IATA 722ICAO B722

Boeing 727-200

Boeing

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Tri-engine workhorse that dominated short-to-medium routes.

First flight

1967

Category

Narrow-body jet

Seating

149–189 passengers

Range

4,170 km

Engines

Three rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofans

Status

In service (limited, mainly cargo)

The Boeing 727-200 is the stretched and most successful variant of the 727 family, introduced in the late 1960s as an extended-fuselage development of the original 727-100. It became the best-selling commercial jetliner of its era, widely adopted by airlines worldwide for its ability to operate from shorter and less-equipped airports. Powered by three rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofan engines, the 727-200 features a distinctive T-tail configuration and a unique ventral airstair at the rear. Its high-lift wing system, incorporating leading-edge slats and triple-slotted trailing-edge flaps, gave it exceptional short-field performance. Production ended in 1984 after more than 1,200 examples were built, the majority being the -200 variant. Although largely retired from major airline fleets, a number of 727-200s continue to operate in cargo and charter roles in developing markets.

Notable operators

Major operators included United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air Lines, FedEx, and numerous international carriers such as Lufthansa and Air France.

Notable facts

›The 727-200 is a 6.1-metre stretch of the original 727-100 airframe.
›Over 1,260 Boeing 727-200s were built, making it the most produced variant of the 727 family.
›The rear ventral airstair made the aircraft independent of ground jetways, aiding operations at smaller airports.
›The 727 was the first jetliner to carry more than 100 million passengers annually in the United States.
›D.B. Cooper's 1971 hijacking famously exploited the 727's rear airstair for his parachute escape.

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This profile is provided for general information only. Specifications may be inaccurate or vary by variant/operator — verify with the manufacturer before relying on them.

Encyclopaedia

The Boeing 727 is an American narrow-body trijet that was developed and produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. After the heavier 707 quadjet was introduced in 1958, Boeing addressed the demand for shorter flight lengths from smaller airports. On December 5, 1960, the 727 was launched with 40 orders each from United Airlines and Eastern Air Lines. The first 727-100 rolled out on November 27, 1962, first flew on February 9, 1963, and entered service with Eastern on February 1, 1964.

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