This is my first post so I hope the photo linked up ok. I apologize if this is the wrong forum, but this question is about the plane in the photo, not the photo itself.

I bought this framed 8x10 at an Antique store in St. Louis a week ago and was wondering if there is a way to identify this particular 727, since the tail number is obscured. On the back of the photo there is a large stamp reading K15038, photo by Boeing, does that number mean anything? Two other questions; what years did TWA have this color scheme? Does anyone recognize the mountain range in the background? I hung this photo in my office and my co-workers have asked me about it so I figure I would ask the experts. I would love to have a little history on the plane if that is possible. I used to fly STL-CVG on TWA in the early 90s and several times on what the FA said was the oldest 727 TWA had. I wonder if this was the plane. If I could find the tail number I would know.

Just a guess, but could that be the first 727 delivered to TWA? I think this is a flight at Boeing before delivery to TWA, and I would assume that is one of the famous peaks near Seattle - Mt. Rainer, Hood, etc? Someone from the area will know.

Quoting Laddb (Reply 1): Just a guess, but could that be the first 727 delivered to TWA?

I'll go with the theory as well......the twin globes were around from the early '60's to the mid 70's

The mountain in the background looks a lot like Mt.Rainier (Mountain in the Cascade Range situated 80 miles or so South of Seattle).

I just have to say, that was a nice find!

cheers,
Phil

That is Mt Ranier, so obviously a Boeing delivery or publicity shot. The airplane is a 727-200, not a 727-100, so it's not the first 727 delivered to TWA, the number you have sounds like a stock number for the print, the wingtip is right over the tail-number, no other equipment numbers on the fuselage anywhere, so i'm afraid it's a mystery.  

Quoting Laddb (Reply 1): Just a guess, but could that be the first 727 delivered to TWA?

Its a 727-200, so it was not the first 727 delivered to TWA (they already operated a fleet of 727-100s)........but my guess is that its the first 727-200 built for TWA on a test flight while the airplane was still with Boeing. The backround and the mountains suggest Seattle, and TWA did not fly to Seattle back then, so it likely is a predelivery flight, my guess is that we are talking about 1967.

As for the color scheme....this livery was introduced by TWA with the jet age...it first appeared on the TW 707s starting in 1959 and continued until the mid 1980s.....elegant, isnt it? Note the twin globe logo, also very classic. The 727-200 was a very popular aircraft.....it served short to medium range routes and carried about 135 to 150 passengers; the 727-200 was the widely used by many carriers; several US airlines operated by type into this century, but most remaining 727-200s were quickly retired after the events of 9/11 and the resulting downturn in airline trafffic; the 727-200 is a 3 engine/3 person cockpit airliner which resulted in high operating costs.

Hope that I helped.

Is the 727 not the most beautiful airliner ever created??

Great find!

Quoting Alitalia744 (Reply 7): Is the 727 not the most beautiful airliner ever created??

No... The 727 IS the most beautiful airliner!

Thanks for all the info. I thought it was a good find too. They also had a TWA 747 photo, but it was rather faded. This particular store had all kinds of TWA stuff laying around. Creve Coeur Antique Mall on Olive rd, in Creve Coeur, MO (suburb of St. Louis) is the place if anyone is nearby and wants some cool stuff. I guess all the TWA people are getting rid of their stuff. Back in the early 90s I used to see a lot of Ozark stuff at antique stores in St. Louis.

I beleive that aircraft is N64319. I say that because AFAIK that was the only TWA B727-200 with StarStream 727 on the engine, inside the white circle.

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Photo © Bob Garrard

Quoting Dutchjet (Reply 6): As for the color scheme....this livery was introduced by TWA with the jet age...it first appeared on the TW 707s starting in 1959 and continued until the mid 1980s

The 'Twin Globes' were LONG gone by the mid 1980's..
Introduced in 1976....

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Photo © Johan Ljungdahl

They last appeared as late as 1983 on some a/c....

Quoting EmSeeEye (Reply 8): No... The 727 IS the most beautiful airliner!

Is that not exactly what I was saying?

Great shot! I miss the TWA & Pan Am Liveries... I would have loved to have seen a TWA livery on a 772 or 773ER!

-Carl

Quoting AirEMS (Reply 14):

I would have loved to see TWA livery on a 772/3 with my butt in the left seat! 

I'll try to scan my only picture of a TWA 727--a -100 with me standing in front of it on the observation deck at IND Weir Cook Airport. I was about 6 at the time. I actually got to jumpseat on that particular airplane (N857TW) before it was turned into beer cans.TC

The Twin Globes WERE NOT introduced in 1959, with the introduction of the 707 and a year later, the 880. The first TW Jets had the same color scheme but WITHOUT THE Twin Globes. The Twin Globes were introduced in about 1961, or 1962 with the introduction of the Starstream (Fan Jet) 707's. The four B-720-051B's, leased from Boeing and later delivered to NW were also delivered with the Twin Globes. All the 727's were delivered in that scheme, except for a few 727-231A's.

You might try poking around the internet or in airliner books for pictures from that same photo shoot, but from different angles- that might reveal the tail number.

.....What about e-mailing Boeing Archives and ask them about the photo ID number. They probably have it on a database, if not in the huge volume's of photo books in the building,,(which the last time I was there, is across the street from the Museum of Flight..)

SJC Alien

My guess is that's the first TWA B727-231 in a photo session by Boeing before delivery. If this is so, then the aircraft is N12301 '4301' 19558/528 del March 8th, 1968 and named Parkie's Flagship.

I would second this as a publicity shot, and therefore N12301. This is an early photo (late 60's/early 70's) as evidenced by the old style target reversers, and no DB Cooper vane on the airstairs.

Quoting Alitalia744 (Reply 13): Is that not exactly what I was saying?

Yes, I was just agreeing with you.

.................And I'd venture a guess, at 99.9% probablility, the mountain is Mt Baker. north, and east of Everett. Mt Rainier looks way diff than that and the sun angle isn't right for the lighting angle.

Alien