Boeing
B727
#

Photo: Robert Deering 1971
Love Field (DAL)
Dallas, Texas

Photo: Robert Deering 1969
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Seattle, Washington
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine commercial jet airliner. It first took to the skies in 1963 and was, for a very long time, the most popular jet-liner in the world. 1,831 727s were delivered. The 727's sales record for the most jets bought in history was broken in the early 1990s by its sister, the Boeing 737. In August 2006, a total of 127 Boeing 727-100 aircraft and 493 Boeing 727-200 aircraft remain in airline service.

The 727 design arose as a compromise between United Airlines, American Airlines, and Eastern Air Lines over the configuration of a jet airliner to service smaller cities which often had shorter runways and correspondingly smaller passenger demand. United Airlines wanted a four-engined aircraft for its flights to high-altitude airports, especially its hub at Stapleton International Airport at Denver, Colorado. American wanted a twin-engined aircraft for efficiency reasons. Eastern wanted a third engine for its overwater flights to the Caribbean. Eventually, the three airlines agreed on a trijet, and thus the 727 was born. The third JT8D engine, which is located at the very rear of the fuseage, is facilitated via an s-duct leading from the duct at the front of the tail.[2] The 727 featured high lift devices on its wing, thus being one of the first jets to be able to operate from airports offering modest runway lengths. Later models of the 727 were stretched to accommodate more passengers and they ended up replacing earlier jet airliners, such as its sibling the 707, on domestic routes.

Since the 727 proved to be a reliable and versatile airliner that came to form the core of many start-up airlines' fleets, it is sometimes described as the "DC-3 of the Jet Age."

The 727 proved very successful with airlines worldwide partly because of its capability to take off and land on smaller runways while still flying medium range routes. This effectively allowed airlines to attract 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 unique wing design. Through flap extension and leading edge slat deployment, the 727 could almost double its wing surface area, allowing it to fly with great stability at very slow speeds. The 727 also had nosegear brakes fitted in the beginning to further decrease braking distance upon landing. These were however removed later as they proved to provide little gain in braking over added weight and higher maintenance costs.

Specifications

727-100 727-200
Passengers
149 189
Cockpit crew Three Three
Max. takeoff weight 76,818 kg (169,000 lb) 95,227 kg (209,500 lb)
Empty weight 45,360kg (100,000lb) 45,360kg (100,000lb)
Operating range 5000km (2700nm) 4450km (2400nm)
Cruising speed .81 Mach .81 Mach
Maximum speed .90 Mach .90 Mach
Length 40.6 m or 133 ft 2 in 46.7 m or 153 ft 2 in
Wingspan 32.9 m or 108 ft 32.9 m or 108 ft
Tail height 10.3 m or 34 ft 10.3 m or 34 ft

Source: Wikipedia


Photo: Robert Deering 1971
Love Field (DAL)
Dallas, Texas