Passenger airplane "Boeing-727": photos, characteristics, reviews

In the early 60-ies of the last century , the Boeing-727 aircraft took off for the first time. This model became the second and last model of the concern, which received a three-engine layout. The next model - 737 - had an arrangement of engines, which can be seen on almost every modern liner - on pylons under the wings.

The model came in response to requests from carriers for a small economy liner, which could be used on short- and medium-haul flights. However, at first the sales went badly. There was even an opinion among carriers that it is better to buy a used 707 than the new 727. So it continued to a fundamental breakthrough in development. The new model is introduced in 1967. Flight and technical characteristics remain unchanged, with the exception of one parameter. The aircraft, code-named "Boeing-727-200", had a carrying capacity one-third more than the prototype.

Aircraft with three engines

It should be noted that in those years the decision on the three engines in the rear of the fuselage was a standard option for the aircraft industry and Boeing, having abandoned the general canons, was very risky. This variant of the layout was obtained by American planes, at least take the model MD-10 (11), produced by the company McDonnell Douglas. He was also used in the Soviet aviation industry.

"Boeing-727" and "Tu-154" (pictured above) are externally twin brothers. Both have a three-engine layout, all motors are pressed to the rear of the fuselage. The upper one is equipped with an air intake located in front of the keel, the other two are at the sides. Common features can be listed for a long time, but there is one difference. Boeing built its aircraft for the orders of several American airlines, and 727 was used mainly on internal routes. Yes, part of the aircraft was bought by other carriers, but due to certain conditions, basically this aircraft flew only over the States and Alaska.

Description and features

In addition to the location of the engines in the rear, the Boeing-727 boasted some distinctive features that are no longer used in modern aircraft. The brightest were the doors. The first models, produced before 1967, there were only two of them. One - on the left, just behind the cockpit of the pilots. The second position was greatly influenced by future users - airlines. The door was in the rear, under the keel, while it had its own gangway. His removal was controlled by the hydraulics of the aircraft. Such a solution allowed to operate the model in small, underutilized airports.

Since the aircraft was developed, having already specific customers, the second bright innovation was the wings. The companies wanted to be able to use the liner also in small airports with small runways. There was a problem. On the one hand, the optimum engine operation is achieved at high altitude at cruising speed. On the other hand, a short lane prohibits landing at high speed. In order to meet both requirements, the wing must have certain characteristics. The presence of an engine underneath makes it difficult to perform all assigned tasks, as a result of which they were moved to the rear.

The internal layout of the Boeing-727 was standard for the narrow-bodied type. The customer was offered two choices. Or one economy - 6 seats in a row with the number of passengers up to 190, or the number is reduced to 140, but in the plane there will be two classes - business (4 seats in a row) and economy.

Cardinal fracture

A few years after the start of sales, the developer had to change the project. The result was an extension of the fuselage by 6 meters due to the insertion of two blocks of three meters long before and behind the wings. Given that this did not lead to a particularly high maintenance cost, the situation changed, and the Boeing-727 became one of the best-selling aircraft for its time.

Modifications

Before proceeding to the description of the modifications, we note that, in addition to the elongation described above, the aircraft has not undergone much change in its 20-year history. Perhaps the blame for all is that the most commonly used (as it is now called) 737 is released on the market. Perhaps, the moral obsolescence is the fault.

The first generation before processing received the name "Boeing-727-100". Based on this model, released three additional versions:

• F is a pure truck. The difference of this modification was a large (2х3) cargo door in addition to the ones laid down in the basic project.
• With - cargo-and-passenger. With this feature, the ability to quickly reconfigure. The customer himself could remake it either in a purely freight or in an economy.
• QF - This option was not produced serially. It was a standard cargo plane, only equipped with Rolls-Royce engines.

The second generation - version 200 - except for the purely passenger received several additional options:

• F - cargo versions on the basis of 200 were collected only 15 pieces.
• 727-200A - this code was received by the aircraft with the increased range of flight. In addition to increasing the fuel reserve, this model received an enhanced design, more powerful engines with thrust reversers, new equipment. Also, the distinctive feature of all the 200 series aircraft are the additional doors for passengers that are incorporated in the project.

So the line of Boeing-727 aircraft looks like. 800 models of the first generation and more than 1000 - in the version 200A.

Technical data

Let's briefly consider the technical parameters of the aircraft:

• The wingspan is 33 m.
• Area - 157 square meters. M.
• The height (along the tail) is 10.5 m.
• The width of the fuselage is 3.76 m.
• The length is 47 m.
• The cruising speed is 965 km / h.
• The ceiling is 12 2000 m.
• The range of flight is 4020 km (for version 200A).

Separately mention the engines. The agreement with the Rolls-Royce company did not last long. Therefore, all aircraft received three identical engines from the company Pratt and Whitney. First- generation aircraft received one model with a thrust of 14 kN. Machines of the 200th model were given a choice of three options. The engines were produced by the same company, but they had a thrust of up to 17 kN + the ability to operate in several modes.

Using the liner

The development of the aircraft was carried out under the specific orders of American airlines, and most of the planes of the limits of North America did not leave. Nevertheless, in 20 years of production, the Boeing-727 managed to visit all corners of the globe. The plane was bought not only in the US - it worked on the lines of other countries. In the mid-80s, production was completely switched to the 737 model. The last flights were made in the livery of poor airlines in Latin America and Asia.

In his homeland - in the US - he flew on charter flights of one small company until 2008. Then it was declared bankrupt, and planes (in the amount of 16 pieces) were allowed to go into the metal. According to official data, in the same 2008, there were no more than 500 aircraft out of almost 2,000, released in due time. All of them are converted to the F-version and are no longer used for passenger transportation.

Reviews

For the sake of completeness, it is worth writing out a few reviews of those who happened to catch the plane. Note that even at the time of the collapse of the Union, he was still carrying passengers.

In the reviews it is interesting to compare him with his Russian brother, forgetting that there were no new options in the years of production on airplanes. There is an old age of the car, there are comparisons with the usual old "Ikarus". Sometimes there are really amusing comparisons with the "Boeing-737". But although the first 737 also came out in the years of the production of the second generation of the liner described, it was a completely different car, with another salon, a renewed filling, and with a backdrop for a great future.

Despite all these disadvantages, eminent companies engaged in cargo delivery, airplane are satisfied.

Conclusion

We briefly touched on the technical aspects of the Boeing-727 aircraft. The photos presented above resemble the representative of the Soviet aviation industry. Designed in the Tupolev Design Bureau, the liner became almost the twin of an American. But the exterior is far from being everything in aviation. "Boeing-727" was ousted from the sky by new models of the same name concern. The Russian version, having proper care, is still working. Is this not the best indicator of the difference between seemingly similar machines?