last 727 Pax Flight

[tdracer]

Originally Posted by DaveReidUK

There were of course some 60 or so 727s, mostly -200s, that were partially re-engined with the re-fanned JT8D-217/-219 (the centre engine remained the original one as there wasn't enough room in the bay).

Perhaps hearsay, but I was told that Pratt wanted to go with a larger fan on the JT8D-200 series, but was limited by the center inlet capabilities (apparently Boeing was willing to re-engineer the engine mount for the larger fan, but not the S-duct). Going with a larger diameter fan would have given the JT8D-200 better fuel burn and perhaps a bit more thrust capability.
If true, Boeing actually managed to hurt the performance of the MD-80

[Raffles S.A.]

Originally Posted by bafanguy

Yep... that's fun to watch. Must've been "...on the light side.".

I see "ALT SELECT" armed so must be a Block 5 autopilot ? It was an improvement over the standard Bloc 4 which required you to pay attention and select ALT HLD or bust the altitude.

I got to prefer the Sperry F/D with a separate bar for roll and pitch vs the Collins FD 108/109 with the "bat wings".

I also prefer the cross hairs. The "alt sel" function has to be engaged each time after changing the altitude in the alert window, so we made a standard callout, "XXXX set, alt sel armed".

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by tdracer

Perhaps hearsay, but I was told that Pratt wanted to go with a larger fan on the JT8D-200 series, but was limited by the center inlet capabilities (apparently Boeing was willing to re-engineer the engine mount for the larger fan, but not the S-duct). Going with a larger diameter fan would have given the JT8D-200 better fuel burn and perhaps a bit more thrust capability.
If true, Boeing actually managed to hurt the performance of the MD-80

Yes, I was wondering that after I wrote it.

I'm not that familiar with the engineering of the 727, but from what I remember of the similar Trident, there was room to hold a party in the centre engine bay. So I'm quite prepared to accept that it was intake flow constraints rather than physical space in the bay that prevented the replacement of the 727 centre engine.