N138CG

This airframe, registered as N138CG, is a Boeing 737-3H4 built by The Boeing Company in 1995 (serial number 27928). The documented registered owner is CSC DELAWARE TRUST CO TRUSTEE, a corporate trustee located in Wilmington, DE, US, reflecting its status as a trust-held U.S.-registered aircraft. The airframe has been reconfigured from its original passenger role into a specialized aerial firefighting platform; this conversion and trustee ownership are primary distinguishing points in its post-production history. Operator and regular base details are not published in the supplied data.

The cabin of this airframe has been converted to an aerial firefighting / retardant tank configuration (commonly referred to as a fireliner), with reported capacity for firefighting personnel of up to 72 and a retardant tank capacity of approximately 15,150 L. Typical mission profiles for this configuration prioritize low-to-medium altitude ferry and drop runs over wildfire areas rather than point-to-point passenger service; therefore, avionics and mission equipment are often adapted for tactical operations, though specific avionics fit and operator procedures are not published for this airframe. Maintenance considerations for converted 737-300-series fireliners generally include corrosion control and frequent wear inspections on retardant delivery systems and door structures; specific maintenance status and valuation for this airframe are not published. The conversion substantially alters cabin interior layout and weight-and-balance considerations compared with the aircraft’s original 149-seat passenger configuration.

The Boeing 737-3H4 belongs to the Classic 737 family, a narrowbody platform widely used for short- to medium-range operations; the airframe’s cruise speed (440 kts), range (2,255 nm), and ceiling (37,000 ft) reflect that niche. Converted Classic 737s serving as fireliners occupy a specialized secondary market where demand is driven by governments and large firefighting contractors rather than typical passenger operators. Buyers and lessees consider lifecycle maintenance of older CFM56-3B1 engines, airframe fatigue life, and the impact of conversion on resale value; as this airframe is trust-owned and configured for firefighting, its marketability is focused on operators requiring heavy-retardant capacity rather than standard passenger transport.