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Brown Plane was Military
Version of Boeing 737
The plane carrying Commerce Secretary Ron Brown was the military version of the Boeing 737, one of the most popular airliners in the sky, but one that has attracted suspicion because of a pair of unexplained accidents. Brown was aboard a T43 that crashed a few miles outside Dubrovnik, Croatia, Wednesday, diplomatic sources reported. The plane reportedly went down in stormy weather.

Two as yet unexplained accidents have focused attention on possible rudder problems with the 737, though the type maintains a good safety record over the long-term. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is still reviewing the circumstances of the USAir 737 crash Sept. 8, 1994 in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, that killed 132 people. The March 3, 1991 crash of a United Airlines 737 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, killing 25 people also remains unsolved, though freak winds were initially blamed.

In both the Colorado and Pennsylvania accidents the planes suddenly rolled and crashed. Speculation following the accidents included the possibility of problems with a rudder control motor or rudder movement, but experts were unable to pin down the problem. Boeing and the Safety Board have been testing a retired USAir 737 to determine whether rudder problems can develop under various flight conditions, but the results of those tests have not yet been made available.

Boeing 737 Specifications
Now the world's best-selling short-haul airliner, Boeing's 737 was created primarily to span the gap between commuter aircraft and the Boeing 727. Its success in doing so has been great and to date more than 2,500 have been sold. Many versions of the Boeing 737 have been built to meet the requirements of different airlines. These vary in size, engine manufacturer and type, and passenger capacity. A number of Boeing 737s also operate as private and corporate aircraft and have highly specialized interiors.

Country: United States of America
Manufacturer: Boeing
Designation: 737
Type: Commercial Transport
Service Dates: 1965 to present
Length: 93'-9"
Wingspan: 87'-0"
Height: 37'-1"
Empty Weight: 50,000 lbs
Gross Weight: 93,500 lbs
Maximum Speed: 575 mph
Maximum Range: 1,400 miles
Maximum Altitude: 40,000 ft
Number of Crew: 2 + passengers
Engine Type: Turbofan
Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney
Engine Designation: JT8D x 2
Engine Thrust: 14,000 lbs



The Boeing Company



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