............

MAX-9 sure. 900ER, no way.

The 900 is a pig. So is the ER. It doesn't stop worth a plugged nickle. Give me an 800 EVERY time.

RD,

It's true all aircraft are effected by heavyweights, high altitudes, etc. But not all aircraft are effected to the same degree. A B757 will perform MUCH better singe engine then a 737-900ER. It's not even close. The 737-900ER will never be able to replace the B757. NEVER.

Agreed, there is no replacement for displacement.

The ER has significantly better TO and LND performance than the old 900 for three reasons:

1. More power, 27k thrust standard.
2. Short field wing/flap logic. The LEDs don't fully extend until AFTER flaps are selected past 25.
3. A two stage extended tail skid. This lowers the approach speeds which were artificially high before to help avoid tail strikes.

Nobody is saying it will ever out perform a B757 but that airplane is no longer an option. The 737-900ER is a money maker. That's the bottom line.

So the lower speeds make it more likely to have a tail strike, but its OK since it has a better skid?

What difference in geometry are we talking about here? Somehow I'm thinking "but all I hit was the strikeplate!" will not be an adequate defense.

I know right? Bad technique or an "over flare" (is that even a thing?) could mean a tail strike or really, a belly strike. This new skid midigates damage if that happens. Anyway, it's enough to satisfy the Feds and allow a lower touchdown speed.

The 800 also has 27k, 27.2 i think, that will do nothing. In an 8 or 9 the 737 will not make the islands with more than 160 pax and bags, and that is only from SFO (Oak) or LAX and it still is a streach in the winter. It is a POS, in todays world, that has outlived itself only because of SWA.

Our -800s have 27 bump power available if necessary but it's not a normal power setting. The -900 will use 27 more often. We have little trouble flying to the islands and expect to be able to do so in the winter as well on both the 8 and 9. But, yes, occasionally we have to make a "tech" stop in the Bay Area for fuel. Not optimum.

Calling the best selling, most prevalent airframe the world a POS is nonsensical and shows a major prejudice.