Boeing 767

Boeing 767
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Name	Boeing 767
Caption	A United Airlines 767-300ER
Type	Wide-body jet airliner
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Boeing Commercial Airplanes
First flight	September 26, 1981
Introduction	September 8, 1982 with United Airlines
Status	In service
Primary users	Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, FedEx Express, All Nippon Airways
Produced	1981–present
Number built	1,281 as of December 2023
Unit cost	767-200ER: $160 million (2007), 767-300ER: $182.8 million (2007), 767-300F: $185.4 million (2007)

Boeing 767 is a wide-body twinjet airliner developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the company's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft entered service with United Airlines in 1982 and has since been produced in multiple passenger and freighter variants, serving as a mainstay for major airlines and cargo operators worldwide.

Development and design

The 767 program was launched in July 1978 with orders from United Airlines and American Airlines, conceived in response to new FAA rules allowing extended operations for twin-engine aircraft. The design phase involved significant collaboration with Italian aerospace firm Aeritalia and Japanese heavy industry consortiums, including Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Engineers pioneered a two-crew glass cockpit, utilizing EFIS displays, which became standard for subsequent Boeing models like the 757. The airframe featured a conventional wing design optimized for transcontinental and transatlantic routes, competing directly with the Airbus A300 and Airbus A310. Key innovations included advanced Pratt & Whitney and General Electric turbofan engines, which offered improved fuel efficiency over earlier trijets like the McDonnell Douglas DC-10.

Operational history

The 767 entered commercial service with United Airlines on a route from Chicago to Denver. It quickly proved successful on domestic U.S. routes and, following regulatory approval for ETOPS, revolutionized transoceanic travel by making twin-engine flights over the Atlantic Ocean economically viable. Major carriers like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and British Airways deployed it extensively on routes between North America and Europe. The type also became a workhorse for All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines on high-density Asian routes. In the 21st century, many passenger models have been converted to freighters, with FedEx Express and UPS Airlines operating large fleets. The 767 has also been adapted for military and government roles, serving as the platform for the E-767 AWACS aircraft for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and as the VC-25A Air Force One.

Variants

The initial 767-200 model was followed by the extended-range 767-200ER, which enabled longer international flights. The stretched 767-300, offering increased passenger capacity, entered service with Japan Airlines in 1986, with its longer-range 767-300ER derivative becoming the best-selling variant. The 767-300F is a dedicated freighter version first delivered to UPS Airlines. A further fuselage stretch produced the 767-400ER, which features raked wingtips and entered service with Continental Airlines in 2000. Specialized variants include the KC-46 Pegasus tanker for the United States Air Force and the Boeing E-767 surveillance aircraft. The production line remains active for the 767-300F and KC-46.

Specifications

Typical configurations vary by variant; the 767-300ER seats around 218 passengers in a two-class layout and can carry over 90,000 pounds of cargo in its lower holds. It is powered by two high-bypass turbofan engines, such as the General Electric CF6 or Pratt & Whitney PW4000, each producing between 56,000 and 63,000 pounds of thrust. The wingspan measures 156 feet 1 inch on earlier models, with the 767-400ER extending to 170 feet 4 inches. Maximum takeoff weight for the 767-300ER exceeds 450,000 pounds, with a range of approximately 6,590 nautical miles. The flight deck is equipped with a digital avionics suite common with the Boeing 757.

Accidents and incidents

The 767 has been involved in several notable aviation events. In July 1993, China Eastern Airlines Flight 583 experienced an uncommanded slat deployment, causing injuries but no fatalities. The type was involved in two catastrophic hull-loss accidents in 1991: Lauda Air Flight 004 broke apart after an uncommanded thrust reverser deployment over Thailand, and Canadian Airlines International Flight 646 crashed on landing at Fredericton. Most infamously, two 767-200ER aircraft, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were hijacked and deliberately crashed into the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks. Other significant incidents include the 2005 forced landing of Air Transat Flight 236 after a fuel leak over the Atlantic Ocean, and the 2011 belly landing of LOT Polish Airlines Flight 16 after a landing gear failure.

Category:Boeing aircraft Category:Twinjet airliners Category:Aircraft first flown in 1981