When Southwest Airlines expanded into longer haul flights, they needed a new aircraft capable of much greater range than the 737-200 series. The answer was the Boeing 737-300 series, which entered service on December 17, 1984. This particular aircraft, N300SW, is the first 300 series 737 built out of 1,113. Upon retirement in 2011, the Spirit of Kitty Hawk had logged 83,132 hours of flight over 77,301 cycles. Donated by Southwest Airlines, this aircraft is the crown jewel of the Frontiers of Flight Museum.