United1 From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 5337 posts, RR: 8 Reply 2, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 10980 times:
Quoting 727LOVER (Thread starter): Now, I'm only talking about factory delivered aircraft
Well if you are only talking about 727's delivered directly from Boeing:
United 230 (88 721, 38 721C, 29 722 & 75 722A)
American 167
Eastern 163
Delta 116
Keep in mind that allot US airlines augmented their 727 fleet with aircraft from other airlines ie AA got some from BN, DL operated 727s from quite a few other airlines ect..
727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5722 posts, RR: 20 Reply 3, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 10898 times:
type-rated From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 4348 posts, RR: 20 Reply 6, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 10834 times:
DL was kind of late to the 727 game, weren't they? I think I first started seeing DL 727's around 1972 or so when most airlines had them by 1967 or so.
Fly North Central Airlines..The route of the Northliners!
727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5722 posts, RR: 20 Reply 8, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 10795 times:
Quoting United1 (Reply 4): They actually flew quite a few more than that....those were just the ones delivered directly from Boeing.
Well, yeah, the Northeast, Western, Pan Am....etc...just didn't realize they had ordered that many from Boeing.
United1 From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 5337 posts, RR: 8 Reply 9, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 10774 times:
Quoting type-rated (Reply 6): so when most airlines had them by 1967 or so.
United Air Lines: 29th October 1963
Eastern Airlines: 15th November 1963
American Airlines: 17th January 1964
TWA: 21st April 1964
National Airlines: 21st October 1964
Northwest Airlines: 12-Nov-1964
PSA: 06-Apr-1965
Pan Am: 22-Dec-1965
727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5722 posts, RR: 20 Reply 10, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 10748 times:
canoecarrier From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2657 posts, RR: 12 Reply 12, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 10554 times:
Didn't Pan Am get a couple of Ozark's 727s before Ozark ever operated them? Not sure I'd call those second hand since if memory serves me right they never operated a route for Ozark.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16819 posts, RR: 57 Reply 13, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 10490 times:
How big was NW's 727 fleet? I doubt it was over 200, but it seemed pretty large.
4everRC From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 322 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 10411 times:
Quoting United1 (Reply 14): I'm not sure if they took any second hand 727's
I don't know any exact numbers, but NW got some through their acquisition of Republic 1. RC's 727s were a combination of aircraft delivered direct from Boeing and second hand from the merger with Hughes Airwest.
United1 From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 5337 posts, RR: 8 Reply 17, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 10372 times:
Quoting 4everRC (Reply 16): I don't know any exact numbers, but NW got some through their acquisition of Republic 1. RC's 727s were a combination of aircraft delivered direct from Boeing and second hand from the merger with Hughes Airwest.
Forgot about them....if the tool on Boeing site is right that's around 20 frames so NW operated over a hundred at one point.
mayor From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 9187 posts, RR: 14 Reply 18, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 10349 times:
I'm not sure what the total number that we had at DL was, considering the factory fresh ones, the ones from NE, WA and PA and not counting the -95s from NE, but I seem to remember that ship #546 was the 1000th one that was delivered to any airline from Boeing. It seems that there was another milestone 727 that we took delivery of, but not really sure about that.
"A committee is a group of the unprepared, appointed by the unwilling, to do the unnecessary"----Fred Allen
KELPkid From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 5932 posts, RR: 4 Reply 19, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 10315 times:
Quoting type-rated (Reply 6): DL was kind of late to the 727 game, weren't they? I think I first started seeing DL 727's around 1972 or so when most airlines had them by 1967 or so.
And, in true Delta fashion, the last operator of the type in passenger service in the US (well, counting the majors, not guys like Champion Air). They were still flying 727's in the early 2000's
Celebrating the birth of KELPkidJR on August 5, 2009 :-)
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21478 posts, RR: 24 Reply 20, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 10241 times:
Quoting United1 (Reply 17): Quoting 4everRC (Reply 16):
I don't know any exact numbers, but NW got some through their acquisition of Republic 1. RC's 727s were a combination of aircraft delivered direct from Boeing and second hand from the merger with Hughes Airwest.
Forgot about them....if the tool on Boeing site is right that's around 20 frames so NW operated over a hundred at one point.
Republic took delivery of 7 new 722s from Boeing. They also inherited 8 from the merger with Hughes Airwest, plus 3 originally delivered to Ansett Australia and were operated by Wien Air Alaska before going to Republic.
Looks like all 18 of those aircraft went to NW as part of the Republic merger, but NW appears to have leased out the 3 ex-Ansett aircraft and they had many subsequent operators. Not sure if they were ever operated by NW.
NW also acquired 9 ex-Eastern 722s in 1992 after Eastern went bust, and 4 ex-Braniff in 1982-83 after their demise.
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 21, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 10230 times:
How many did AS take and or operate?
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21478 posts, RR: 24 Reply 24, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 10145 times:
Quoting tdscanuck (Reply 23): Quoting AirframeAS (Reply 21):
How many did AS take and or operate?
7
The question was how many did they take and/or operate. While they only took delivery of 7 new 727s directly from Boeing (3 -100C combis and 4 -200s), they operated a total of 57, acquired from a wide variety of other carriers.
zippyjet From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 4724 posts, RR: 13 Reply 25, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 10615 times:
You can say that again. The widget had an aversion to Boeing until they took over Northeast and inherited their "yellow birds" It wasn't really an aversion but their President/CEO had a "gentlemen's agreement" with Douglass/McDonnal Douglass. They considered Lockheed Electras but opted out due to delivery issues. DL actually had their L1011's in service before they got hold of Boeing metal.
cokepopper From United States of America, joined May 2008, 1088 posts, RR: 9 Reply 27, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 10700 times:
Quoting mayor (Reply 18):
I'm not sure what the total number that we had at DL was, considering the factory fresh ones, the ones from NE, WA and PA and not counting the -95s from NE, but I seem to remember that ship #546 was the 1000th one that was delivered to any airline from Boeing. It seems that there was another milestone 727 that we took delivery of, but not really sure about that.
Don't forget Delta also received some 727''s from EA around '91
mayor From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 9187 posts, RR: 14 Reply 28, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 10733 times:
Quoting zippyjet (Reply 25): DL actually had their L1011's in service before they got hold of Boeing metal.
Actually, they didn't........DL started service with the 747 in 1970 and we were flying 727s, both -95s and -295s from NE in 1972, but didn't start flying the Tristars until about '73.
And while they were predominantly a "Douglas" user, they also used Convair 340s/440s before they were replaced by the DC-9s.....they also used Lockheed 10 Electras in the 30s as well as Connies in the 50s. When DL really started buying Douglas products, in the 40s, Boeing really didn't have a good competitor for the DC-3 and really didn't have the extensive product offerings that Douglas did, until the jet age. By the time jets came along, DL had a pretty good fleet of Douglas products and liked them, pretty well. What DL bought from Douglas, fit their route structure pretty well, until the NE merger when the route system started to expland.
[Edited 2012-09-28 15:18:07]
"A committee is a group of the unprepared, appointed by the unwilling, to do the unnecessary"----Fred Allen
DL_Mech From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 1761 posts, RR: 10 Reply 32, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 10519 times:
Quoting mayor (Reply 18): I seem to remember that ship #546 was the 1000th one that was delivered to any airline from Boeing. It seems that there was another milestone 727 that we took delivery of, but not really sure about that.
546 was the final factory delivery......474 was the "1000th." In 2000, we used the wingtip of 474 to repair this plane:
JohnJ From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 1620 posts, RR: 3 Reply 38, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 10179 times:
Ah, understood. Thanks for the clarification. I remember the DL 727s well; I flew them frequently SFO-DFW back when I was commuting between SFO and FLL. Interestingy, the SFO-DFW leg always seemed to be a 72, while we generally got a bigger plane (usually a 762) between DFW and FLL. The best was having a compressor stall on departure from SFO, other than the loud bang everything proceeded normally on the takeoff.
737-990 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 364 posts, RR: 1 Reply 39, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 10039 times:
On the international side I remember Mexicana used to boast they had the largest 727 fleet outside of the United States. Looking at the Boeing site I count 39 727s ordered and delivered (4 727-100s and 35 727-200s). Now maybe by the early 90s that might have been the case but I see Lufthansa had 53 727s delivered. Of note Air Canada had 39 and Iberia 37, both only ordered the 727-200.
So outside the US the largest were:
Lufthansa - 53 (16 -100s, 11 -100Cs, 26 -200s)
Air Canada - 39 (All -200s)
Mexicana - 39 (4 -100s, 35 -200s)
Iberia - 37 (All -200s)
spartanmjf From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 464 posts, RR: 0 Reply 40, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 9914 times:
I am being dense on this one - more dense than normal - how would FedEx stack up?
DL_Mech From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 1761 posts, RR: 10 Reply 43, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 9901 times:
Quoting mayor (Reply 42): I doubt that any of the 727s that FedEx had were new, but used and converted to freighters.
Oddly enough, the first factory produced 727-200Fs were the only factory delivered 727s to FX and the last 727s off the line. I've seen one up close, they look odd without any plugged windows.
It's not going to the Moon.....It's just going to California
n901wa From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 382 posts, RR: 0 Reply 45, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 9900 times:
I forget, but didn't Delta also get some ExEAL 727-200adv during the fire sale that got us the L-1011s. I could have sworn the EAL 727 had the 3 step fuel lever, with enrich. while the rest of the fleet had 2 pos fuel lever. Or maybe they were the ExPAA German fleet 727s. Its been a long time
When I was a kid, I remember my dad showing me the Mexicana 727 that had the JATO attach points, in the Western Hangar.
zippyjet From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 4724 posts, RR: 13 Reply 46, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 9898 times:
Connies in the 50's? Never could find a picture of a DL Conny. I believe I learned from A-Net that DL was going to lease or buy used Connies from Pan Am but, they were so roached out (worn) that DL never put them in revenue service hence the literal non-existance of pictures. However if I'm wrong please correct me and post pictures.
DL_Mech From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 1761 posts, RR: 10 Reply 47, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 9871 times:
Quoting n901wa (Reply 45): I forget, but didn't Delta also get some ExEAL 727-200adv during the fire sale that got us the L-1011s. I could have sworn the EAL 727 had the 3 step fuel lever, with enrich. while the rest of the fleet had 2 pos fuel lever.
Yes, the -225s had the three position start lever and a different fire warning system (Systron Donner?).
The real oddball was the DL shuttle -243 with nosewheel brakes and composite hard panels (non velcro) in the airstair area.
It's not going to the Moon.....It's just going to California
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6203 posts, RR: 43 Reply 48, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 9776 times:
Tomassjc From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 657 posts, RR: 1 Reply 49, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 9732 times:
Quoting 737-990 (Reply 39): On the international side I remember Mexicana used to boast they had the largest 727 fleet outside of the United States. Looking at the Boeing site I count 39 727s ordered and delivered (4 727-100s and 35 727-200s).
I seem to recall when I worked for MX that they flew around 50 727-200s, including the leased birds, at one point in the mid to late 80s.
I remember 4 examples that came from EA, with brown tray tables and built in forward air stairs, an ex VASP bird as well as two that came from LACSA and one from Aerolineas Argentinas.... just to name a few of the "oddballs" in the fleet.
I dearly miss the 727-200. I did weight and balance on them for 20 years. Load it up, max it out, and it would fly!
Tomas SJC
When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth with your eyes turned skyward -Leonardo DaVinci
burnsie28 From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 7411 posts, RR: 9 Reply 50, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 9601 times:
Quoting KELPkid (Reply 19): And, in true Delta fashion, the last operator of the type in passenger service in the US (well, counting the majors, not guys like Champion Air). They were still flying 727's in the early 2000's
Are you talking normal passenger service? NW flew charter flights on the 727 until late 2003, the last "normal" flight though was January 7, 2003, DEN-MSP NW Flight 560
"Some People Just Know How To Fly"- Best slogan ever, RIP NW 1926-2009
n901wa From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 382 posts, RR: 0 Reply 51, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 9520 times:
Thanks fellow DL_Mech I thought we had sme 225s. I forgot about the shuttle 727 with the nose brakes. Never got to change one with brakes.
zippyjet some info for you on your Connie quest. Delta did fly the short Connies. they got 6 L-649a from the Chicago and Southern Merger, and sold off in 1954-55 ( 1 even worked its way to Western Airlines thru the Pacific Northern Merger, and flew untill Dec 1968 ), and they bought 4 L-049s from PAA in 1956 and sold in 1958. I do have pictures I wish I could share, but they are Delta Pictures, so I can't post them, Very sorry. Here's a link to Delta's write up in the Museum
bigbird From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 147 posts, RR: 0 Reply 52, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 9336 times:
Even though Fed Ex did not start operating 727s until the early 70s and only received 15 newly delivered directly from Boeing I think that they will have operated the type longer than any other by the time the last one is WFU.
mayor From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 9187 posts, RR: 14 Reply 53, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 9106 times:
Quoting zippyjet (Reply 46):
Connies in the 50's? Never could find a picture of a DL Conny. I believe I learned from A-Net that DL was going to lease or buy used Connies from Pan Am but, they were so roached out (worn) that DL never put them in revenue service hence the literal non-existance of pictures. However if I'm wrong please correct me and post pictures.
DL got Connies from Chicago & Southern when they merged in '53. DL also had 4 that they bought from PA and operated from '56 until '58 and were sold to American Flyers in '60. I don't have any photos available, but my reply #30, will show a chart from the Delta Heritage Museum website that shows that DL did, indeed have Connies.
There are some photos and drawings in the book "Delta, The Illustrated History of an Airline and the People Who Made It" by the late R.E.G. Davies.
Quoting DL_Mech (Reply 47):
The real oddball was the DL shuttle -243 with nosewheel brakes and composite hard panels (non velcro) in the airstair area.
Were these ex-EA or ex-PA birds? I know we had -247s from WA and -295s from NE.
Quoting DL_Mech (Reply 32): Quoting mayor (Reply 18):
I seem to remember that ship #546 was the 1000th one that was delivered to any airline from Boeing. It seems that there was another milestone 727 that we took delivery of, but not really sure about that.
546 was the final factory delivery......474 was the "1000th."
Here's what I was referring to.....this came from the Museum website, too......these are notable 727s that were in DL's fleet.....
"500th 727 produced by Boeing (delivered to Northeast).
1,000th 727 produced by Boeing, January 1974."
Quoting burnsie28 (Reply 50):
Are you talking normal passenger service? NW flew charter flights on the 727 until late 2003, the last "normal" flight though was January 7, 2003, DEN-MSP NW Flight 560
DL's last "normal" 727 flight was on April 6, 2003. Not sure about charters past that time.
Quoting n901wa (Reply 45): Or maybe they were the ExPAA German fleet 727s. Its been a long time
I was pretty sure that DL swapped the PA 727s that were used on the Shuttle, with some EA ones and then the ex-PA ones were sent to Europe.
Found some DL Connie pics.....
[Edited 2012-09-28 20:36:58]
"A committee is a group of the unprepared, appointed by the unwilling, to do the unnecessary"----Fred Allen
American 767 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3321 posts, RR: 14 Reply 54, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 9070 times:
You are forgetting Air France. Air France was a major 727 operator in Europe, during the 70s and 80s. Air France flew the 727 from the late 60s until the early 90s when the A320 replaced it. However, they never flew any 100s. They flew only 200s. If we talk about major non US operators of the 727, Air France definitely has to be mentioned.
Ben Soriano
"Aimer jusqu'a l'impossible, c'est possible". Tina Arena.
zippyjet From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 4724 posts, RR: 13 Reply 55, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 8810 times:
Thank you both for the info I'll check out the DL site when I get to my computer. I totally forgot about C & S. When I think of C & S I think of old beater DC 3 and DC 4's.
What routes did DL fly their Connies? Both the Pan Am sloppy seconds and the old C & S birds? I'd guess they did routes such as MIA-ATL-MDW back in the day of the propliner era. And can you confirm or challenge the idea that the Connies procurred from Pan Am were very well worn and saw limited DL service?
Deltal1011man From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 8581 posts, RR: 8 Reply 56, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 8792 times:
Quoting mayor (Reply 30): McDonnell Douglas MD-11 Jet 1991-2005
McDonnell Douglas MD-88 Jet 1987-present
just a note.
Delta's first 8X aircraft were 82s, later converted to 88s. IIRC it was 901-908.
"Oh look at the sUGAr falling out of the sky! Look at the sUGAr falling out of the sky!" LM 1922-2011 Go Dawgs! G.A.T.A.
Deltal1011man From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 8581 posts, RR: 8 Reply 58, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 8694 times:
Quoting mayor (Reply 53): DL's last "normal" 727 flight was on April 6, 2003. Not sure about charters past that time.
I think they were done flying for Delta after that flight (minus the flight to the junk yard) I don't think Delta kept any around for anything though.
"Oh look at the sUGAr falling out of the sky! Look at the sUGAr falling out of the sky!" LM 1922-2011 Go Dawgs! G.A.T.A.
mayor From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 9187 posts, RR: 14 Reply 59, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 8676 times:
Quoting zippyjet (Reply 55):
What routes did DL fly their Connies? Both the Pan Am sloppy seconds and the old C & S birds? I'd guess they did routes such as MIA-ATL-MDW back in the day of the propliner era. And can you confirm or challenge the idea that the Connies procurred from Pan Am were very well worn and saw limited DL service?
Looks like DL procured their Connies mostly to fly from Florida to New York. The book does not indicate that they were well worn and saw limited service. They were used for about 2 years. C&S used theirs, eventually from Detroit and Chicago, via MSY, to the Caribbean. I'm guessing that DL continued this service after the merger.
"A committee is a group of the unprepared, appointed by the unwilling, to do the unnecessary"----Fred Allen
FlyMKG From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 175 posts, RR: 1 Reply 60, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 8639 times:
Quoting DL_Mech (Reply 43): Oddly enough, the first factory produced 727-200Fs were the only factory delivered 727s to FX and the last 727s off the line. I've seen one up close, they look odd without any plugged windows.
The FedEx 722Fs still have all the windows plugged. They are however missing both aft service doors and the forward service door. The only traditional doors are the L1 door and the aft airstairs. They also still have all four overwing emergency exits. Quite a few freighter conversions deactivate two of these emergency exits.
zippyjet From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 4724 posts, RR: 13 Reply 61, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 8389 times:
Quoting mayor (Reply 59): Looks like DL procured their Connies mostly to fly from Florida to New York. The book does not indicate that they were well worn and saw limited service.
Thank you for the information. However, I thought DL didn't have "CAB" approval to fly the lucrative New York-Miami route. I thought that route was served by Eastern, National and Northeast.
mayor From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 9187 posts, RR: 14 Reply 62, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 8305 times:
Quoting zippyjet (Reply 61): However, I thought DL didn't have "CAB" approval to fly the lucrative New York-Miami route. I thought that route was served by Eastern, National and Northeast.
Sorry.......I should have said that they procured those Connies from PA to run from the "south" to New York
"A committee is a group of the unprepared, appointed by the unwilling, to do the unnecessary"----Fred Allen
FX1816 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 1400 posts, RR: 5 Reply 63, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 8155 times:
Quoting United1 (Reply 11): Allegheny just took a couple direct from Boeing...the rest were second hand or acquired via their mergers with PSA and Piedmont.
Although USAir did operate former PSA 727's they actually acquired them via Piedmont and not the merger with PSA, the 727's were gone from PSA before then.
Quoting bigbird (Reply 52): Even though Fed Ex did not start operating 727s until the early 70s and only received 15 newly delivered directly from Boeing I think that they will have operated the type longer than any other by the time the last one is WFU.
Well FDX didn't acquire 721's until 1977/78 but you are probably right, when they retire them by 2015 they will probably have operated 727's just about as long or longer than anyone else.
DL_Mech From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 1761 posts, RR: 10 Reply 64, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 7415 times:
Quoting mayor (Reply 53): Were these ex-EA or ex-PA birds? I know we had -247s from WA and -295s from NE.
Ex PA shuttle aircraft, but leased from CO.
Quoting mayor (Reply 53): DL's last "normal" 727 flight was on April 6, 2003. Not sure about charters past that time.
Part of the reason for the DL 727 retirement was the deadline for installation of the hardened cockpit door. A couple of them squeeked out of ATL just before the deadline.......
Quoting FlyMKG (Reply 60): The FedEx 722Fs still have all the windows plugged. They are however missing both aft service doors and the forward service door. The only traditional doors are the L1 door and the aft airstairs. They also still have all four overwing emergency exits.
The -2S2s were never built with pax window frames to plug, so technically they aren't plugged.....unlike the -233s, -247s etc.
It's not going to the Moon.....It's just going to California
DL_Mech From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 1761 posts, RR: 10 Reply 65, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 7330 times:
Quoting FX1816 (Reply 63): Well FDX didn't acquire 721's until 1977/78 but you are probably right, when they retire them by 2015 they will probably have operated 727's just about as long or longer than anyone else.
If FX flies them until 2015, then they will beat UA by about a year.
UA 1964-2001
FX 1977-2015?
It's not going to the Moon.....It's just going to California
727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5722 posts, RR: 20 Reply 71, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 3646 times:
Thanx for all the answers, guys. Glad to see so many still love the 727.
Someone was asking about NW. I dont know about the -100, but NW had 57 -251s
DL The oddball aircraft I always wondered about was N831L. Where did that one come from?
type-rated From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 4348 posts, RR: 20 Reply 72, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 3637 times:
And NW had the 727 years before the RC merger/buyout. I first saw my first NW 727 in 1969.
Fly North Central Airlines..The route of the Northliners!
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21478 posts, RR: 24 Reply 74, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 3597 times:
Quoting IMissPiedmont (Reply 48): PA did indeed take the 2 727s that Ozark ordered direct from Boeing. At least one was painted in full Ozark colors and it looked good.
AF was the first non-US carrier to order and operate the 727-200, and only the 4th customer after Northeast, American, National and Continental. I think my first flight on a 727-200 was on AF LHR-ORY in April 1970
zippyjet From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 4724 posts, RR: 13 Reply 75, posted (7 months 3 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 3261 times:
I really appreciated the 727. Especially since I didn't get to fly again until 15 years later. The Reagan 80's were a looong decade for me. My last two flights were Eastern 727's May 30, 1980 and June 6 1980. BWI-MIA Eastern flight 173 and my last flight for 15 long years Eastern flight 172 MIA-BWI. I never thought by the time I became an FL crewmember the 727 would be in the end of it's twilight.
milesrich From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 1855 posts, RR: 7 Reply 77, posted (7 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2398 times:
Quoting zippyjet (Reply 61): Quoting mayor (Reply 59):
Looks like DL procured their Connies mostly to fly from Florida to New York. The book does not indicate that they were well worn and saw limited service.
Thank you for the information. However, I thought DL didn't have "CAB" approval to fly the lucrative New York-Miami route. I thought that route was served by Eastern, National and Northeast.
DL had Connies twice, the L-649's upgraded to 749's from C&S that were sold to TW and leased to PNA in 1954 as the DC-7's were delivered and four ex-PA L-049's that were purchased when the New York/PHL/BAL/DCA route from ATL was awarded in 1956. They were upgraded to L-149's and then were grounded two years later. It took another two years to "sell" them to American Flyers Airlines, Reed Pigman's Supplemental. DL did not have Northeast Mid Atlantic routes to Florida until they bought NE in 1972.
EA, NA, and NE did have a oligopoly on those routes.
skymiler From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 469 posts, RR: 0 Reply 78, posted (7 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2393 times:
Quoting mayor (Reply 18): but I seem to remember that ship #546 was the 1000th one that was delivered to any airline from Boeing. It
I flew on this ship several times -- not only was there an annotation painted on the fuselage, but there was a small plaque on the wall at the boarding door.
Wonder if anybody saved the plaque when she was retired?
mayor From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 9187 posts, RR: 14 Reply 79, posted (7 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 2235 times:
Quoting skymiler (Reply 78):
I flew on this ship several times -- not only was there an annotation painted on the fuselage, but there was a small plaque on the wall at the boarding door.
Wonder if anybody saved the plaque when she was retired?
I can't remember but I wonder if ship #474, the actual 1000th 727 delivered, had a plaque, also?
"A committee is a group of the unprepared, appointed by the unwilling, to do the unnecessary"----Fred Allen
Flyingsottsman From Australia, joined Oct 2010, 396 posts, RR: 0 Reply 80, posted (7 months 3 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 2122 times:
Quoting American 767 (Reply 54): You are forgetting Air France. Air France was a major 727 operator in Europe, during the 70s and 80s. Air France flew the 727 from the late 60s until the early 90s when the A320 replaced it. However, they never flew any 100s. They flew only 200s. If we talk about major non US operators of the 727, Air France definitely has to be mentioned.
Ben Soriano
What about Lufthansa didnt they have quite a few 727s aswell, if you are going to include European airlines.
skymiler From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 469 posts, RR: 0 Reply 81, posted (7 months 3 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 2094 times:
Quoting mayor (Reply 79): I can't remember but I wonder if ship #474, the actual 1000th 727 delivered, had a plaque, also?
Yes, indeed, just inside the boarding door.
I caught this ship several times -- in fact I remember making a last minute flight switch from AA to DL one Saturday morning in the mid 70's (before deregulation days so one could change tickets/carriers on a whim!!) when travelling BDL -> PHL.
I spotted the ship's # and realised what was at the gate and wanted simply to say I flew the 1,000th!.
BoeingGuy From United States of America, joined Dec 2010, 2307 posts, RR: 7 Reply 83, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 1808 times:
Quoting FX1816 (Reply 63): Although USAir did operate former PSA 727's they actually acquired them via Piedmont and not the merger with PSA, the 727's were gone from PSA before then.
Yep, PSA phased our their 727s by 1984 and the ill-fated US gutting of PSA was in 1988. I believe PSA was one of the first, if not the first, airlines to phase out their 727 fleet in favor of more fuel efficient models (Bae146 and MD-80s).
type-rated From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 4348 posts, RR: 20 Reply 84, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 1754 times:
Quoting skymiler (Reply 81): ne Saturday morning in the mid 70's (before deregulation days so one could change tickets/carriers on a whim!!)
Those were the days, weren't they? Day coach tickets became night first class, you could take almost any indirect routing you wanted to as long as your destination remained the same. I picked up a lot of airlines and aircraft types like that in my early years.
Fly North Central Airlines..The route of the Northliners!
skycub From United States of America, joined Apr 2012, 276 posts, RR: 1 Reply 85, posted (7 months 3 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1676 times:
A few notes (some of which may have already been mentioned) about final 727 flights....
Northwest Airlines
Final scheduled flight: Flight 560 Denver-Minneapolis on January 7, 2003.
Delta Air Lines
Final scheduled flight: Greensboro-Atlanta on April 6, 2003. Aircraft N283WA.
American Airlines:
Final scheduled flight: Flight 765 Tampa-Miami on April 30, 2002.
Continental Airlines
Final scheduled flight: Denver-Houston Intercontinental on November 28, 1999. Aircraft N572PE.
Trans World Airlines
Final scheduled flight: New Orleans-Saint Louis on September 30, 2000. Aircraft N64339. (This was also the aircraft involved in the 1985 hijacking of TWA flight 847.)
United Airlines:
Final scheduled flight: Denver to Oakland on October 30, 2001. Aircraft N7449U.
USAir (Mainline)
Final scheduled flight: August 30, 1995.
USAir (Shuttle)
Final scheduled flight: October 20, 2000.
My opinions are my own. They are not representative of my employer, my union or my co-workers. They are all mine.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21478 posts, RR: 24 Reply 86, posted (7 months 3 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1650 times:
Quoting skycub (Reply 85): Trans World Airlines
Final scheduled flight: New Orleans-Saint Louis on September 30, 2000. Aircraft N64339. (This was also the aircraft involved in the 1985 hijacking of TWA flight 847.)
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