Stephen Leo Bing (b. March 31, 1965) is an American real estate developer, film producer, and philanthropist.
At the age of 18, Bing inherited an estimated $600 million from his grandfather, Leo S. Bing, who had made his fortune in New York real estate in the 1920s. The Los Angeles Business Journal in May 2006 estimated his family’s worth at $900 million, coming in at No. 42 in that publication’s list of Wealthiest Angelenos: L.A.'s 50 Richest
Maybe the Bing Foundation is offering a 737 to anyone who wants to charter it. However, it’s an expensive aircraft to use. Maintenance expense on a Guppy can be excruciating if it’s not a Company bird.
The 737 concept is 30+ years old. No major aircraft manufacturer is interested in supporting the little bird. They’ve re-tooled themselves for future aircraft.
Big airlines often pull their 737s out of service for maintenance or overhaul. But they have enough planes in fleet to continue service. It costs them Big Bucks to pay a maintenance base for upkeep.
Why has this tail number been seen coast-to-coast in such little flight time? 737s can’t make the long haul. They’re short haul planes.
Maybe there is more than one N2121 floating around out there. Has anyone gotten a good look at its engines? Paint details differ plane to plane due to use. Engine types differ too based on who placed the order on the aircraft… Next time look closer at the power plant for clues.
Two 117.4kN (26,400lb) CFM International CFM56-7 turbofans.
BBJ - Max cruising speed Mach 0.82, normal cruising speed Mach 0.80, long range cruising speed Mach 0.79. Initial cruise altitude 38,000ft, max certificated altitude 41,000ft. Range with eight passengers 11,480km (6200nm), with 25 passengers 11,075km (5980nm).
It appears you haven’t been following the 737. Yes, it started out has a short-haul aircraft in the mid 1960’s but it is now a long range aircraft. The larger versions (-800 and -900) have the capacity of the 707. It’s not only in daily non-stop transcontinental services in the USA but also flies across the oceans. And I’m not talking about the business versions - I’m talking about the airline version.
You want to fly to Brisbane, Australia? You can do it all the way on a 737 from the east coast of the USA via Arizona or the west coast, Honolulu, and Nadi (Fiji). None of those segments are really short.
It wouldn’t surprise to find a round-the-world trip taken entirely on 737 with 4-6 hours segments.
The 737 is somewhat of an evolutionary design of the 707. The 707, 727, and 737 all share the same fuselage cross-section and forward cockpit/nose section. Yes the 737 design is 30+ in age but the BBJ (which is actually a 737-700 fuselage set atop the -800 wing) is one of the most modern airplanes you’ll see, short of being fly-by-wire. A BBJ with a full compliment of PATS tanks has 11-12 hour endurance. Plenty of range for some serious globe-trotting.
This is Mr. Bing’s private aircraft… which is less than two years old. There are nearly 200 BBJ’s in service as private transports for the very wealthy. The expense to maintain and operate airplanes like these is not a primary consideration for these individuals. They want comfort and prestige and it costs what it costs.
Exactly…Mr. Bing probably doesn’t know what a fuel bill is!!!
Reminds me of the Sultan of Brunei, when he hired British Airport Authority to build an airport, they asked what type of aircraft do you have? He was said to have asked, “What type of planes does it come with”?
He was made aware he must supply his own planes, so he bought two B727’s to go with his airport!!!
Interesting Update on the 737’s range. Guess I’ve not kept up on the Little Plane That Could. Last time I flew one was as a passenger on Southwest to Las Vegas. Love its spunk
Had a fun, intimate “passenger” experience with the new 737 when UAL and Boeing practiced evacs in a SFO hanger, early '70s. That was a blast navigating through a fog-filled cabin and jumping out an emergency exit. A leap of faith in a blacked-out hanger and praying the slide had deployed. Those tests really gave me a boost of confidence in her passenger saftely. Would have done the same tests with the 747, but we didn’t try it at SFO.
Figured the 737 would eventually go the same way as the DC-8. She was a sweet work horse. Maybe the Dream Liner will replace her. Until then, the 757 is a fond resemblance of the old DC-8.
N2121 ? No, I think everyone on board wore shoes when exiting at SFO. Everyone probably had a cell phone going, but couldn’t tell since I didn’t have field glasses handy.
Has the plane been spotted anywhere recently? She’s a white ghost.
All that range, AND can still use shorter runways. Take a look at KSNA with its 5700’ postage stamp for example. Continental flies them to Newark, and Aloha runs them out to Hawaii.
A corporate version of the 737-700 dubbed the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) was launched on 2nd July 1996 as a joint venture between Boeing and General Electric. It combines the fuselage of a 737-700 with the strengthened wings and undercarriage of the 737-800. Up to 12 fuel tanks, giving 37,712kg of fuel can be fitted as a customer option. The BBJ N737ER was designed for medical evacuations and charter operations and flew a record 6,854 nautical miles (12,694 kilometres) from Seattle to Jeddah in 14 hrs 12 minutes. The aircraft still landed with 2,700kg of fuel remaining!
As mentioned above, the Non-Stuctural Bullet Antenna for satellite system. If you view photos on airliners.net of BBJ’s, you note many of the BBJ’s have this system installed.
