Civil aviation spotters will be hard pressed to find the 5,000th 737NG built by Boeing, as line number 5000 belongs to a US Navy C-40A Clipper, BuNo 168980 (c/n 43827). This 737-700C has yet to be assigned to a Fleet Logistic Support (VR-) squadron.
Most likely, it will replace a C-9B Nightingale assigned to either the VR-61 "Islanders", a US Navy Reserve unit based at NAS Whidbey Island, WA; or the VR-52 "Taskmasters", a US Navy Reserve unit based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ. They are last two squadrons with the aging C-9Bs.
Most likely, it will replace a C-9B Nightingale assigned to either the VR-61 "Islanders", a US Navy Reserve unit based at NAS Whidbey Island, WA; or the VR-52 "Taskmasters", a US Navy Reserve unit based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ. They are last two squadrons with the aging C-9Bs.
This is the first milestone 737 to be delivered to a military client.
On a related note, Boeing has begun offering the 737-700C to the commercial market.
Further details in this Boeing Mediaroom press release.
