[T.B. Yoits]

The 737 was a great plane until they started stretching and maxing it...

Boeing's redesign of the 737 for use with turbofan engines, which put the center of gravity forward of the center of lift and compensated with software to fly "goofy-footed", should never have been approved.

It's one thing to fly an F-16, F-117, B-2 etc, which are unstable, it's another thing to fly commercial airliners that are unstable.

[Paal Gulli]

"... Boeing's redesign of the 737 for use with turbofan engines, which put the center of gravity forward of the center of lift and compensated with software to fly "goofy-footed", should never have been approved...." What doomed it was the decision to make the compromises that the new engines would require for the airframe to still be typed as a 73. The financial benefits to an airline are YUGE to buy a new airplane of a type they already have in service.