One example that was recently pointed out to me: the first 737 was closer in time to the wright brothers first flight than to today
One example that was recently pointed out to me: the first 737 was closer in time to the wright brothers first flight than to today
>One example that was recently pointed out to me: the first 737 was closer in time to the wright brothers first flight than to today
Out of curiosity, why use the 737 as a benchmark? Especially since the first Jet plane, the Heinckel HE 178[0] (1939) was the first jet plane, the de Havilland Comet[1] (1952) was the first commercial jet airliner, and the Boeing 707[2] (1957) was the first Boeing jet airliner, Followed closely by the McDonnel Douglas DC-8[3].
All of which are (unlike the 737) closer in time to the Wright Brothers' 1903 flight than to the present. That said, as was mentioned, in just three-six years the 737 will also be closer in time to that 1903 flight than to that future date.
So why the focus on the 737 rather than the 707 or DC8? Not trying to dunk on you or the 737, just trying to figure out why the 737 would be more notable than other jet planes/commercial jet airliners.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinkel_He_178
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Comet
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_707
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-8
The reason the 737 stood out is because it's descendents are still in use today while the 707 and DC8 are largely retired.
The Sud Aviation Caravelle first flew in 1955 and entered revenue service in 1959.
It was a small airliner with two engines in the rear. Although the Caravelle was retired in 2005, the twin rear engine layout was used by the very successful DC-9, MD-80 series, which is still flying, as are the similar Embraer ERJs. Twin rear mounted engines is also the design used by most private jets.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sud_Aviation_Caravelle
I mean, did you check that?
Wright brothers:[0] 1903
"They made the first controlled, sustained flight of an engine-powered, heavier-than-air aircraft with the Wright Flyer on December 17, 1903"
737-100 :[1] 1967
"the initial 737-100 made its first flight in April 1967"
1967 - 1903 = 64
2025 - 1967 = 58
So in three years your statement will be true. As of now, it is false - unless you count the start of 737 development time I guess?
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_brothers [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_737
PS: This is also "backed up by Gemini" with the google search phrase "is first 737 flight closer to first wright brother flight than now?" .... but I'd rather do the math.
Huh. I'm an idiot. For some reason I figured that in three years time the "time between wright brother first flight and 737 flight" would vary by 3 years. But no. That is a constant.
So to revise my statement, in six years your statement will be true....
My apologies.