N501UW

This airframe, registered as N501UW, is a Boeing-built short-to-medium haul jet delivered in 1985 with manufacturer's serial number 23231. As a Boeing 737-301, the airframe was completed by The Boeing Company and entered U.S. registry (US) where it served in commercial high-density passenger roles and subsequently in government transport roles. Its operational history includes periods in a standard high-density single-aisle passenger layout and, later used in special/JPATS-style government transport configurations during portions of its life, reflecting a shift from airline service to specialized government missions. Ownership and operator details are limited to registry and role changes recorded for this specific airframe.

This airframe was originally outfitted in a high-density single-aisle passenger configuration typical of the 737-300 series with a maximum seating arrangement of 149; during portions of its life the cabin was reconfigured for government or JPATS-style transport missions. Power for the airframe is provided by 2× CFM56-3B1 turbofan engines, supporting its short-to-medium range routing and operator mission profiles. Typical operations for this airframe would have focused on domestic or regional sectors within the fuel and range capabilities listed, with cruise performance around 430 kts and operational ceilings up to 37,000 ft. Maintenance considerations for this particular airframe would align with older-generation 737 airframes transitioning between airline and government service, including cabin reconfiguration work and engine-support cycles consistent with the CFM56-3B1 type.

The Boeing 737-301 occupies the older narrow-body segment designed for short- to medium-range trunk routes with high-density seating options and robust field performance. In its era the model competed with early-generation derivatives of the Douglas/MD-80 family for similar mission profiles. By virtue of its age (built 1985) and classic CFM56-3B1 propulsion, buyer and charter demand tends toward operators valuing low acquisition cost for secondary roles or government/special-mission conversions, while maintenance and resale considerations emphasize airframe hours, life-limited components, and the economics of continuing support for older 737 Classic systems.