IMHO the Boeing 737 is the best commercial airliner design, ever.
Only one death, by heart attack.
I have a couple of friends who fly/flew these, and they loved them for the high rate of takeoffs and landings relative to hours.
Real pilot stuff, and solid as a rock. May the 737 live on another century!
And the most successful.
The only other aircraft on par is the venerable DC-3.
Don’t forget its daddy!
Without a doubt, the DC-3! Over 70 years and still flying, still making money.
modelbob
Gerald, have you ever looked at the film of Tex Johnson doing the 1G roll in the sales prototype? It’s on youtube.
It’s also going to live on as the Navy’s P-8 Poseidon…
Ray
That must be the Douglas DC-3 still flying and strong. World wide seen as one of the best commercial airliner
Ahh, what about the UAL and USAir crashes…thought to be rudder hard over for while. I think there has been more than a couple of fatal accidents with guppies. Do a web search.
I’ve never flown the 737 but even in a 146 I hated following them on an approach…slow!
The best airliner is the one I’m getting paid to fly…what ever it may be.[:D]
I misread your posting. Sorry. But I think the best is yet to come. Good case for the DC-3 being significant…making money by carrying passengers or even the 747…making air travel mass transit or the Connie for being so darn beautiful. Not sure the 737 is really great or the “best” as opposed to being “good” very good.
The best is always yet to come. That’s why the airliner design and construction industry is one of the tops in the world. I would agree that mundane performance and a unparalleled safety record is a boring subject. I am very excited about the new Boeing liner.
I designed a big part of the new PDX improvements, about 10 years ago. Who do you fly with, Alaska?
Got to go with the DC-3 as “best so far”, simply based on longevity and innovation for its time. I’ve flown in a B-17, a B-24 and an AT-6 Texan (even got to fly the Texan a bit), but I’d about give a body part to get a chance to fly in a DC-3.
Bob
I’m gonna be contrary and say DC-8-71. Prettiest girl of all and a nice ride to boot. Why be practical?
DC-9 ranks up there,(my favorite) the DC-3 is hard to beat though. The 737 is a tank, a true workhorse
Dr
I’d go DC-3, but in a numbers game the Ju-52 (and license builds) isn’t that far behind it, not bad for something made out of corrugated tin (ok really corrugated almuminium alloy).
Andrew
As much as I am a Boeing fan. The DC-8, especially the CFM-56 versions will still be hauling cargo long after the last 707 is turned into beer cans.
I’m guessing that the original criteria of this question was durability but I am going to choose aesthetics and say the Lockheed Constellation.
Has to be the 707/ KC-135
Im gonna go with you on this one, those connies are a real treat to look at.
Right ,if looks were the criteria,Connies hands down