First 727 to fly again

[CONSO]

One more time from Everett to Seattle

Original Boeing 727 prepares for its final takeoff | The Seattle Times (http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/original-boeing-727-prepares-for-its-final-takeoff/)

The first Boeing 727 — a model that became one of the company’s top-selling planes of all time — will take to the skies one last time after a 25-year restoration effort. It’s bound for its final home, the Museum of Flight.

Unlike other restored planes, the 727 was rebuilt solely to fly one last time. The plane is tentatively scheduled to take its final flight next Wednesday — if weather permits — around 10 a.m. from Paine Field in Everett, where it has been sitting for the last 25 years, to Boeing Field.

:ok:

[Capn Bloggs]

United paid close to $4.4 million for the line’s prototype, which generated more than $300 million for the airline and carried close to 3 million passengers in its 27-year career, according to the museum.
Not a bad ROE!

[aterpster]

A friend of mine's son is involved in that project. He sent me this photo yesterday:

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa214/aterpster/UAL%20727_zpsffyieyar.jpg

[7478ti]

Here's the latest I've received from Bob B, and the MoF info and releases...

WX pending,... the Boeing 727-22 prototype's Final Flight is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2nd at 10:30 AM. KPAE to KBFI.

At Everett, for the takeoff, doors open for visitors at 0900.

At KBFI, the MoF also will have a related landing event opening at about 0900.

I've heard that Clay L is potentially being lined up to do the photo chase, and also potentially one of the locally based Aerostars

[Max Angle]

Have I got this right, they spent 25 years and half a million bucks restoring it and they are going to fly it once, and once only, for 15mins?

[7478ti]

E1 (N7001U) needs to be ferried from the restoration facility at KPAE, to KBFI for the MoF for permanent display. It was less expensive and easier, with the local roads and bridges involved, to do a one time ferry flight (in a specific limited ferry configuration) than it was to disassemble and truck it, and then re-assemble it at BFI. Flying it any more extensively than this one time very short duration limited ferry flight would have necessitated a much more extensive renovation.

[jack11111]

Are they even going to raise the gear and flaps?

[aterpster]

747ti:

I've heard that Clay L is potentially being lined up to do the photo chase, and also potentially one of the locally based Aerostars

I know a locally based Aerostar pilot in your area who is also long-time friends with Clay L.

[PAXboy]

Reminds me of the old question:
727 = x3 engines
737 = x2 engines.

I'll get me coat ...

[pppdrive]

I've already got my coat, so 707 = ? engines

[wanabee777]

I've already got my coat, so 707 = ? engines

At least they got it right with the Whale.:)

[bean]

707 =0 engines

[India Four Two]

I saw this 727 at the MoF facility at Paine Field last year, when I went there to see the Comet they are restoring.

It featured prominently in the laid-back "airside" briefing I received from one of the volunteers: "If you go out onto the ramp, don't go beyond the nose of the 727."

I didn't realize it was such a special 727, nor that it would fly again.

DH fans, don't get your hopes up - the Comet will NEVER fly again.

[con-pilot]

I'd love to fly a 727-100 again, even if it was a one way trip.

Landing it in the same condition it took off in of course.

[oldpax]

I was a regular passenger on 727s in the late 70s on Air Algerie.Always enjoyed flying in them.

[RJ Kanary]

Only rode once in a three-holer, returning from our Florida honeymoon in March 1980. After landing at PIT, one unique feature of that aircraft was put to use upon landing. The jet way at the gate was inop, so we exited on that convenient stairway under the center engine. THAT was a warm and cozy disembarking. :)

[Rwy in Sight]

Due to family reasons, I had my first flights at around age 4 or 5 arguably on a 727. In the initial flights its oscillating(?) wing persuaded me that it would be a matter of minutes before it breaks. Well it didn't not in the first flight I observed it neither on any consecutive flights - obviously. So after a few flights I started enjoy flying. I was treated to some cockpit visits after the flight (no problem back in 70's). I was treated to my first cockpit landing on 727 practically by accident but by then the love with airplanes had began.

I wish I had the chance to help save and restore the what is believed to be the original 727-200 used by my local airline but it did not work out.

[Flybiker7000]

You are talking like the 727 isn't operative any longer.
I consider it still flying around the world!

[Rwy in Sight]

You are talking like the 727 isn't operative any longer.
I consider it still flying around the world!

Unfortunately they aren't any in my part of the world and I can't fly on cargo ones and God forbid, I like to avoid those, flown in the past by Con-pilot.

[mrshubigbus]

"Heads up"

In just over one hour the very first "Prototype" Boeing 727 will carry out its last ever flight after a 25 year restoration project. It'll only last 15 minutes but will be well worth watching as it's being streamed live at 6.00pm UTC. Don't miss it!

The Museum of Flight on Livestream. (http://livestream.com/museumofflight)

https://www.museumofflight.org/727-final-flight

[PersonFromPorlock]

Flights back from Depot can be exciting. I wish them luck.

[Flybiker7000]

Unfortunately they aren't any in my part of the world and I can't fly on cargo ones and God forbid, I like to avoid those, flown in the past by Con-pilot.

http://www.privatefly.com/us/private-jets/longrange-jet-hire/Boeing-727-Executive

[susier]

Thank you. How lovely she looks too :ok:

[Yankee Whisky]

Flights back from Depot can be exciting. I wish them luck.



I remember a
flight in an American B727 on a very turbulent finals to RW 10 CYUL. The flaps and leading edge slats down and all that was flexing badly was the fuel tank spar section !

[andrasz]

Now up in the air: http://www.airliners.net/photo/United-Airlines/Boeing-727-22/2787828/L/


Some lovely memories linked to the type, though interestingly in nearly 50 years of flying it was one of the least flown types (DC-9/MD80 was the commonest), but usually to more 'interesting' destinations.


Only flew the -100 once, a cockpit ride with AeroPeru from Lima to the fair city of Trujillo in '91. On lining up, two of the three holes obediently spun up to 97%, but the third got stuck on 83. FE leaned forward, knocked the glass, the dial jumped up to 90% and merrily off we went...


Last time was with Libyan Airlines from Kufra to Benghazi in '03, again up front most of the time with a very nice and friendly crew, my six year old daughter had her first cockpit ride then.

[Flybiker7000]

My only flight experience with the 727 was to Kerkyra airport on Corfu (CFU), and as it seemed to aproach with quite higher speed than I've experienced with other airliners, the landing was quite nerve wrecking as the strip on CFU ends quite absolute :-o
Needless to tell that I survived ;-)

[Rwy in Sight]

My only flight experience with the 727 was to Kerkyra airport on Corfu (CFU), and as it seemed to aproach with quite higher speed than I've experienced with other airliners, the landing was quite nerve wrecking as the strip on CFU ends quite absolute :-o
Needless to tell that I survived ;-)


Flybiker7000, the airport, you mentioned, is the one involved with most 727 of my flights. Those landings in 35 coming from the sea can be quite nerve-ranking at first but then they can be quite fun.

[SpringHeeledJack]

Does anyone have a link to a video of the take-off and landing ? Unless i'm missing it, the links above only have a press conference at the museum and the shut-down of the engines post flight.


SH

[aterpster]

Taxi out and takeoff:


https://vimeo.com/157498527

[evansb]

Prototype roll-out, circa 1963:
http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b477/gumpjr_bucket/727rollout.jpg

[barit1]

Before the 727, the most successful civil airliner (in units sold) was the prewar DC-3; total airline orders prior to 07 Dec 1941 were approximately 800. Soon after Pearl Harbor all deliveries of airline-spec DC-3s were diverted to the USAAF or USN under C-49, C-50, C-52 etc. designations. Of course this continued alongside C-47 and R4D production contracts.

It wasn't until the 1970s that an airliner type reached and passed the 800 mark; that aircraft was the 727. :ok:

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Nice aeroplane. What the Trident should have been (the original HS 121).