The First Boeing 727 Prepares for its Last Flight

Brings back many great memories. I flew this airplane at United

Vole en este avión. Fué una maravilla y no se porqué Boeing lo dejo de fabricar. Podria seguir en servicio en lugar del 737.

It kinda looks like Boeing would step in with something, in light of all the bad press they've gotten over the last few months.

I viewed this 727 about 15 years ago during a tour of the Restoration Center....I personally felt it would never fly again. Hope Boeing can find some hangar space for the B747, Concorde, and AF One that are ouside at BFI now.

It was good of United Airlines to donate this airplane back to Boeing in the early 1990s. One of the few things United actually did right.

Ok so which was the E2? Thought it was the first as it was a flight test AC for years and never saw any airline service to my knowledge.
While in school by BFI drove by there many times, saw the marks on the -80 from the 727 engine pod they had mounted on the rear fuse of it.
While working at BFI used to see three of the company AC shooting touch and goes testing something quite often.

Fantastic Article... Thanks for sharing.

I love this! My Dad flew that airplane at United when she was shiny and new!

Related story: http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/volunteers-prep-first-727-for-one-last-flight/

Wonderful that this bird still exists and will ultimately find its final resting place at its birthplace in Seattle. My first ever airliner flight was in a 727-100 of Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) in 1965. It was followed by dozens more in both 100s and 200s.....those were the days of REAL aircraft as distinct from the plastic fantastics of today...haha

So cool that the first ever 727 was tested then sold to an airline for use.
In comparison I think 5 787's were tested and never sold at all, I think all donated at this point.

My best congratulations to the crew is working on the restoration of the one of the best airplane build by Boeing B727-100/200 and fortunately I was able to fly many times for years in those planes.

Sadly a OEM comes up with a design that is a trial; sampled and proved to be a good investment and so, comes the expanded model - the 200). Ansett and TAA bought them and Australia's first insight to the real jet age on the domestic tracks. One model own by an unknown company. Left Perth for Sydney if not Melbourne and unknowingly, broke a speed distance record. The 27 was a design that happened during start of the peak that led to the change of Aviation from American Manufacturers. For years the Flight Engineers, ATP exams were based on the 27 systems. The FAA and Kings Schools, also used that design for the FE Exams. Now with newer electronic equipped Aeros, the pilots of to-day have been scripted away from the value such a design, that excited flight crews and pax who worked with it each day. Even the Russian's copied the design, or I wonder if Boing offered advice. In short, the design created an energy withinAviation and to keep that energy alive, the 27 Aero should be given more attention than a final ride. (Why not used as a fund raiser ride whenever something import needs to have public funds donated).

After putting all the work into getting this aircraft Flight Worthy. Why not make it a Flying Museum. And allow it to tour World Wide as a symbol of the United States Aviation Business.