Well if they are terrorists they made a good choice of aircraft. Besides a military jet there are no big jets that can keep up with the 727.
In reality, the 727 airframe could have been the "Sonic Cruiser" with a bit of a nip and tuck and some new quiet fuel efficient engines. With the JT8Ds she will hit Mach .98 in level flight.
Load the belly with extra fuel tanks and the cabin with Semetex. If she left Algeria and flew really low across the pond she could be in France or the UK in no time at all. They would be even smarter if they stole a transponder from another aircraft that nobody is going to notice for awhile and by the time the UK military figured it out Buckinham Palace would be a war zone.
Don't get me wrong I for sure do not want ANY more airplanes used in the manner that the terrorists like to use them.
