TheBoeing 727is an Americannarrow-body airlinerthat was developed and produced byBoeing Commercial Airplanes. After the heavier707quad-jet was introduced in 1958, Boeing addressed the demand for shorterflight lengthsfrom smaller airports. On December 5, 1960, the 727 was launched with 40 orders each fromUnited AirlinesandEastern Air Lines. The first 727-100 rolled out on November 27, 1962, first flew on February 9, 1963, and entered service with Eastern on February 1, 1964.
Boeing 727 | |
---|---|
General information | |
Type | Narrow-body jet airliner |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Boeing Commercial Airplanes |
Status | In limited cargo and executive service[a] |
Primary users | Líneas Aéreas Suramericanas |
Number built | 1,832[2] |
History | |
Manufactured | 1962–1984 |
Introduction date | February 1, 1964, withEastern Air Lines |
First flight | February 9, 1963[3] |
The onlytrijetaircraft to be produced by Boeing, the 727 is powered by threePratt & Whitney JT8Dlow-bypass turbofans below aT-tail,one on each side of the rear fuselage and a center one fed through anS-ductbelow the tail. It shares its six-abreast upper fuselage cross-section and cockpit with the 707 that was also later used on the737. The 133-foot-long (41 m) 727-100 typically carries 106 passengers in two classes over 2,250nautical miles[nmi] (4,170 km; 2,590 mi), or 129 in a single class. Launched in 1965, the stretched 727-200 flew in July 1967 and entered service withNortheast Airlinesthat December. The 20 ft (6.1 m) longer variant typically carries 134 passengers in two classes over 2,550 nmi (4,720 km; 2,930 mi), or 155 in a single class. Afreighterand a "Quick Change"convertibleversion were also offered.
The 727 was used fordomestic flightsand oninternational flightswithin its range. Airportnoise regulationshave led tohush kitinstallations. Its last commercial passenger flight was in January 2019. It was succeeded by the757and larger variants of the 737. There have been 353 incidents involving the Boeing 727.[4] Production ended in September 1984 with 1,832 having been built.
Development
editThe Boeing 727 design was a compromise amongUnited Airlines,American Airlines,andEastern Air Lines;each of the three had developed requirements for a jet airliner to serve smaller cities with shorter runways and fewer passengers.[5]United Airlines requested a four-engine aircraft for its flights to high-altitude airports, especially its hub atStapleton International AirportinDenver, Colorado.[5]American Airlines, which was operating the four-enginedBoeing 707andBoeing 720,requested a twin-engined aircraft for efficiency. Eastern Airlines wanted a third engine for its overwater flights to the Caribbean, since at that time twin-engine commercial flights were limited by regulations to routes with 60-minute maximum flying time to an airport (seeETOPS). Eventually, the three airlines agreed on atrijetdesign for the new aircraft.[5]
In 1959,Lord Douglas,chairman ofBritish European Airways(BEA), suggested that Boeing andde Havilland Aircraft Company(laterHawker Siddeley) work together on their trijet designs, the 727 andD.H.121 Trident,respectively.[6]The two designs had a similar layout, the 727 being slightly larger. At that time Boeing intended to use threeAllisonAR963 turbofan engines, license-built versions of theRolls-Royce RB163 Speyused by the Trident.[7][8]Boeing and de Havilland each sent engineers to the other company's locations to evaluate each other's designs, but Boeing eventually decided against the joint venture.[9]De Havilland had wanted Boeing to license-build the D.H.121, while Boeing felt that the aircraft needed to be designed for the American market, with six-abreast seating and the ability to use runways as short as 4,500 feet (1,400 m).[10]
In 1960,Pratt & Whitneywas looking for a customer for its newJT8Dturbofan design study, based on itsJ52 (JT8A)turbojet,[11]while United and Eastern were interested in a Pratt & Whitney alternative to the RB163 Spey.[12]Once Pratt & Whitney agreed to go ahead with development of the JT8D,Eddie Rickenbacker,chairman of the board of Eastern, told Boeing that the airline preferred the JT8D for its 727s. Boeing had not offered the JT8D, as it was about 1,000 lb (450 kg) heavier than the RB163, though slightly more powerful; the RB163 was also further along in development than the JT8D. Boeing reluctantly agreed to offer the JT8D as an option on the 727, and it later became the sole powerplant.[13]
Withhigh-lift devices[14]on its wing, the 727 could use shorter runways than most earlier jets (e.g. the 4800-ft runway atKey West International Airport).
Later 727 models were stretched to carry more passengers[15]and replaced earlier jet airliners such as the Boeing 707 andDouglas DC-8,as well as aging propeller airliners such as theDC-4,DC-6,DC-7,and theLockheed Constellationson short- and medium-haul routes.
For over a decade, more 727s were built per year than any other jet airliner; in 1984, production ended with 1,832 built[2]and 1,831 delivered, the highest total for any jet airliner until the737surpassed it in the early 1990s.[16]
Design
editThe airliner's middle engine (engine 2) at the very rear of the fuselage gets air from an inlet ahead of the vertical fin through anS-shaped duct.[17]This S-duct proved to be troublesome in that flow distortion in the duct induced a surge in the centerline engine on the take-off of the first flight of the 727-100.[18]This was fixed by the addition of several largevortex generatorsin the inside of the first bend of the duct.
The 727 was designed for smaller airports, so independence from ground facilities was an important requirement. This led to one of the 727's most distinctive features: the built-inairstairthat opens from the rear underbelly of the fuselage, which initially could be opened in flight.[14]HijackerD. B. Cooperused this hatch when he parachuted from the back of a 727, as it was flying over thePacific Northwest.Boeing subsequently modified the design with theCooper vaneso that the airstair could not be lowered in flight.[19]The design included anauxiliary power unit(APU), which allowed electrical and air-conditioning systems to run independently of a ground-based power supply, and without having to start one of the main engines. An unusual design feature is that the APU is mounted in a hole in the keel beam web, in the mainlanding gearbay.[18]The 727 is equipped with a retractable tailskid that is designed to protect the aircraft in the event of an over-rotationon takeoff. The 727's fuselage has an outer diameter of 148 inches (3.8 m). This allows six-abreast seating (three per side) and a single aisle when 18-inch (46 cm) wide coach-class seats are installed. An unusual feature of the fuselage is the 10-inch (25 cm) difference between the lower lobe forward and aft of the wing as the higher fuselage height of the center section was simply retained towards the rear.
Nosewheel brakes were available as an option to reducebraking distanceon landing, which provided reduction in braking distances of up to 150 m (490 ft).[20]
The 727 proved to be such a reliable and versatile airliner that it came to form the core of many startup airlines' fleets. The 727 was successful with airlines worldwide partly because it could use smaller runways while still flying medium-range routes. This allowed airlines to carry passengers from cities with large populations, but smaller airports to worldwide tourist destinations. One of the features that gave the 727 its ability to land on shorter runways was its clean wing design.[14]With no wing-mounted engines, leading-edge devices (Krueger, or hinged, flaps on the inner wing and extendableleading edge slatsout to the wingtip) and trailing-edge lift enhancement equipment (triple-slotted,[21]Fowlerflaps) could be used on the entire wing. Together, these high-lift devices produced a maximum winglift coefficientof 3.0 (based on the flap-retracted wing area).[18]The 727 was stable at very low speeds compared to other early jets, but some domestic carriers learned after review of various accidents that the 40-degree flap setting could result in a higher-than-desired sink rate or a stall on final approach.[22]These carriers' Pilots' Operation Handbooks disallowed using more than 30° of flaps on the 727, even going so far as installing plates on the flap lever slot to prevent selection of more than 30° of flaps.
Noise
editThe 727 is one of the noisiest commercial jetliners, categorized as Stage 2 by the U.S.Noise Control Actof 1972, which mandated the gradual introduction of quieter Stage 3 aircraft. The 727'sJT8Djet engines use olderlow-bypass turbofantechnology, whereas Stage 3 aircraft use the more efficient and quieterhigh-bypass turbofandesign. When the Stage 3 requirement was being proposed, Boeing engineers analyzed the possibility of incorporating quieter engines on the 727. They determined that the JT8D-200 engine could be used on the two side-mounted pylons. The JT8D-200 engines are much quieter than the original JT8D-1 through -17 variant engines that power the 727, as well as more fuel efficient due to the higher bypass ratio, but the structural changes to fit the larger-diameter engine (49.2 inches (125 cm) fan diameter in the JT8D-200 compared to 39.9 inches (101 cm) in the JT8D-1 through -17) into the fuselage at thenumber twoengine location were prohibitive.[citation needed]
Current regulations require that a 727, or any other Stage 2 noise jetliner in commercial service must beretrofittedwith ahush kitto reduce engine noise to Stage 3 levels to continue to fly in U.S. airspace. These regulations have been in effect since December 31, 1999. One such hush kit is offered byFedEx,[23]and has been purchased by over 60 customers.[24]Aftermarketwingletkits, originally developed by Valsan Partners and later marketed by Quiet Wing Corp. have been installed on many 727s to reduce noise at lower speeds, as well as to reduce fuel consumption.[25]In addition,Raisbeck Engineeringdeveloped packages to enable 727s to meet the Stage 3 noise requirements. These packages managed to get light- and medium-weight 727s to meet Stage 3 with simple changes to the flap and slat schedules. For heavier-weight 727s, exhaust mixers must be added to meet Stage 3.[25]American Airlines ordered and took delivery of 52 Raisbeck 727 Stage 3 systems. Other customers included TWA, Pan Am, Air Algérie, TAME, and many smaller airlines.[26][27]
Since September 1, 2010, 727 jetliners (including those with a hush kit) are banned from some Australian airports because they are too loud.[28]
Operational history
editIn addition to domestic flights of medium range, the 727 was popular with international passenger airlines.[15]The range of flights it could cover (and the additional safety added by the third engine) meant that the 727 proved efficient for short- to medium-range international flights in areas around the world.
The 727 also proved popular with cargo and charter airlines.FedEx Expressintroduced 727s in 1978.[29]The 727s were the backbone of its fleet until the 2000s; FedEx began replacing them withBoeing 757sin 2007.[29]Many cargo airlines worldwide employ the 727 as a workhorse, since, as it is being phased out of U.S. domestic service because of noise regulations, it becomes available to overseas users in areas where such noise regulations have not yet been instituted. Charter airlinesSun Country,Champion Air,andRyan International Airlinesall started with 727 aircraft.[citation needed]
The 727 had some military uses as well. Since the aft stair could be opened in flight, the Central Intelligence Agency used them to drop agents and supplies behind enemy lines inVietnam.[30]In early 1988, TheIraqi Air Forcemodified a Boeing 727 by fitting it withThomson-CSFTMV-018 Syrel pods for ESM and Raphael-TH pods withside looking radar.Known as 'Faw-727', it was reportedly used as anELINTplatform in theinvasion of Kuwait in 1990(during which it was briefly locked on by a Kuwaiti Mirage F1 on August 2) and the subsequent Iraqi monitoring of Coalition forces duringDesert Shield.[31][32]
The 727 has proven to be popular where the airline serves airports with gravel, or otherwise lightly improved, runways. The Canadian airlineFirst Air,for example, previously used a 727-100C to serve the communities ofResolute BayandArctic Bayin Nunavut, whoseResolute Bay Airportand formerNanisivik Airportboth have gravel runways. The high-mounted engines greatly reduce the risk offoreign object damage.[citation needed]
A military version, the Boeing C-22, was operated as a medium-range transport aircraft by theAir National GuardandNational Guard Bureautoairliftpersonnel. A total of three C-22Bs were in use, all assigned to the201st Airlift Squadron,District of Columbia Air National Guard.[33]
At the start of the 21st century, the 727 remained in service with a few large airlines. Faced with higher fuel costs, lower passenger volumes due to the post-9/11economic climate, increasing restrictions on airport noise, and the extra expenses of maintaining older planes and payingflight engineers' salaries, most major airlines phased out their 727s; they were replaced bytwin-engined aircraft,which are quieter and more fuel-efficient. Modern airliners also have a smaller flight deck crew of two pilots, while the 727 required two pilots and a flight engineer.Delta Air Lines,the last major U.S. carrier to do so, retired its last 727 from scheduled service in April 2003.Northwest Airlinesretired its last 727 from charter service in June 2003. Many airlines replaced their 727s with either the737-800or theAirbus A320;both are close in size to the 727-200. As of July 2013[update],a total of 109 Boeing 727s were in commercial service with 34 airlines;[34]three years later, the total had fallen to 64 airframes in service with 26 airlines.[35]
On March 2, 2016, the first 727 produced (N7001U), which first flew on February 9, 1963, made a flight to a museum after extensive restoration. The 727-100 had carried about three million passengers during its years of service. Originally a prototype, it was later sold to United Airlines, which donated it to theMuseum of Flightin Seattle in 1991. The jet was restored over 25 years by the museum and was ferried fromPaine Fieldin Everett, Washington toBoeing Fieldin Seattle, where it was put on permanent display at the Aviation Pavilion.[36][37][38]The Federal Aviation Administration granted the museum a special permit for the 15-minute flight. The museum's previous 727-223, tail number N874AA, was donated to theNational Airline History Museumin Kansas City and was planned to be flown to its new home once FAA ferry approval was granted.[39]After a series of financial problems with the restoration, N874AA was seized by Boeing Field for nonpayment of storage fees in 2021 and subsequently broken up and scrapped.[40]
Iran Aseman Airlines,the last passenger airline operator, made the worldwide last scheduled 727 passenger flight on January 13, 2019 betweenZahedanandTehran.[41][1]
Variants
editData from:Boeing Aircraft since 1916[42]
The two series of 727 are the initial -100 (originally only two figures as in -30), which was launched in 1960 and entered service in February 1964, and the -200 series, which was launched in 1965 and entered service in December 1967.
727-100
edit
The first 727-100 (N7001U) flew on February 9, 1963.[36]FAA type approval was awarded on December 24 of that year, with initial delivery to United Airlines on October 29, 1963, to allow pilot training to commence. The first 727 passenger service was flown by Eastern Air Lines on February 1, 1964, between Miami, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia.
A total of 571 Boeing 727-00/100 series aircraft were delivered (407 -100s, 53 -100Cs, and 111 -100QCs), the last in October 1972. One 727-100 was retained by Boeing, bringing total production to 572.[43]
The -100 designation was assigned retroactively to distinguish the original short-body version. Actual aircraft followed a "727-00" pattern. Aircraft were delivered for United Airlines as 727-22, for American Airlines as 727-23, and so on (not -122, -123, etc.) and these designations were retained even after the advent of the 727-200.
- 727-100C
Convertible passenger cargo version, additional freight door and strengthened floor and floor beams, three alternative fits:
- 94 mixed-class passengers
- 52 mixed-class passengers and four cargo pallets (22,700 pounds; 10,300 kg)
- Eight cargo pallets (38,000 pounds; 17,000 kg)
- 727-100QC
QC stands for Quick Change. This is similar to the convertible version with a roller-bearing floor for palletised galley and seating and/or cargo to allow much faster changeover time (30 minutes).
- 727-100QF
QF stands for Quiet Freighter. A cargo conversion forUnited Parcel Service,these were re-engined withStage 3-compliantRolls-Royce Tayturbofans.
- Boeing C-22A
- A single 727-30 acquired from theFederal Aviation Administration,this aircraft was originally delivered toLufthansa.It served mostly withUnited States Southern Commandflying fromPanama City/Howard Air Force Base.
- Boeing C-22B
- Four 727-35 aircraft were acquired fromNational Airlinesby theUnited States Air Forcefor transportingAir National Guardand National Guard personnel.
727-200
edit
A stretched version of the 727-100, the -200 is 20 feet (6.1 m) longer (153 feet 2 inches;46.69 m) than the -100 (133 feet 2 inches;40.59 m). A 10-ft (3-m) fuselage section ( "plug" ) was added in front of the wings and another 10-ft fuselage section was added behind them. The wing span and height remain the same on both the -100 and -200 (108 and 34 feet (33 and 10 m), respectively). The original 727-200 had the same maximum gross weight as the 727-100; however, as the aircraft evolved, a series of higher gross weights and more powerful engines were introduced along with other improvements, and from line number 881, 727-200s are dubbed -200 Advanced. The aircraft gross weight eventually increased from 169,000 to 209,500 pounds (76,700 to 95,000 kg) for the latest versions. The dorsal intake of the number-two engine was also redesigned to be round in shape, rather than oval as it was on the -100 series.
The first 727-200 flew on July 27, 1967, and received FAA certification on November 30, 1967. The first delivery was made on December 14, 1967, toNortheast Airlines.A total of 310 727-200s were delivered before the -200 was replaced on the production line by the 727-200 Advanced in 1972.
- 727-200C
A convertible passenger cargo version; only one was built.
- 727-200 Advanced
The Advanced version of the 727-200 was introduced in 1970.[44]It featured powerful engines, fuel capacity and MTOW (185,800–210,000 lb or 84.3–95.3 t) increased the range from 1,930 to 2,550 nmi (3,570 to 4,720 km; 2,220 to 2,930 mi) or by 32%.[45]After the first delivery in mid-1972, Boeing eventually raised production to more than a hundred per year to meet demand by the late 1970s. Of the passenger model of the 727-200 Advanced, a total of 935 were delivered, after which it had to give way to a new generation of aircraft.
- 727-200F Advanced
A freighter version of the 727-200 Advanced became available in 1981, designated the Series 200F Advanced. Powered byPratt & Whitney JT8D-17A engines, it featured a strengthened fuselage structure, an 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m) by 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) forward main deck freight door, and a windowless cabin. Fifteen of these aircraft were built, all for Federal Express. This was the last production variant of the 727 to be developed by Boeing; the last 727 aircraft completed by Boeing was a 727-200F Advanced.
- Super 27
Certificated by Valsan Partners in December 1988 and marketed byGoodrichfrom 1997, the side engines are replaced by more efficient, quieter JT8D-217C/219, and the center engine gains a hush kit for $8.6 million (but loses the thrust reverser) (2000): fuel consumption is reduced by 10-12%, range and restricted airfield performance are improved.[46]
- Boeing C-22C
A single 727-212 aircraft was operated by the USAF.
Proposed
edit- 727-300
A proposed 169-seat version was developed in consultation with United Airlines in 1972, which initially expressed an interest in ordering 50 aircraft. Also, interest was shown fromIndian Airlinesfor a one-class version with 180 seats. The fuselage would have been lengthened by 18 feet (5.5 m) and the undercarriage strengthened. The three engines would have been replaced by two more powerful JT8D-217 engines under the T tail.[47][48]Many cockpit components would have been in common with the 737-200 and improved engine management systems would have eliminated the need for theflight engineer.United did not proceed with its order and Indian Airlines instead ordered the largerAirbus A300,so the project was cancelled in 1976.[49]
- 727-400
A concept with a 155-foot (47 m) fuselage and two high-bypass turbofan engines under the wings (but retaining the T tail) was proposed in 1977. More compact systems, a redesign of the internal space, and removing the need for the flight engineer would have increased the capacity to 189 seats in a two-class configuration. After only a few months, the concept was developed into the Boeing 7N7 design, which eventually became theBoeing 757.[50]
Other variants
editFaw-727
This Boeing 727 was reportedly modified by Iraq in early 1988 to serve as anELINTplatform. It was used during the invasion of Kuwait and Operation Desert Shield.[31][32]
Operators
editCommercial operators
editAs of October 2024[update],9 Boeing 727s were in commercial service, operated by the following companies:
- Aerosucre(2)[51]
- Air Class Lineas Aereas(2)[52]
- USA Jet Airlines(2)[53]
- Oil Spill Response(2, operated by2 Excel Aviation)[54]
- Zero Gravity Corporation(1)[55]
Government, military, and other operators
editIn addition, the 727 has seen sporadic government use, having flown for theBelgian,Yugoslav,Mexican,New Zealand,andPanamaair forces, along with a small group of government agencies that have used it.
- Afghan Air Force– Three were acquired fromAriana Afghan Airlines.[56]Only 1 remains in service.[57]
- Bolivian Air Force(Transporte Aereo Militar) (1)
- Iraqi Air Force (Pre 2003),Faw-727 ELINT aircraft (1)
- Iraqi government,Salah Aldin (1)
- Mexican Air Force(5) retired in 2017
- Mexico National Guard(3)
- Royal New Zealand Air Force(3) retired in 2003
- United States Air Force– formerly used as a military transport, designated the C-22
Private aircraft
editA number of 727s have been outfitted for use as private aircraft, especially since the early 1990s, when major airlines began to eliminate older 727-100 models from their fleet.[60]Donald Trumptraveled in a former American Airlines 727-100 with a dining room, a bedroom, and shower facilities known asTrump Force Onebefore upgrading to a largerBoeing 757in 2009;[61]Peter Nygårdacquired a 727-100 for private use in 2005.[62]American financierJeffrey Epsteinowned a private 727 nicknamed the "Lolita Express".[63]TheGettysbought N311AG fromRevlonin 1986, andGordon Gettyacquired the aircraft in 2001.[citation needed]
Accidents and incidents
editAs of March 2024[update],a total of 353[4]incidents involving 727s had occurred, including 120hull-loss accidents[4]resulting in a total of 4,211 fatalities.[64]
Orders and deliveries
editYear | Total | 1984 | 1983 | 1982 | 1981 | 1980 | 1979 | 1978 | 1977 | 1976 | 1975 | 1974 | 1973 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Orders | 1,831 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 38 | 68 | 98 | 125 | 133 | 113 | 50 | 88 | 92 |
Deliveries | 1,831 | 8 | 11 | 26 | 94 | 131 | 136 | 118 | 67 | 61 | 91 | 91 | 92 |
Year | 1972 | 1971 | 1970 | 1969 | 1968 | 1967 | 1966 | 1965 | 1964 | 1963 | 1962 | 1961 | 1960 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Orders | 119 | 26 | 48 | 64 | 66 | 125 | 149 | 187 | 83 | 20 | 10 | 37 | 80 |
Deliveries | 41 | 33 | 55 | 114 | 160 | 155 | 135 | 111 | 95 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Data from Boeing, through the end of production[65]
Boeing 727 orders and deliveries (cumulative, by year):
Orders
Deliveries
Model summary
editModel Series | ICAOcode[66] | Orders | Deliveries |
---|---|---|---|
727-100 | B721/R721[b] | 407 | 407 |
727-100C | B721 | 164 | 164 |
727-200 | B722 | 1245 | 1245 |
727-200F | B722/R722[b] | 15 | 15 |
Total | 1831 | 1831 |
Source: Boeing[65]
Aircraft on display
editA large number of surviving retired 727s remain, largely as a result of donation byFedExof 84 of them to various institutions. The vast majority of the aircraft was given to university aviation maintenance programs. All but five are located within the United States.[67]Notable aircraft include:
- N7001U– 727-022 is on static display at theMuseum of FlightinSeattle, Washington.It was the first 727 completed. It departed from Paine Field inEverett, Washington,and landed at the museum on March 2, 2016.[68][69]
- N7004U – 727-022 is in storage at thePima Air & Space MuseuminTucson, Arizona.It was the first 727 delivered to a customer and the first to make a commercial flight.[70]
- N7017U – 727 is on static display at theMuseum of Science and IndustryinChicago, Illinois.It was donated byUnited Airlines.It features cutaway sections showing airplane framework and lavatory, cockpit view, and a few rows of seating.[71]
- N166FEBud- 727-100F is on static display atMusée de l'air et de l'espaceinLe Bourget,France.It was formerly operated by FedEx and donated to the museum in 2007.[72]
- N186FE – 727-100 is on static display atOwens Community CollegeinPerrysburg, Ohio.It formerly was operated by FedEx and donated by the company in 2007.[73]
- N199FE – 727-173C is on static display at theKansas Aviation MuseuminWichita, Kansas.It was formerly operated by FedEx as N199FE.[74]
- N113FEJarrod– 727-022C is in storage at theNational Museum of Commercial AviationinAtlanta, Georgia.It was formerly operated by FedEx as N113FE, and by United Airlines before that as N7437U.[75]
- N265FEPaul– 727-200 is on static display at theFlorida Air MuseuminLakeland, Florida.It was formerly operated by FedEx.[76]
- N492FETwo Bears– 727-227 is on static display at FLY8MA inBig Lake, Alaska.It was transported fromAnchorage, Alaskato The FLY8MA Pilot Lodge in April 2023, and converted into an airplane home.[77]
- N874AA – 727-223 was previously on display at theMuseum of Flightand later stored for theAirline History MuseumatBoeing Fieldin Seattle.[78]The aircraft was eventually seized byKing County, Washingtonfor nonpayment of rent and storage fees, declared nonairworthy, and scrapped at Boeing Field in November 2021.[40]
- N211DB - 727-2J4 forward fuselage is reused as a commercial aviation set and on display at EECity, an experience facility for children located inBeijing,China.[citation needed]It was formally operated by Sky One Express Airlines before retirement.[citation needed]
- G-BNNILady Patricia– 727-276 was last flown bySabre Airwaysin 2000. Purchased by 727 Communications, an advertising company inSkanderborg,Denmark,it now serves as a conference room and billboard at their offices.[79]
- VP-CMN "PYTCHAir"- 727-46 is located inBristol,UK, and was purchased by technology investor Johnny Palmer for his media company PYTCH. The fuselage is resting atop a series ofshipping containersand was transported in February 2021.[80][81][82]
- XA-RRA – 727-14, last operated byTaesais located inMexicana de Aviaciónlivery at Parque Metropolitano inLeón, Guanajuato,Mexico.[citation needed]
- XC-FPA – 727-264/Adv, last operated by the Mexican Federal Police, is on display inParque Tangamanga,San Luis Potosí City,Mexico.[83]
- A nose section of a 727 is on static display at theMuseum of FlyinginSanta Monica, California;it was donated by FedEx after retirement, and underwent a complete restoration in the fall of 2018.[84]
- N149FE, a 727-22 (S/N 19807) manufactured in 1967, is on static display atGuilford Technical Community College(GTCC) inGreensboro, North Carolina.It was formerly used by theFedEx Expressbefore being donated toTIMCO(nowHAECO) as a maintenance training aid before being donated to Guilford Technical Community College for use as a training aid for theirAircraft maintenance technicianprogram.[85][86]
- SX-CBA, the first Boeing 727 delivered forOlympic Airways,is preserved at the Sourmena Stadium in Elliniko.[87]
Specifications
editVariant | 727-100 | 727-200 | 727-200 Advanced |
---|---|---|---|
Flight crew[89] | Three | ||
Two-class seats | 106: 16F@38 ", 90Y@34" | 134: 20F@38 ", 114Y@34" | |
One-class seats | 125@34 " | 155@34 " | |
Exit limit[89] | 131 | 189 | |
Length | 133 ft 2 in (40.59 m) | 153 ft 2 in (46.68 m) | |
Height | 34 ft 3 in (10.44 m) | 34 ft 11 in (10.65 m) | |
Cabin width | 140 in (3.56 m) | ||
Wingspan | 108 ft (32.92 m) | ||
Wing[45] | 1,650 sq ft (153 m2), 32°sweep | ||
MTOW | 169,000 lb (76,700 kg) | 172,000 lb (78,100 kg) | 209,500 lb (95,100 kg) |
OEW | 87,696 lb (39,800 kg) | 97,650 lb (44,330 kg) | 100,700 lb (45,720 kg) |
Fuel capacity | 7,680 US gal (29,069 L) | 8,090 US gal (30,620 L) | 10,585 US gal (40,060 L) |
Engines ×3 | Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1/7/9 | JT8D-7/9/11 | JT8D-9/15/17/17R |
Thrust ×3 | 14,000–14,500lbf(62–64kN) | 14,000–15,000 lbf (62–67 kN) | 14,500–17,400 lbf (64–77 kN) |
Range[c] | 2,250 nmi (4,170 km; 2,590 mi) | 1,900 nmi (3,500 km; 2,200 mi) | 2,550 nmi (4,720 km; 2,930 mi) |
Take-off[d] | 8,300 ft (2,500 m) | 8,400 ft (2,600 m) | 10,100 ft (3,100 m) |
MMO[89] | Mach 0.9 (519 kn; 961 km/h; 597 mph) at 35,000 ft (11,000 m) | ||
Cruise | 495–518 kn (917–960 km/h; 570–596 mph)[90] | 467–515 kn (865–953 km/h; 537–593 mph)[91] | |
Ceiling[89] | 42,000 ft (13,000 m) |
See also
editRelated development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^abGuy, Jack (January 22, 2019)."Boeing's famous trijet 727 makes last commercial flight".CNN.
- ^ab"727 Family".Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Archived fromthe originalon May 3, 2012.RetrievedMay 14,2012.
By January 1983, orders reached 1,831. One Boeing-owned test airplane brought the grand total to 1,832.
- ^"727 Commerciat transport: Historical Snapshot".Boeing.
- ^abc"Aviation Safety Network > Boeing 727".aviation-safety.net.RetrievedMarch 5,2024.
- ^abc"Commercial Jets".Modern Marvels.Season A149. January 16, 2001. approx. 15 minutes in.
- ^Connors 2010,p. 355
- ^"Analysing the 727".Flight.Vol. 78, no. 2071. December 16, 1960.RetrievedApril 1,2015– via Flightglobal Archive.
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External links
edit- "727 Commerciat transport: Historical Snapshot".Boeing.
- 727 Datacenter | website dedicated to the history of the Boeing's trijet (http://727datacenter.net/)
- Encyclopedia 727 | Book series with 5 volumes about the Boeing 727. Volume 1 already available (https:// enciclopedia727.br/en)
- 727 prototype on rbogash
- Boeing-727 site
- Fatal Boeing 727 Events on Airsafe
- "Boeing jet has new appearance".Spokesman-Review.(Spokane, Washington). (AP photo). November 2, 1962. p. 2B.
- Murdo Morrison (November 28, 2014)."Soldiering on: 10 veteran airliner types still in service".Flightglobal.
- Guy Norris (January 16, 2015)."727 And The Birth Of Boeing's 'Family' Plan (1962)".Aviation Week.From The Archives. Archived fromthe originalon March 21, 2017.RetrievedNovember 28,2016.