Boeing 737-130 Cockpit

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The Boeing 737 first production aircraft, used by NASA for flight research at Langley Research Center

Beyond commercial aviation, the 737 has served extensively in military roles, including the Air Force T-43 navigator trainer, Navy and Air Force C-40 transport aircraft, and as the platform for the Navy's P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The Museum's 737 holds special significance as the first ever produced, making its maiden flight on April 9, 1967. After serving as Boeing's flight test aircraft, it was sold to NASA in 1974. It became the Transport Systems Research Vehicle at Langley Research Center, where it tested cutting-edge technologies like virtual cockpits, electronic displays, and windshear detection systems before retiring in 1997.