Boeing 727

Now, "That was an airplane!"
All my dreams of becoming an "Airline Pilot" came true flying that airplane, as FE, FO and Captain, for American Airlines. I truly wish every pilot could have experienced the same jubilation as I have.

Joel Edwards
777 Captain - American Airlines

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I will remember this aircraft fondly in my final years, and the great fun I had over the skies of Washington State.

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I worked for Boeing, was there at the initial rollout, then my wife and I were beside the runway when it lifted off for the first time. Have flown on the 727 many times, and it has been a great aircraft.

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Once you mastered the secret of making good landings in the 72 it became an absolutely great machine to fly. Hand flying was a pleasure not experienced today. If you hauled boxes instead of pax you could fly it like a sports car and really enjoy the thrill of "owning a Boeing." Three man crew made the cockpit fun and team work excelled in safety.

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I was a pro-F /E on the 72 @ Airlift, National, Pan Am, Delta, Arrow Air & Kiletta with over 18K hrs on the panel. Wonderful airplane, flew about every model Boeing made one time or another.

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The aircraft dimensions noted above are incorrect. Boeing documents list the 727-100 as 133' 2" long and the 727-200 as 153'2" long (3" longer than the 707-320). The wing span was listed at 108' and the height was listed as 34'.
rto ...727 lover since day 1!!!

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Am still flying the 727 for FedEx. Have accumulated a few thousand hours in it and love every minute of it. A "man's" airplane, lacking the modern glass cockpit and still using "round dial" instruments. Very honest and dependable airplane. I plan on flying it for a few more years.

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Hi there, Just a quick note to write that I was a flight attendant on that first EAL 727 flight to Miami 2 /1 /64 and was in the EAL brochure and TV commercial for the "T-Tail". We had so many problems since we actually had to cook the frozen meals - ovens broken, meals frozen in the center - it was a nightmare. Finally they went back to bringing hot meals onboard. Things have sure changed, I think we need to go back to the gracious flight attendant. Any others out there on this flight? Sandy (Neal) Jackson ORD, MIA

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My favorite of all EAL airliners. Before simulators became the training standard, I set the standard that exists today receiving the 727 rating in 10hrs 15 min, including all training. I flew the airplane (225 version)into South America my last seven years with EAL She performed equally well at airports from sea level to 13,500' (La Paz, Bolivia)

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Well, I must say that this aircraft was the workhorse of the fleet of aircraft that Eastern Air Lines owned over the years of its existence. I flew all three seats in this bird from 1967 until I retired out of a strike in 1989, logging over 7000 hours in the aircraft. I had more fun in this bird, especially in the left front Captain's seat for the last 2 & 1 /2 years of my career with Eastern. Sadly to say, Eastern was raped, pilleaged and burned by a truly unfortunate CEO named Frank Lorenzo who owned 54% of Jet Capital, the parent company in control of both Continental and Eastern Air Lines. He was dissatisfied with the machinest union and the pilots union and sacrificed a wonderful family of employees on the altar of greed and for the aggrandizement of Continental. Corporate structure never gave the employee an even break. However, the airline Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker started still lives on in the memory of the Real Eastern Pilot who fought tooth and toenail to keep one of the most productive airlnes in history in operation. Long live Eastern. Call me 404-325-4866 Cell in GA.

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