Boeing 727

Boeing 727
Name	Boeing 727
Caption	A Boeing 727-200 Advanced of American Airlines
Type	Narrow-body jet airliner
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Boeing Commercial Airplanes
First flight	February 9, 1963
Introduction	February 1, 1964, with Eastern Air Lines
Status	In limited service
Primary users	FedEx Express (historical), United Airlines (historical), Delta Air Lines (historical), American Airlines (historical)
Produced	1963–1984
Number built	1,832
Unit cost	$4.25 million (727-100, 1962), $22 million (727-200 Advanced, 1982)

Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engined jet airliner manufactured by the Boeing Commercial Airplanes division of The Boeing Company. It was designed for short- to medium-range flights and could operate from shorter runways than earlier jets, making it popular with airlines worldwide. With 1,832 units built, it was the most produced jet airliner until surpassed by the Boeing 737, and it remained a mainstay of U.S. and global fleets for decades.

Development and design

The development of the aircraft was driven by a joint requirement from United Airlines, American Airlines, and Eastern Air Lines for a jet capable of serving smaller airports with limited infrastructure. Led by chief engineer John E. Steiner, the design team incorporated a unique trijet configuration, with all three Pratt & Whitney JT8D engines mounted at the rear, and a sophisticated triple-slotted flap system for exceptional short-field performance. This configuration eliminated the need for a heavy and complex thrust reverser on the center engine. The aircraft's design also featured an advanced avionics suite for its time and was one of the first to be designed with significant input from airline pilots, including those from Trans World Airlines.

Operational history

The aircraft entered service with Eastern Air Lines on flights from Miami International Airport to major cities like Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., with United Airlines beginning operations soon after on routes from Chicago to Detroit. Its ability to serve airports such as LaGuardia Airport and Washington National Airport revolutionized domestic air travel in the United States. It became a best-seller, with key customers including British European Airways, Lufthansa, and All Nippon Airways, and it was instrumental in the growth of charter carriers like Trans International Airlines. By the 1970s, it was ubiquitous, but rising fuel costs following the 1973 oil crisis began to diminish its economic appeal compared to newer twinjets.

Variants

The initial production model was the 727-100, which entered service in 1964. The significantly stretched 727-200 first flew in 1967, offering increased passenger capacity and range, and became the most popular version. The 727-200 Advanced, introduced in 1972, featured more powerful JT8D-15 engines, greater fuel capacity, and a higher maximum takeoff weight, becoming the definitive model. Specialized variants included the 727-100QC (Quick Change), convertible between passenger and cargo configurations, and the 727-200F freighter. A proposed re-engined version with CFM International CFM56 engines, the 727-300, was not pursued.

Specifications (727-200)

The 727-200 Advanced typically accommodated 134 to 189 passengers in a two-class layout. It was powered by three Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15 or -17 turbofan engines, each producing 16,000 pounds of thrust. It had a maximum takeoff weight of 209,500 pounds, a cruise speed of Mach 0.81, and a range of up to 2,550 nautical miles. Its wingspan was 108 feet, and it incorporated a retractable airstair in its tail cone, allowing independent operation at airports without jetways.

Accidents and incidents

The aircraft has been involved in several notable accidents. These include the 1971 crash of All Nippon Airways Flight 58 after a mid-air collision with a Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter, the 1972 crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 into the Florida Everglades, and the 1985 crash of Delta Air Lines Flight 191 at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport due to a microburst. A significant terrorist incident involved the 1976 hijacking of Air France Flight 139 to Entebbe Airport, leading to the famous Operation Entebbe rescue mission by the Israel Defense Forces.

Aircraft on display

Numerous retired aircraft are preserved in museums worldwide. Examples include a 727-100 at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, a 727-200 at the National Museum of Commercial Aviation in Atlanta, and a former Federal Express freighter at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. Internationally, examples are displayed at the Technik Museum Speyer in Germany and the Aerospace Museum of Catalonia in Spain.

Category:Boeing aircraft Category:Trijet aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1963