B737 Classic EFIS

[Johnny Tightlips]

Hi all
Just a quick question for some knowledgeable person. When did the EFIS flight deck become a standard fit on the 737 classic and roughly how many were delivered with no EFIS or part EFIS?

Thanks

[oceancrosser]

AFAIK having flown these aircraft a long time ago, the EFIS was the standard from the B737-300 (1984) and onwards. Having said that, some jurassic US operators did not want the EFIS (Southwest, United maybe others) and basically got 737-"250s"... With the CFM engine and extended fuselage and the analog instruments.
I have no idea about fleet size with this setup, probably a quite a few if SWA kept getting their -300s this way.
Not sure if any -400 og -500s were delivered with analog instruments.

[BOAC]

DanAir's two 737-300's were -250s with 'analogue' panels.

[BobM2]

There was no EFIS available on the 300's or 400's in the '80s. The cathode tube screens were too bulky to fit behind the panel. Things sure have changed.

[oceancrosser]

There was no EFIS available on the 300's or 400's in the '80s. The cathode tube screens were too bulky to fit behind the panel. Things sure have changed.

That is actually very incorrect, I flew quite a few -300s and -400 from 1989 built in that year and previous years and all with EFIS.

[BobM2]

oceancrosser

That is actually very incorrect, I flew quite a few -300s and -400 from 1989 built in that year and previous years and all with EFIS

You are correct oceancrosser, my bad. The 300 EFIS was certified in July 1986. Here is the link:

The Boeing 737 Technical Site

But, the 300 was first delivered in 1984 & several hundred had been built before EFIS was available. For fleet commonality, many of these airlines continued to order non EFIS 300's, 400's, & 500's long after the glass was available.