Key takeaways
- The 737-800 is the most-produced version of the 737 Next Generation.
- All 737-800s fly with CFM56-7B engines.
- The ICAO type designator is B738.
- The successor is the 737 MAX 8, which differs mainly in its engines and wingtips.
Contents
Profile
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
|---|---|
| Family | 737 Next Generation (737-600, -700, -800, -900) |
| ICAO type designator | B738 |
| First flight | July 31, 1997 |
| Entry into service | 1998 (Hapag-Lloyd) |
| Engines | 2 × CFM International CFM56-7B |
| Length | 39.5 m |
| Wingspan | 34.3 m, 35.8 m with winglets |
| Seats | up to 189 |
| Successor | Boeing 737 MAX 8 |
Identifying features
Is this really the aircraft type in front of you?
- Pointed nose and the typical 737 cockpit windows
- Engine nacelles with a flattened underside, because the fuselage sits low to the ground
- Dorsal fin ahead of the vertical stabilizer
- Main landing gear without outer gear doors: on a flyover, the wheels are visible in the fuselage
- Usually with winglets (Blended or Split Scimitar), though some aircraft fly without
What makes the 737-800
The Boeing 737-800 belongs to the third generation of the 737, the so-called Next Generation (NG). The family also includes the 737-600, the 737-700 and the 737-900. The -800 is by far the most-produced version of this generation.
The first flight took place on July 31, 1997, and the first operator in 1998 was Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd. Every 737-800 is powered by two CFM56-7B engines; there is no other engine option.
737-800, 737 MAX or A320?
Compared with the Airbus A320, the 737 is relatively easy to recognize: the nose tapers more sharply, the engine nacelles are flattened on the bottom, and a dorsal fin sits ahead of the vertical stabilizer. On a flyover you can also see the main landing gear wheels, because the 737 has no outer gear doors there.
The difference from the 737 MAX 8, its successor, is harder to spot. The MAX has larger engines with serrated trailing edges on the nacelles and distinctive, split wingtips. On the 737-800, by contrast, you find Blended Winglets, Split Scimitar Winglets or no winglets at all.
Where you can see the 737-800
In Europe, the 737-800 is everywhere at Ryanair, which operates it in large numbers. Leisure airlines such as TUI fly the type too. Older aircraft are now also being converted into freighters, so the 737-800 can be seen in cargo service as well.
In tracking apps and flight schedules, you can find the type by its ICAO code B738.
Spotting tips
- To tell it from the MAX, take a look at the wingtips and the trailing edges of the engine nacelles.
- On a flyover, the open main landing gear gives away the 737 immediately.
- Log your sighting with type, registration, airport and date – in Planetrack, directly as a post with photo and spot.
Summary
- The 737-800 is one of the most common jets at European airports.
- Flattened engine nacelles, the dorsal fin and the open landing gear set it apart from the A320.
- With the ICAO code B738, you can find it directly in flight schedules and tracking services.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell the Boeing 737-800 from the Airbus A320?
Look at the nose, engines and tail: the 737 has a more pointed nose, engines with a flattened underside and a dorsal fin ahead of the vertical stabilizer. On a flyover, the visible wheels in the fuselage stand out too.
How do I tell the 737-800 from the 737 MAX 8?
The MAX has larger engines with serrated trailing edges on the nacelles and special, split wingtips. The 737-800 flies with the smaller CFM56-7B.
What is the ICAO type designator of the 737-800?
The Boeing 737-800 uses the ICAO type designator B738.
Collect the Boeing 737-800, don’t just see it
Post a photo with registration, type, airport and spot, check off the type in your hangar and get an alert when a registration you are looking for lands. Planetrack is launching soon – join the waitlist and get early access.
Related aircraft types
Airbus A320neo
The new edition of the bestseller: the A320neo combines the proven A320 airframe with a new generation of engines and can be seen at almost every major airport today.
NarrowbodyBoeing 717-200
T-tail, two engines at the rear, short fuselage: the 717 is the last descendant of the DC-9 and really a McDonnell Douglas. It has vanished from Europe – here is how to recognize it and where it still flies.
NarrowbodyBoeing 737-200
Slim cigar-shaped engines under the wing, a deflector behind the nose wheel and air nozzles ahead of the inlets: the 737-200 is the jet that lands on gravel. Here you will learn how the -200 and the -200 Advanced came about, how to recognize them and where they still fly today.
NarrowbodyBoeing 737-300
Fat engines with flat bottoms, a stretched fuselage and a new cockpit: with the 737-300, Boeing got the 737 ready for a second career in the mid-1980s. Here you learn where it came from, who flew it in Germany and where you can still find it today.
NarrowbodyBoeing 737-400
Three meters longer than the -300, two overwing exits and a tail skid under the rear fuselage: the 737-400 was Boeing’s answer to packed leisure flights. Here you read how it came about, who flew it in Europe and where you find it today as a freighter.
NarrowbodyBoeing 737-500
Small, compact and with the typical flat engine inlets: the 737-500 was the shortest 737 Classic and the modern replacement for the 737-200. Here you read who flew it, where it is still out and about today and how to tell it from the -300 and -600.