RoseFlyer From United States, joined Feb 2004, 5321 posts, RR: 17 Posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 5754 times:
Congratulations on 26 years from the 757. The plane today celebrates its 25th year in the sky. Its first flight was September 26th 1981 and entered service exactly one year later with United Airlines. The 767 which was developed alongside the 757 was the first to fly. The two were launched in 1978.
The 767 was conceived as a replacement for Boeing's commercial first jet. The 707 pioneered the jet age, but it needed replacement after over 20 years in service. The 767 had an increased range and slight increase in capacity. It was initially offered as a lower capacity 767-100 and the 767-200. The 767-200 was the only one developed as first as it was better received by the airlines. The 767 offered roughly 20% increase in effeciency over the airplane it replaced. It pioneered many new technologies and proved to be successful. It was a smaller generation of widebodies compared to the larger trijets and the 747. However it soon became the most common aircraft used on the busy Transatlantic sector and was especially popular with passengers since it features a very comfortable seven abreast layout (although on occasions it has been configured at 8 abreast), which minimizes middle seats. The biggest development of the plane was its use of ETOPS. Previously twin jets had been restricted on overwater operations, but the 767 changed that.
The 767 has had a long successful lifespan. The 767-300 was announced during the testing phase of the 767-200. The 767-300ER, which became the best selling type first flew in 1986 and became even more popular. The 767-300ER is still in production today. Late in the production cycle came the 767-400ER for the specific needs of Delta and Continental.
The 787 is currently being developed as a replacement. But the 767 has enjoyed years of successful service and is one of the safest jets ever to fly. Congratulations to all of the engineers that designed such a successful plane, and further contratulations to everyone who has worked on operating them safely.
Captaink From United States, joined May 2001, 3867 posts, RR: 9 Reply 3, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 5645 times:
I never really put much thought into how old the 767s are. BUt wow.. they are old. Good see that it is still in production and flying elagantly with numerous carriers
KrisYYZ From Canada, joined Nov 2004, 1035 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 5579 times:
It will be a long time before any twin engine aircraft can even come close to the reputation of the 767, for it has forever changed transatlantic travel.
First one was delivered to United Airlines in August 1982 at the United Airlines maintenance base in San Francisco. I first flew on one in November 1982, ORD-SFO. Remember the flight to this day, and that "new plane smell" LOL.
All of UA's 767-200s have now left the fleet, sadly.
KSUpilot From United States, joined Jul 2006, 656 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 5233 times:
I believe I've flown on a 767 once when I was a kid. I just can't remember where to, but it had to be CO. All I can remember was that we were flying domestic and I was in the center seat of the center group of seats. So that would have to make it a 767-200. (I don't there are many -400s on domestic routes)
RoseFlyer From United States, joined Feb 2004, 5321 posts, RR: 17 Reply 13, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 5095 times:
Quoting KSUpilot (Reply 12): I believe I've flown on a 767 once when I was a kid. I just can't remember where to, but it had to be CO. All I can remember was that we were flying domestic and I was in the center seat of the center group of seats. So that would have to make it a 767-200. (I don't there are many -400s on domestic routes)
Continental has pretty much the newest 767 fleet. The plane was a late entry in to their fleet. They first ordered them in 1998 if I remember correctly, so if you were just a kid, you might have flown some other airline. Delta has flown 767s domestically for many years. The have a huge 767 fleet.
PM From Japan, joined Feb 2005, 4640 posts, RR: 50 Reply 14, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 5058 times:
20.03.89 LGW CLT Piedmont PI1161 767-200ER GE N650US
17.04.89 CLT LGW Piedmont PI1160 767-200ER GE N646US
12.02.95 ATL MIA Delta DL373 767-300 GE N139DL
08.08.95 KIX AKL Air New Zealand NZ032 767-300ER GE ZK-NCH
26.03.97 BOS CLT USAir US817 767-200ER GE N654US
01.08.97 ATL ZRH Delta DL66 767-300ER PW N183DN
20.12.98 MUC ATL Delta DL131 767-300ER PW N188DN
02.08.99 ZRH ATL Delta DL67 767-300ER PW N175DN
04.12.00 MEL SYD Ansett AN18 767-200 GE VH-RMG
01.02.02 DAR AMS KLM KL571 767-300ER GE PH-BZE
26.02.02 AMS DAR KLM KL571 767-300ER GE PH-BZM
28.09.03 DAR LHR British Airways BA046 767-300ER RR G-BNWV
06.10.03 LHR DAR British Airways BA047 767-300ER RR G-BNWN
04.03.05 NBO BOM Kenya Airways KQ200 767-300ER GE 5Y-KQW
10.03.05 BOM NBO Kenya Airways KQ201 767-300ER GE 5Y-KQV
I just checked. Fifteen 767 flights in 17 years. It has never been my favourite plane from the outside (it's bland, anonymous) but I've always enjoyed my flights on 767s (except for a very disappointing experience in KLM Business Class) and Munich-Atlanta on Delta (also in C) was one of my best flights ever.
With all due respect to the even older A300, it was really the 767 that brought in the age of long-haul flights on twins. Quite a classic, I'd say.
Steeler83 From United States, joined Feb 2006, 6319 posts, RR: 11 Reply 16, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 5029 times:
Quoting PM (Reply 14): With all due respect to the even older A300, it was really the 767 that brought in the age of long-haul flights on twins. Quite a classic, I'd say.
I take it the A300, first flown in 1972, was not as popular as the 767 has become? Was that bird more successful as a freighter? I see more A300s used by cargo airlines, i.e: UPS. AA has some pax A300s tho...
PM From Japan, joined Feb 2005, 4640 posts, RR: 50 Reply 17, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 5017 times:
Quoting Steeler83 (Reply 16): I take it the A300, first flown in 1972, was not as popular as the 767 has become?
They weren't really designed to do the same job. The original A300 was a short to medium-range airliner. The 767, from the start, was designed to include long-range models and that is where it has really succeeded. Airbus attempted to catch up with the A310 and the A300-600 but they were never really in the same league. On the other hand, outside the USA, the A300 was the more popular short-haul people mover.
Overall, the 767 has outsold the combined A300/A310 total but not by a huge amount. Honours are pretty evem I'd say. Especially considering that the A300 was Airbus's first model and they had to create a market presence that Boeing already had.
Steeler83 From United States, joined Feb 2006, 6319 posts, RR: 11 Reply 18, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 4992 times:
Quoting PM (Reply 17): They weren't really designed to do the same job. The original A300 was a short to medium-range airliner.
Not to mention, high-density short-to-medium range routes. Wasn't the plane designed to carry 220-260 pax some 2,000 miles or so?
Quoting PM (Reply 17): The 767, from the start, was designed to include long-range models and that is where it has really succeeded. Airbus attempted to catch up with the A310 and the A300-600 but they were never really in the same league.
Yeah, I never even heard of the A310 program until I read about it in an aviation book I received when I was about 10 or 11.
Quoting PM (Reply 17): Overall, the 767 has outsold the combined A300/A310 total but not by a huge amount. Honours are pretty evem I'd say. Especially considering that the A300 was Airbus's first model and they had to create a market presence that Boeing already had.
So I take it Airbus came about in the late 1960s (at least in the commercial aviation sector) with the launch of their A300 program - ballpark year 1968 or so? Boeing had already become well-established at that point with their successful 707 and 727 programs. The 737 was just getting started after first delivery to Lufthansa, and the 747 was about to have its first flight, before delivery to PanAm in 1970 I believe.
The way it appears, Airbus really hit the jackpot with the A320 program in the 1980s, while its widebodies didn't sell as well as the Boeing widebodies. Am I logical in this assumption, or is this a bunch of rubbish?
AC773 From Canada, joined Nov 2005, 1730 posts, RR: 5 Reply 19, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 4954 times:
Happy Birthday 767! Just last week I unearthed a few pictures I'd taken on the flight deck of a CP 763 in the early 90's. Mind you, this was back in the day when you could actually visit the cockpit inflight.
I must say, I never found the 767 all that spectacular until I looked back on the impact it had during the past 25 years. Along with the 757, it was nothing short of revolutionary. It's had a good history, and will have a good future. Rest assured, this bird will continue to serve well into the 21st century.
Better to be nouveau than never to have been riche at all.
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