Originally Posted by
Mooncrest
I guess by about 1972-73, i.e. when BADP and BADR were delivered, the Advanced was the standard production variant. Did any other early 737 customers, e.g. Aer Lingus and Braathens, also order the Advanced ? Both these airlines were regular or semi-regular users of LBA's short runway in the 1970s, albeit not flying long distances. Their early 737s should therefore have been able to cope.
Aer Lingus bought three Advanced 737s new: EI-ASL (-248C) and EI-BEB/BEC. A further, secondhand, acquisition was also of the Advanced model, viz EI-BDY (a series -2E1, ex-Eastern Provincial). For reasons of standardisation across the airline's 737 fleet, all were fitted with -9A engines.