 m (117 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 890 km/h (553 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 flight crew.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Boeing launched the Business Jet family in the late 1990s as a joint venture with General Electric, mating the 737-800's longer fuselage to the strengthened wing and centre-section of the higher-gross-weight BBJ. The BBJ 2 first flew in 1998 as part of the 737 Next Generation programme and entered VIP service from 2001.
Variants
The baseline BBJ is based on the shorter 737-700, while the BBJ 2 adds nearly six metres of cabin and the later BBJ 3 uses the 737-900ER. Auxiliary fuel tanks in the belly extend range well beyond the standard airliner.
Where you'll see it
Several BBJ 2 airframes serve government and Royal Household flights in Europe, and UK-based charter operators offer the type for long-range corporate travel. Air forces worldwide also use it as a head-of-state transport.
Related aircraft
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