The original 737 first flew as long ago as 9 April 1967. The design started out as a 85-seat jet but Lufthansa convinced Boeing to make it a bit bigger. This is line number 2, first flown on 13 May 1967 and delivered to the launch customer on 24 April 1968. Meanwhile Lufthansa had started scheduled services with D-ABEB and D-ABEC on 10 February 1968, and the 737-200 ordered by United was also already flying. 737 production took place at BFI until 1970. Note the so-called blow-in or suck-in doors on the engines, soon to be eliminated. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)
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