As a followup to one of yesterday's topics regarding the retirement of TWA's 727's, the last TWA 727 flight was operated today from MSY to STL. Flight 78 departed MSY on time at 1555 local. The flight was operated by N54339 (yes, I caught the historical significance of this aircraft: TWA 847 hijacking). There was not a big to-do about it at MSY. The gate agent noted the occasion, and I had a chance to meet a couple of TWA captains (current and retired) who were non-reving on the flight. The photographer side of me got a couple of pictures during the pushback and departure roll.
I understand that N54339 will offload at STL, then leave for TWA's maintenance base at MCI, where it is supposedly up for sale.
Tom in NO (at MSY)
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TWA 727 Retirement Today
"The criminal ineptitude makes you furious"-Bruce Springsteen, after seeing firsthand the damage from Hurricane Katrina
RE: TWA 727 Retirement Today
Delta still flies 'em and I'll be one Tuesday, KALB to KALB, connecting to a 737-800 from KATL to KGSP.
RE: TWA 727 Retirement Today
Oops, I meant "on one", although wouldn't it be grand if we could "morph" into a 727?
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- Guest
RE: Tom In NO
Just one point - that B727's rego is N64339, not N54339.
I've seen this mistake often, and I'm not sure why - maybe there's a fleet list out somewhere there that has it wrong??
Click for large version
Photo © Richard Silagi
Click for large version
Photo © Roozbeh M. Davoodi
I've seen this mistake often, and I'm not sure why - maybe there's a fleet list out somewhere there that has it wrong??
Photo © Richard Silagi
Photo © Roozbeh M. Davoodi
RE: TWA 727 Retirement Today
TWA flight 78 arrived at Lambert St Louis at approx 5:20 PM local time and did a fly by/missed approach at about 100 feet off the ground. It then climbed up to about 2300ft MSL and did a right hand pattern for runway 12R. As flight 78 turned onto a short 2 mile final a TWE ATR 42 departed and flight 78 was cleared to land. As the plane passed over the viewing area off the end of 12R she we meet with waves and cheers. The pilot made a rather long rollout after landing and turned back towards the gate area. As the plane turned to head into the gate it was meet by two fire trucks and passed under a water arch, although because of the strong winds was more like a shower.
Good bye TWA 727s. You'll be missed.
Good bye TWA 727s. You'll be missed.
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RE: TWA 727 Retirement Today
Anyone get any pictures? I'd love to see the fly-by or water cannon salute.
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- Guest
RE: TWA 727 Retirement Today
The landing of the last 727 flight was covered by at least two of the major tv stations here. KMOV ch 4 and KTVI ch 2 both did excellent reports of the festive ceremony that was held after the planes arrival. The video showed the two fire engines doing the traditional spraying in a arc of water similar to a ocean bound ship. The Post -Dispatch had a good article this morning which also indicated that the plane would rock the wings as it passed the 630 foot Gateway Arch on its final approach to Lambert Airport The tv reports also mentioned that the flightcrews refer to the plane as the PIG since it has a real tendency to wobble on takeoff.The festive atmosphere at the gate indicated that the passengers were served extra servings of champagne but really did not realize that historical status of this flight. The Post article also mentioned this would be the end of the flight engineer position on the flightline for TWA. Most are retiring but others would be trained to fly the B 717 or the MD80/83s.Forty-six of the 63 flight engineers will retire and the 17 others will undergo flight training. TWA has had B-757 since 1996 and now flies 9 of the B-717s with 6 more this year to be put in service. Plans for 50 more 717s are pending.
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- VirginA340
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RE: TWA 727 Retirement Today
I'm just sadned to see them go I just wish they could have delivered every passenger safely like TWA's L-1011 without any passenger fatalities. But unfortionatly it didn't happen. One US Navy diver was shot and killed by a hijacker on a 727-200 during the 1986 hijacking. The other was a bomb planted on another TWA 727-200 in retalitation for the raid in Tripoli, Libya (I think) 4 people including an infant were sucked out of the plane when the device detonated. The last was a 727-200 crash at either IAD or DCA killing alot of passengers in the late 70s. I think pilot error was the case. Can anyone confirm this or has any info on the crash I'm talking about.
"FUIMUS"
RE: TWA 727 Retirement Today
First, salutations again to TWA & the 727. Virgin A340, the incident you refer to was in Nov of 74 as I recall. The flight had originated in IND with a stop at CMH. The plane crashed into Mt.Weather in VA in fog. I am pretty sure it was destined for DCA.
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- MAC_Veteran
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RE: TWA 727 Retirement Today
That's a A LOT of years for the 727 at one carrier! I remember the TWA 727s back when they wore the "Twin Globes" livery, you could still see them in that scheme as late as 1980-ish. That scheme looked quite classy and "Jet Age". Whether it was the 727, 707, L1011, DC-9, 747. It just looked great to me. Last time I saw a TWA 727 was a -31 model at San Antonio Intl, waiting for an AA flight to Newark via DFW. The -31 sported the final twin stripes scheme on it, looked great.
MAC
MAC
RE: TWA 727 Retirement Today
Are we all forgetting the infamous D.B. Cooper? He pulled off an interesting little stunt on a 727.
Tzvika
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RE: TWA 727 Retirement Today
I wonder if he got thrown back up into the bottom of the fuselage under #2 engine, which could have cold-conked him and then he plunged straight down. Chuteless of course. People have found money in various riverbeds and streams in that area of the Pacific Northwest where this occurred, but no human remains. One of the biggest airline hijacking mysteries ever. BTW, Piedmont operated that same airplane years later, I read it was scrapped in the last few years.
MAC
MAC
RE: TWA 727 Retirement Today
Your right MAC_Veteran. Airliners magazine had a whole article about the D.B. Cooper incident about a couple months back. The airline was indeed scrapped, and no longer is with us, sadly. May a novel part of aviation history rest in peace.
Tzvika
Tzvika
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