Boeing 727

The trijet airliner built for short and medium-haul jet service.

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FedEx 727-233 lifting off. – © Eric Prado

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Overview

Boeing United States ICAO: B727 1962–1984 $22 million (1982)

The Boeing 727 was a three-engine jet airliner developed for short and medium-haul routes. Introduced in the 1960s, it became one of the most successful commercial aircraft of its era. The design allowed operation from shorter runways and secondary airports.

Live Fleet Activity (B727)

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Specifications

Units
Engine
3 × Pratt And Whitney P&W JT8D-7/9/11
Engine type
Turbofan
Thrust
3 × 17,400 lbf · 77 kN
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
189
Crew
—
Cabin width
11 ft 8 in  ·  3.56 m
Cabin height
6 ft 11 in  ·  2.11 m
Cabin length
92 ft 8 in  ·  28.24 m
Exterior length
153 ft 2 in  ·  46.68 m
Tail height
34 ft 11 in  ·  10.65 m
Fuselage diameter
12 ft 4 in  ·  3.76 m
Wing span
108 ft 0 in  ·  32.92 m
Baggage volume
1,519 ft³  ·  43.0 m³
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
209,500 lb  ·  95,000 kg
Max landing weight
161,000 lb  ·  73,000 kg
Max payload
43,300 lb  ·  19,700 kg
Fuel capacity
10,550 gal · 40,000 L · 32,000 kg (Jet A)
Max cruise speed
534 kt  ·  615 mph  ·  989 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
106 kt  ·  122 mph  ·  196 km/h
Range
2,690 nm  ·  3,100 mi  ·  4,980 km
Fuel burn
0.24 nm/gal  ·  0.12 km/L
Ceiling
42,000 ft  ·  12,800 m
Rate of climb
2,500 ft/min  ·  13 m/s
Takeoff distance
5,800 ft  ·  1,770 m
Landing distance
5,100 ft  ·  1,550 m
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Boeing 727-25 of Trump Shuttle at KMIA

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Operational Context

Boeing 727 — three-engine narrow-body jetliner

The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963 and entered service in 1964. It featured a distinctive T-tail and three rear-mounted engines. The aircraft was designed to serve airports with limited infrastructure while offering jet performance.

Powered by three Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofan engines producing approximately 14,000 to 17,000 pounds of thrust (62 to 76 kN) each depending on model, the 727 cruised at around 520 knots (960 km/h). Maximum takeoff weight in later variants exceeded 200,000 pounds (90,700 kg). Seating capacity typically ranged from 100 to 189 passengers.

The 727 became a workhorse for airlines worldwide and remained in production for more than two decades. Its versatility made it popular in passenger and cargo roles. The aircraft played a significant role in expanding jet travel to regional markets.