The Boeing 727 – ‘Three-holer’
The Boeing 727 was very successful within the Americas but less so in Europe. Many main carriers which had used Caravelles seem to have chosen the 727 as a mainstay fleet type. It wasn’t used greatly by IT charter airlines either although there are some notable exceptions like Dan-Air London and Sterling. Dan-Air London replaced its aging Comet fleet with 727-100 jets and I believe this was the first time the 727 had appeared on the British register.
Possibly the main carriers that used the 727 extensively were Air France and Lufthansa. Lufthansa was the first 727 user in Europe I believe when it replaced its Viscounts with Boeing 727-80 jets – a far-looking policy possibly based in part on its experiences with its 707 fleet (which was also an early Boeing order). SABENA was another early operator of the early model 727 and along with Lufthansa these early 727s were seen around Europe from 1967. SABENA slowly replaced its Caravelle fleet with the 727-100.
EARLY SERIES JETS… (Series 20 to 100)
Pan Am 727-21
TAP Air Portugal 727-100 was the replacement for TAP’s Caravelles
Dan-Air London 727-100 – the early model 727 had typically smokey engines
Icelandair 727-100 – Iceair introduced a single 727-100 to replace its DC-6 services to London
SERIES 200 ADVANCED JETS…
Air Charter International 727-200 at Orly. ACI used Caravelles until the early 1980s
Air Algerie 727-200 was also a Caravelle replacement aircraft for Air Algerie
Air France 727-200 – Air France introduced a large fleet of advanced 727s which flew alongside its large Caravelle fleet until the late 1970s…
TAP Air Portugal 727-200 – The advanced 727 model slowly replaced its older model 727s.
Alitalia 727-200 – this airline replaced it large Caravelle fleet with DC-9s and a smaller fleet of 727-200 jets. Alitalia is one of my favorite 727 liveries
Aviogenex 727-200 – one of the charter airlines that used the 727 along with the DC9 (replacing Tu-134 jets)
Dan-Air London 727-200 – The classic British Charter airline used a number of types when re-equipping after the large Comet 4 fleet, including 727 models, 737-200, HS-146 and Boeing 707… Dan-Air always purchased its fleets from other airlines like BEA and BOAC. They also used the Avro York, Airspeed Ambassador and DC-3. A classic British airline…
By: tenthije - 8th June 2011 at 20:51
The 727 is my favourite plane. I love the looks of it! Unfortunately when I started spotting only a handfull where left in Europe. Next to the two below I’ve got a few prints of cargo 727s operated by/for DHL, but I don´t have a scanner. Even if I had a scanner, my photography skills back then where poor and the way my negatives are stored is even poorer! :o.
Flying into Washington Dulles. 29/09/2009
Seen at Eindhoven for a military charter bringing Dutch troops to Canada for winter training. 29/04/2006
By: MSR777 - 8th June 2011 at 20:18
I’m sure that I saw their DC10 at LHR, in the then new livery. That would have to have been prior to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, on the 24.Dec.1979. I think that brought an end to Ariana operations in general. I seem to remember that their main operation used to be via LGW. There was in fact, a tragic accident involving one of their 727-100s there on 5th.Jan.1969
By: EGTC - 7th June 2011 at 21:45
When did Ariana stop operating into LHR? I dont seem to remember seeing them there.
By: Arm Waver - 7th June 2011 at 20:57
First airliner I ever flew in was a Lufthansa 727 from LHR to Nurnberg…
By: Culpano - 6th June 2011 at 19:49
Nice. I remember the State of Qatar B727 at Stansted. Early 80s I think when Stansted’s terminal was just a small hut ! Parked up one Sunday evening was the Qatar B727, a Capitol DC-8, Conair B720 and a Braathens B767 !
By: HP81 - 5th June 2011 at 12:32
A few more from Stn.
S.B.
By: MSR777 - 4th June 2011 at 10:20
Along with the Ariana, my favourite liveries on the 727 are, Libyan Arab, Olympic, JAT, Iraqi, Sterling, and the original Icelandair, as per their -100.
By: Culpano - 3rd June 2011 at 18:27
How about this one ? Poor scan I know (scanned at too low a dpi)…
I took this at Heathrow in 1993…
By: Culpano - 3rd June 2011 at 18:24
“repetitive”
When you start substantially contributing photographs, then perhaps we can trim down on others efforts…… :rolleyes:
Totally agree. What a way to spoil the fun, comments like that.
By: HP81 - 31st May 2011 at 18:47
Some from Stansted in the mid 80’s.
I have written Boeing as the operator on the back of this photo.
S.B.
By: cockerhoop - 31st May 2011 at 07:47
my only 727 flight was a Dan Air charter back from Thessolonika the outward flight was a 737, This was Sept 93
By: PeeDee - 30th May 2011 at 21:53
Longshot, look at the very sophisticted (for the era) leading edge, and trailing edge devices on show in my recent photo of a 727 wing !
Keith 😉
Yes, Boeing led the way by streets and streets on L/e T/e technology.
It wasn’t until latter Airbus’s (Airbi? LoL) did they come in line and perhaps overtake the Boeing…in the case of the A380, they had to do new things to make that complicated wing actually work…and stay within the Span.
Boeing, via APB, presently lead the way in Wing tip devices, mainly blended winglets. The “Fence” on the end of an A320 wing is way behind the APB blended. The 747 winglet is useless in comparison too, but the refit is too expensive. The 747-8 was a new wing, designed to give the benefits of a Winglet, thus doesn’t need big upturned bits on the end.
By: VeeOne - 30th May 2011 at 17:15
Oh not at all. IMO, not nearly as repetitive as the endless stream of souless twin engine pod ‘Airboemb’ types we see on here;)
I second that thought! Modern airliners may be more commercially efficient and safer but their generic look is not asthetically pleasing. They are without soul. :p.
By: MSR777 - 30th May 2011 at 12:52
All the pics and nostalgia is good, but is this just getting a little repetitive?
Oh not at all. IMO, not nearly as repetitive as the endless stream of souless twin engine pod ‘Airboemb’ types we see on here;)
By: Arabella-Cox - 30th May 2011 at 11:37
Makes you want to cry to see those planes just rotting there. 🙁
By: longshot - 30th May 2011 at 11:13
Rolls Royce Tay re-engined UPS 727 (QF)
As I said before, the crowning irony in the Tridentvs727 saga….couple of Airliners.net pics as nobody on Key has posted one (yet?) Note the extensive centre duct enlargement on this modification
They were seen in the UK occasionally
http://www.airliners.net/photo/United-Parcel-Service/Boeing-727-22C(QF)/0278555/L/
and elsewhere in Europe
…..e.g.Lisbon
http://www.airliners.net/photo/United-Parcel-Service/Boeing-727-31C(QF)/0706296/L/
….and Warsaw at night
http://www.airliners.net/photo/United-Parcel-Service/Boeing-727-22C(QF)/0735937/L/
finally’Out to Grass’ in New Mexico
…http://www.airliners.net/photo/United-Parcel-Service/Boeing-727-51C(QF)/0715416/L/
By: VeeOne - 30th May 2011 at 00:14
Civilspotter…
I love your three middle-east nations 727s Alia, Kuwait and Iraqi.
The TWA is sweet as well. 🙂
As Longshot says, SABENA used them during the 1960s until (I believe) 1973 when they bought 737s.
By: longshot - 30th May 2011 at 00:01
727-200s at Orly 1973
Air France F-BPJJ in delivery scheme
Air Charter International (AF subsidiary) F-BPJU
By: TRIDENT MAN - 29th May 2011 at 18:43
Here are some from me of the Trident imposter lol….i too love nostalga.:D
Thats all for now..i really must scan more of my slides…..
By: longshot - 29th May 2011 at 17:33
727 stuff
Note that Iraq and Kuwait had Tridents before the 727 (cue unsmilikon?)..but i have to confess ! always considered the 727 a superior aircraft…what a traitor I am!
Here’s one of Alan Scholefield’s shots of a Sabena 727 at Ringway 1970, think they got them in 1964ish
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Sabena/Boeing-727-29C/1722396/M/
And heres the video of Ed Daly’s World Airways 727 flight out of Da Nang. with reportedly over 300 souls on board…quality may be poor
http://www.boreme.com/posting.php?id=16983 fixed now
Also check out D B Cooper 727
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May 28, 2011 at 7:55 pm
