- quality handcrafted wooden model civilian aircraft -
- quality handcrafted
wooden model civilian aircraft -
727-200, TWA
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Other Boeing 727-200 models available as "Master Series" |
The Boeing 727 was the first tri-jet introduced into commercial service and soon became the best selling jetliner in the world for the first thirty years of passenger jet transport. Production of the 727 extended from the early 1960s to 1984 during which 1,831 aircraft were built. By the turn of the century, when 1,300 of the reliable aircraft were still in flying, the tri-jet fleet was carrying about thirteen million passengers monthly. The first-built 727 (which had been in continual service with United Airlines since 1964) finally made its last commercial flight on January 13th, 1991 and then was donated to the Museum of Flight in Seattle. The 727 tri-jet became an immediate hit with flight crews and passengers alike. With a fuselage width the same as the 707 (and the later 737 and 757), it provided jet luxury on shorter routes. With sophisticated, triple-slotted trailing edge flaps and new leading-edge slats, the 727 had unprecedented low-speed landing and takeoff speeds for a commercial jet and could be accommodated by airports smaller than the 707 needed. The 727, like all Boeing jetliners, was continually modified to fit the changing market. It began with the -100 series, of which 407 were sold. This was followed by the -100C convertible that featured a main-deck side cargo door, allowing it to carry either cargo pallets or passengers, or a combination of both, on the main deck. Boeing built 164 of these. The 727-200, introduced in December 1967, had increased gross weight and a 20-foot longer fuselage that could accommodate as many as 189 passengers in an all-tourist configuration. In all its variations, 1,245 of the -200s were sold. The last version, the 727-200F, had a 58,000-pound, 11-pallet cargo capability. Fifteen of these were sold to Federal Express. Structural improvements, a more powerful engine and greater fuel capacity led to the Advanced 727-200 in May 1971. This advanced series had improved payload/range capability, better runway performance and a completely restyled "wide body look" as standard equipment. Lufthansa German Airlines and Air Algerie put 727s with the new interior into service in April 1971. Passenger response was enthusiastic, and by November 1972, this spacious interior was standard equipment on all production 707, 727 and 737 aircraft, and was offered for retrofit as well. On December 5th, 1977, the worldwide 727 fleet carried its one billionth passenger - a mark never attained before by a commercial aircraft. Today, the number has reached well over 4 billion. As a result, the 727 holds a permanent place in the annals of aviation as one of the most significant airplanes in the development of the world's jet transportation system. Length:
153 ft 2 in |
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