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The 737 in all its variants have been flying and in production for 50 years. The 737 is as ubiquitous or more so than the DC3. I'd vote 737. The 727 is a beautiful airplane, but it never had the popularity of the 737.
For its groundbreaking status along with the cross military applications I would go with a Boeing 707 before a 737. Maybe I would compare the 737 to a C-130. An upgrade because of newer technologies that both are able to soldier on into the near future.
Loved the 727 and know a few retired Captains who liked it as well........but 3 gas guzzling engines and an extra crew member makes it too expensive to run for most ops..........737 is the natural winner.........more flying than anything else by far.......
When I was a teenager and reading Aviation Leak (at the Library) every week and looking at every new model I could find (whether I could afford them or not) back in the '60s there were almost constant stories about 'The Replacement for the Gooney Bird'. Looking back most of them were twin engine turboprops.
Well about 1978 ( I was about 25 and working on F-15s) I realized that the MILITARY replacement for the C-47 was the C-130. Nothing I have seen since then has made me change my mind.
At the time I thought the DC-9 might be the CIVILIAN DC-3 replacement. Maybe that was partially based on sentimentality.
Looking back to when the DC-3 came along Boeing had a competitor, the model 247 (The 247 was actually a closer competitor to the DC-2). The DC-3 won by being a better design. Flash forward 30-35 years and Boeing and Douglas (soon to be McDonnell Douglas) are competing with new twin engine mid size planes. The DC-9 and the B-737. Well both have done well (the Model 247 didn't) but I think the 737 is the clear winner and the CIVILIAN winner of the 'DC-3 replacement' contest. And it even has some crossover use as a Military aircraft!
Pop Quiz - Who remembers the military aircraft (not a cargo carrier that would be too easy) That was based on the DC-3?
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