Almost 12,000 Boeing 737s have been built since being introduced by Lufthansa in 1968. The narrow-bodied jets are primarily flown by Southwest Airlines, Ryanair, United Airlines, and American Airlines. Their popularity began with the enormous success of the -200 variant, which lengthened the original Boeing 737-100, giving airlines substantially more flexibility.
Many lesser-known carriers operate the 737-200, including the Venezuelan charter airline, Venezolana. They currently have the oldest commercially operational passenger 737-200, although the Indian Air Force, Peruvian Air Force, and the Indonesian Government fly older examples. Some of these non-commercial Boeing 737-200s age over half a century.
Venezolana's near half-century-old 737-200 has the registration YV3471 (VE). YV3471 (VE) overview This 737-200 is almost 47 years old. However, it hasn't always been flown by Venezolana, with the charter airline being the third owner.
In April 1978, Boeing delivered YV3471 to Frontier Airlines with the registration N7341F. Frontier Airlines was a US local service carrier founded in 1950. Its hub was the now-closed Stapleton International Airport.
It ceased operations in August 1986, and a new airline with the same name was founded in 1994. Shortly before its dissolution, Frontier Airlines sold the 737-200 to United Airlines. It received the jet in November 1985, giving it the registration N976UA.
After almost three decades of service, N976UA left United Airlines and was picke.
