Boeing 727

Champion Air Boeing 727-200 Advanced
Role Airliner
National origin United States
Manufacturer Boeing Commercial Airplanes
First flight February 9, 1963
Introduction February 1, 1964 with United Airlines
Primary users FedEx Express
Astar Air Cargo
Capital Cargo International Airlines

Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter

Produced 1963–1984
Number built 1,832

The Boeing 727 is an American mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner. The first Boeing 727 flew in 1963 and for over a decade it was the most produced commercial jet airliner in the world. When production ended in 1984, a total of 1,831 aircraft had been produced.[1] The 727's sales record for the most jet airliners ever sold was broken in the early 1990s by its younger stablemate, the Boeing 737.

The 727 was produced following the success of the Boeing 707 quad-jet airliner. Designed for short-haul routes, the 727 became a mainstay of airlines' domestic route networks. A stretched variant, the 727-200, debuted in 1967. In August 2008, there were a total of 81 Boeing 727-100 aircraft and 419 727-200 aircraft in airline service.[2]

Contents

Design and development

The 727 design arose as a compromise between United Airlines, American Airlines, and Eastern Air Lines requirements over the configuration of a jet airliner to service smaller cities which often had shorter runways and smaller passenger demand.[3] United Airlines wanted a four-engined aircraft for its flights to high-altitude airports, especially its hub at Stapleton International Airport at Denver, Colorado.[3] American, which was operating the four-engined Boeing 707 and 720, wanted a twin-engined aircraft for efficiency reasons. Eastern wanted a third engine for its overwater flights to the Caribbean, since at that time twin-engined commercial flights were limited by regulations to routes with 60-minute maximum flying time to an airport (see ETOPS/LROPS). Eventually, the airlines agreed on a trijet, and thus the 727 was born.[3]

First Air Boeing 727-200C

The third JT8D engine, which is located at the very rear of the fuselage (called engine 2), is supplied with air from an inlet at the front of the vertical fin through an S-shaped duct to the engine's inlet.[4] The 727 design featured high-lift devices on its wing,[5] thus being one of the first jets able to operate from relatively short runways. Later models of the 727 were stretched to accommodate more passengers,[6] and they ended up replacing earlier jet airliners, such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8, on domestic routes.

Lufthansa Boeing 727 at Paris Orly Airport in 1981

The 727 proved to be such a reliable and versatile airliner that it came to form the core of many start-up airlines' fleets. The 727 was successful with airlines worldwide partly because of its capability to use 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.[5] Due to the absence of wing-mounted engines, leading-edge lift enhancement equipment (Krueger, or hinged, flaps on the inner portion of the leading edge, and extendable leading edge slats on the remainder of the leading edge), and trailing-edge lift enhancement equipment (triple-slotted,[7] aft-moving flaps) could be used on the entire wing. The combination of these high-lift devices produced a maximum wing lift coefficient of 3.6 (based on the flap-retracted wing area). Thus the 727 could fly with great stability at very low speeds compared to other early jets. The 727 also initially had nose gear brakes fitted to further decrease braking distance upon landing. However, these were soon removed from service, as they provided little useful reduction in braking distances, while adding weight and increasing maintenance requirements.

Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano 727-200 at Jorge Wilsterman Airport. The rear air stairs are visible at the 727's tail.

The 727 was designed to be used at smaller, regional airports, so independence from ground facilities was an important requirement. This gave rise to one of the 727's most distinctive features: the built-in airstair that opens from the rear underbelly of the fuselage.[5] D. B. Cooper, a hijacker, parachuted from the back of a 727 as it was flying over the Pacific Northwest. Boeing subsequently modified the design with the Cooper vane so that the airstair could not be lowered in flight.[8] Another innovation was the inclusion of an auxiliary power unit (APU), which allowed electrical and air-conditioning systems to run independent of a ground-based power supply, without having to start one of the main engines. The 727 can also back itself up, thus not requiring the push tractor needed for most other jet airliners to leave an airport gate. The 727 is equipped with a retractable tail skid which is designed to protect the aircraft in the event of an over-rotation on takeoff. The 727's fuselage has an outer diameter of 148 inches (3.8 m).[9] This allows six-abreast seating (three per side) and a single central access walkway when 18 inches (46 cm) wide coach-class seats are installed.

Noise

Tail section of a Pan Am Boeing 727

The 727 is one of the noisiest commercial jetliners, categorized as Stage 2 by the U.S. Noise Control Act of 1972, which mandated the gradual introduction of quieter Stage 3 aircraft. The 727's JT8D jet engines use older low-bypass turbofan technology while Stage 3 aircraft utilize the more efficient and quieter high-bypass turbofan design. 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, but the structural work required 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-7) into the fuselage structure at the number two engine location would be too great to be justifiable.

Current regulations require that a 727 that is to be utilized in commercial service must be retrofitted with a hush kit to reduce engine noise to Stage 3 levels. One such hushkit is offered by FedEx,[10] and has been purchased by over 60 customers.[11] After-market winglets, referred to as "Quiet Wing" kits, have been installed on many 727s to reduce noise at lower speeds, as well as to reduce fuel consumption. Kelowna Flightcraft's maintenance division in Canada has installed winglets on Donald Trump's private 727-100.

From September 1, 2010, 727 jetliners (including those with a hush kit) will be banned from some Australian airports due to noise.[12]

Operational history

In addition to domestic flights of medium range, the 727 was popular with international passenger airlines.[6] 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. Prior to its introduction, four-engined jets or propeller-driven airliners were required for transoceanic service.

Interior close-up photo of the cockpit area of a flight simulator for a Boeing 727 at the Pan Am International Flight Academy

The 727 also proved popular with cargo airlines and charter airlines. FedEx Express introduced 727s in 1978. 727s were the backbone of its fleet until recently, but FedEx is now phasing them out in favor of the Boeing 757. Many cargo airlines worldwide now employ the 727 as a workhorse, since as it is being phased out of U.S. domestic service due to noise regulations, it becomes available to overseas users in areas where such noise regulations have not yet been instituted. Charter airlines Sun Country, Champion Air, and Ryan International Airlines were all started with 727 aircraft.

Yet another situation where the 727 has proven to be popular is in situations where the airline services airports with gravel, or otherwise lightly improved runways. The Canadian airline First Air, for example, uses a 727-200C to service the communities of Resolute Bay and Arctic Bay in Nunavut, both of which have gravel runways. The high mounted engines greatly reduces the risk of foreign object damage.

Other companies use the 727 as a way to transport passengers to their resorts or cruise ships. Such was the example of Carnival Cruise Lines, which used both the 727 and 737 to fly both regular flights and flights to transport their passengers to cities that harbored their ships. Carnival used the jets on its airline division, Carnival Air Lines.

According to the Boeing Jetliner Databook, the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System, also known as 'Con Air', currently uses four 727 aircraft to transport persons in legal custody between prisons, detaining centers, courthouses, and other places where they must be transported.

A FedEx 727 at PWM with cargo doors open

At the turn of the 21st century, the 727 was in service with a few airline fleets. However, due to changes by the U.S. FAA and the ICAO in over-water flight requirements, most major airlines had already begun to switch to twin-engine aircraft, which are more fuel-efficient and quieter than the three-engine 727. Also, the 727 was one of the last airliners in service to have a three-person flight crew, including a flight engineer, a crew member whose tasks have been largely automated on newer airliners.

Faced with higher fuel costs (although all major United States airlines phased them out immediately prior to the oil price increases since 2003), lower passenger volumes due to the post-9/11 economic climate, increasing restrictions on airport noise, and the extra expenses of maintaining older planes and paying flight engineers' salaries, most major airlines have phased 727s out of their fleets. Delta Air Lines, the last major U.S. carrier to do so, retired its last 727 from scheduled service March 2003. Northwest Airlines retired its last 727 from charter service in June 2003. However, the 727 is still flying for smaller start-up airlines, cargo airlines, and charter airlines, and it is also sometimes used as a private means of transportation. The official replacement for the 727 in Boeing's lineup was the Boeing 757. However, the smallest 757 variant, the 757-200, is significantly larger than the 727-200, so many airlines replaced their 727s with either the 737-800 or Airbus A320, both of which are closer in size to the 727-200.

Variants

TAP Portugal Boeing 727-100

There are two variants of the 727. The 727-100 was launched in 1960 and placed into service in February 1964. The 727-200 was launched in 1965 and placed into service in December 1967.

727-100

The first production model was known as the 727-100. The first 727-100 flew on February 9, 1963 and FAA type approval was awarded on December 24 of that year. The first delivery to United Airlines was made prior to this on October 29, to allow pilot training to commence. The first 727 passenger service was flown by Eastern Air Lines on February 1, 1964, between Miami, Florida, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A total of 571 727-100s were delivered (407 -100s, 53 -100Cs, and 111 -100QCs). One 727-100 was completed and retained by Boeing, bringing total production to 572.[13]

727-100C

Convertible passenger cargo version. Additional freight door and strengthened floor and floor beams. Three alternate fits:

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 for United Parcel Service, re-engined with Stage III-compliant Rolls-Royce Tay turbofans.

727-200

Stretched version of the 727-100. The -200 is 20 feet (6.1 m) longer (153 feet, 2 inches, 46.7 m) than the -100 (133 feet, 2 inches, 40.6 m). A ten foot (3 m) fuselage section ("plug") was added in front of the wings and another ten foot fuselage section was added behind them. The wing span and height remain the same on both the -100 and -200 (108 feet (33 m) and 34 feet (10 m), respectively). The original 727-200 was the same weight as the 727-100; however, as the aircraft evolved, a series of higher 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 (77,000 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 14 December 1967 to Northwest Airlines. A total of 310 727-200s were delivered before giving way to the 727-200Adv of 1972.

727-200C

Convertible passenger cargo version. Only 2 built.

Syrian Air 727-200Adv
A Kalitta Charters II 727-200, parked at LEX airport, Lexington, KY
727-200 Advanced

MTOW and range increased. Also, cabin improvements

727-200F Advanced

A freighter version of the 727-200 Advanced became available in 1981 designated the Series 200F Advanced powered by the Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17A engines and featured a strengthened fuselage structure, an 11 ft 2 inch by 7 ft 2 inch forward main deck freight door and a windowless cabin. This was the last production variant of the 727 to be developed by Boeing and 15 aircraft were built, all for Federal Express. The last 727 aircraft to be completed by Boeing was the Series 200F Advanced for Federal Express.

Super 27

Speed increased by 50 mph (80 km/h), due to replacement of the two side engines with the JT8D-217, which are also found on many MD-80s, along with the addition of hush kits to the center engine and winglets to the wings to increase fuel efficiency. These aftermarket modifications were performed by companies independent of Boeing, such as Valsan and Dee Howard.

A DHL 727-200F freighter at San Diego

Operators

As of August 2010, 398 Boeing 727 aircraft (all variants) were in commercial airline service.[14] Most airlines have small numbers but the following operated ten or more aircraft:[14]

Government, military and other operators

In addition, the 727 has seen sporadic government use, having flown for the Belgian, Yugoslavian, Mexican, New Zealand and Panama air forces, among the small group of government agencies that have used it. The United States military used the 727 as a military transport, designated as the C-22.

 Angola
 Benin
 Cameroon
 Colombia
 Ecuador
 Mexico
 Nigeria
Former government and military operators
 Belgium
 Iran
 New Zealand
 Panama
 Qatar
 Tajikistan
 Yugoslavia

Accidents and incidents

As of 2010, a total of 325 incidents involving 727s had occurred, including 110 hull-loss accidents[16] resulting in a total of 3,704 fatalities. The 727 has also been in 178 hijackings involving 345 fatalities.[17]

Notable accidents and incidents

Specifications

Measurement 727-100 727-200
Cockpit crew Three
Max. seating capacity 149 189
Length 133 ft 2 in (40.6 m) 153 ft 2 in (46.7 m)
Wingspan 108 ft (32.9 m)
Tail height 34 ft (10.3 m)
Zero fuel weight 100,000 lb (45,360 kg)
Maximum take-off weight 169,000 lb (76,818 kg) 209,500 lb (95,028 kg)
Maximum landing weight 137,500 lb (62,400 kg) 161,000 lb (73,100 kg)
Take-off runway length
(at 148,000 lb)
5,800 ft (1,768 m)
Landing runway length
(at max landing wt)
4,800 ft (1,463 m) 5,080 ft (1,585 m)
Cruising speed Mach 0.81
Maximum speed Mach 0.90
Cruise altitude 30,000 - 40,000 ft (9,144 - 12,192 m)

Max Altitude 42,000 (12801 m)

Range fully loaded 2700 NM (5000 km) 2400 NM (4450 km)
Max. fuel capacity 8,186 US gal (31,000 L) 9,806 US gal (37,020 L)
Engines (3x) P&W JT8D-7, -17R&S

Sources: Boeing 727 Specifications,[31] Boeing 727 Airport report[9]

Orders and deliveries

Orders
 1983   1982   1981   1980   1979   1978   1977   1976   1975   1974   1973   1972 
1 11 38 68 98 125 133 113 50 88 92 119
 1971   1970   1969   1968   1967   1966   1965   1964   1963   1962   1961   1960 
26 48 64 66 125 149 187 83 20 10 37 80
Deliveries
 1984   1983   1982   1981   1980   1979   1978   1977   1976   1975   1974   1973 
8 11 26 94 131 136 118 67 61 91 91 92
 1972   1971   1970   1969   1968   1967   1966   1965   1964   1963   1962   1961 
41 33 55 114 160 155 135 111 95 6 0 0

B727 Orders Deliveries.jpg

See also

Related development

Comparable aircraft

Related lists

References

  1. Norris and Wagner. Modern Boeing Jetliners. 1999: Motorbooks International, pp. 12–3.
  2. "World Airliner Census", Flight International, 19–25 August 2008.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Commercial Jets". Modern Marvels. January 16, 2001. approx. 15 minutes in.
  4. "Boeing 727 series. Aircraft & Powerplant Corner."
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Eden, Paul. (Ed). Civil Aircraft Today. 2008: Amber Books, pp. 72–3.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Eden 2008, pp. 74–5.
  7. Boeing: http://www.boeing.com/commercial/727family/index.html
  8. Bruce Schneier (2003). Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly about Security in an Uncertain World. p. 82. ISBN 0387026207. http://web.archive.org/web/20071110030329/portal.aircraft-info.net/article5.html. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 727 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning, Boeing.
  10. Fedex Hushkit webpage
  11. Fedex Hushkit Customer List
  12. "Noisy Boeing 727s will be banned". News Corporation. 2010-03-30. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/noisy-boeing-727s-will-be-banned/story-e6frg95x-1225847176174. Retrieved 2010-03-30. 
  13. Airclaims Jet Programs 1995
  14. 14.0 14.1 "World Airliner Census". Flight International: 26–49. 2010-08-24. 
  15. [1]
  16. "Boeing 727 Accident summary", Aviation-Safety.net, 5 May 2007. Retrieved: 13 July 2008.
  17. "Boeing 727 Accident Statistics", Aviation-Safety.net, 3 December 2007. Retrieved: 13 July 2008.
  18. Boeing website: 727 Breakthroughs
  19. [2]
  20. UK CAA Document CAA 429 World Airline Accident Summary (ICAO Summary 5/80)
  21. aviation-safety.net report on fatal accident to Dan-Air G-BDAN
  22. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19850101-0
  23. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19850219-1
  24. "Criminal Occurrence description". Aviation Safety Network. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19870108-0. Retrieved 26 January 2010. 
  25. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19891021-0
  26. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19961107-0
  27. "African hunt for stolen Boeing". BBC, June 19, 2003. June 19, 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3003058.stm. Retrieved January 2, 2010. 
  28. "FBI search sheet for Ben Charles Padilla". Archived from the original on 2007-04-27. http://web.archive.org/web/20070427001107/http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seekinfo/padilla.htm. 
  29. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20100102-0. Retrieved 7 January 2010. 
  30. "02. January 2010 Compagnie Africaine d´Aviation Boeing 727-200 9Q-CAA Kinshasa-N´djili International Airport, DR Congo". Jacdec. http://www.jacdec.de/info/2010-01-02_9Q-CAA.pdf. Retrieved 4 January 2010. 
  31. Boeing 727 series performance specifications, Boeing.

External links