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Contents

Illustrated technical information covering Vol 2 Over 800 multi-choice systems questions Close up photos of internal and external components Illustrated history and description of all variants of 737 Databases and reports of all the major 737 accidents & incidents History and Development of the Boeing 737 - MAX General flightdeck views of each generation of 737's Technical presentations of 737 systems by Chris Brady Detailed tech specs of every series of 737 A collection of my favourite photographs that I have taken of or from the 737 Press reports of orders and deliveries Details about 737 production methods A compilation of links to other sites with useful 737 content Study notes and technical information A compilation of links to major 737 news stories with a downloadable archive A quick concise overview of the pages on this site

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The 737-700C Convertible has the same hybrid airframe as the BBJ1 with -700 fuselage and -800 wings. It also has a forward cargo door a new cargo handling system and an increased gross weight. In the passenger layout, the 737-700C Quick Change can carry up to 149 passengers. In the cargo configuration, The 737-700C can carry up to 18,780 kg (41,420 pounds) of cargo on eight pallets and has a range of 2880nm. The ceiling, sidewalls and overhead bins remain in the interior while the airplane is configured for cargo.

The Quick Change option is simply a 737-700C with pallet-mounted seats. This reduces the conversion time from passenger to freighter configuration, and vice-versa, from 5 hours to 1 hour.

The Convertible program was launched in 1997 but has only had 3 civilian customers. Two were delivered to Saudi Aramco in 2001, one was delivered to SonAir in 2008 and two more have been delivered to Air Algerie, the last in 2016.

Most of the sales have been to the US military as the C-40 and one as a BBJC. Total sales are 21.

PEMCO are also offering the following two 737-700 conversions:

The 737-700FC "FlexCombi" by PEMCO offers three configurations: a 24-passenger cabin plus a 2,640-cubic-foot cargo hold for up to 30,000 pounds of payload in six pallet positions; a 12-passenger cabin plus a 3,005-cubic-foot cargo hold for up to 35,000 pounds of payload in seven pallet positions; or full-freighter mode consisting of a 3,370-cubic-foot cargo hold for up to 40,000 pounds of payload in eight pallet positions. The available positions will accommodate 88” x 125” or 88” x 108” pallets, with the seventh and eighth positions accommodating smaller pallets. This got its FAA STC on 15 July 2020

The B737-700F "Full freighter" PEMCO-converted aircraft features nine pallet positions, up to 45,000 pounds of payload, and 3,844 cubic feet of total volume. The available positions will accommodate 88” x 125” or 88” x 108” pallets, with the ninth position accommodating a smaller pallet.

In October 2017 IAI Bedek of Tel Aviv gained its FAA STC for conversion of 737-700s into freighters which they call the 737-700BDSF. The first example was for Alaskan.

To summarise:

  • 737-700C - "Convertible" New build baseline aircraft with -700 fuselage and -800 wings.
  • 737-700QC - A -700C with pallet-mounted seats
  • C-40A/B/C - US Navy designation for -700C
  • BBJC - Is a -700C with BBJ luxury interior for VIP or government.
  • 737-700FC - FlexCombi, three configuration combo conversion by PEMCO.
  • 737-700F - A nine pallet full freighter conversion by PEMCO.
  • 737-700BDSF - Bedek Special Freighter, ie a conversion by IAI Bedek.

737-700C (Photo: Boeing)
See more details about the book

All of the information, photographs & schematics from this website and much more is now available in a 374 page printed book or in electronic format.

*** Updated 05 Aug 2023 ***

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This video describes the history and development of Boeing 737 freighters from the 737-200C through to the 737-800BCF. It also covers all third-party conversions by AEI, Pemco and IAI, describing the specific technical and operational differences between cargo 737s and passenger versions.

Contents: Versions, Economics, Converters, Differences from Pax Aircraft, Main Cargo Doors, Flightdeck Differences, Fire & Smoke Protection, Horse Freighters, Loading and Weight & Balance, Operation & Documentation.

 

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PEMCO 737-700 freighters

The 737-700F (top) and 737-700FC from PEMCO

Speaking in May 2017 Pemco said that it expects a demand for hundreds of 737-700F's because they fill a gap between older classic 737Fs and more-expensive 737-800Fs, You can get a used 737-700 for between $10 million and $12 million, compared to about $4 million for a 737-400 and $18 million for a 737-800, Also, availability of 737-300s/400s will dry up by 2019 as the type is phased out.

The first 737-700BDSF under conversion by IAI Bedek

Freighter News

15 Jul 2020 - ATSG’S PEMCO RECEIVES FAA APPROVAL FOR ITS BOEING 737-700 FLEXCOMBI™ CONVERSION PROGRAM

Air Transport Services Group, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has approved its Passenger-to-FlexCombi™ conversion program for the Boeing 737-700 Next Generation aircraft.

ATSG said the FAA issued a Supplemental Type Certification for its unique conversion design for the Boeing 737-700, offering customers two different main-deck freight and passenger configurations as well as full-freighter mode. The aircraft will be marketed as B737-700FC (FlexCombi™). PEMCO Conversions, a division of ATSG subsidiary Pemco World Air Services, Inc., developed and managed the program from its headquarters in Tampa, FL.

“To reach this moment in the development of our 737-700 passenger-to-freighter conversion program solidifies our presence as a global leader in the marketplace,” said Mike Andrews, director of conversion programs for PEMCO. “We are pleased with the performance of our Tampa cargo conversion team and continue to develop innovative products meeting increased customer demand for 737 conversions.”

The launch customer for the PEMCO B737-700FC is Bahrain-based Chisholm Enterprises, an internationally recognized provider of tailored aviation and business solutions in the Middle East. Its subsidiary Texel Air, a non-scheduled cargo airline, will operate the B737-700FC from Bahrain International Airport.

PEMCO General Manager Jeff Becker added, “Chisholm is a great partner that provides unique services in its market, so the flexibility of our 737 conversion products continues to meet Chisholm’s needs as its fleet grows.”

Now that the 737-700 conversion program has received FAA approval, PEMCO plans to seek certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The PEMCO B737-700FC (FlexCombi™) offers three configurations: a 24-seat cabin plus a 2,640-cubic-foot cargo hold for up to 30,000 pounds of payload in six pallet positions; a 12-seat cabin plus a 3,005-cubic-foot cargo hold for up to 35,000 pounds of payload in seven pallet positions; or full-freighter mode consisting of a 3,370-cubic-foot cargo hold for up to 40,000 pounds of payload in eight pallet positions. The available positions will accommodate 88” x 125” or 88” x 108” pallets, with the seventh and eighth positions accommodating smaller pallets.

PEMCO also is developing a B737-700F full-freighter conversion program. Those freighters would feature nine pallet positions, up to 45,000 pounds of payload, and 3,844 cubic feet of total volume. The available positions will accommodate 88” x 125” or 88” x 108” pallets, with the ninth position accommodating a smaller pallet.

PEMCO is the global leader in narrow-body passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversions, having developed over 70 STCs and modified over 350 aircraft. PEMCO’s 60-plus customers select the company’s passenger-to-freighter conversions for their superior cargo door and loading systems, superior operating functions, on-time turnaround, and PEMCO’s track record of 2 million hours of safe, reliable operation.

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