Rare - Active Boeing 727 at Dulles in 2023

[@petelove9731]

Fantastic, I’m a U.K. spotter and I saw this baby at Long Beach CA on 8/5/1991 as N215FE FedEx. Absolutely brilliant, thanks for posting.

[@dullesspotter]

Glad you liked it!

[@johno9507]

This is actually a 'Super 27' with engines 1 and 3 being upgraded to JT8D-217C's while engine 2 remains the same.

[@Duderocks5539]

That’s the lamest part. JT8D-200s have always been overhyped, especially by the MD-80 fanboys as being so damn loud, when they really aren’t. Not much louder then run of the mill CFM-56’s on say a 737-300 through -900. Noise signatures between the 2 are identical. Notice how the number 2 engine JT8D-1 through -17 overpowers the other 2 at idle thrust, and of course on take off power thrust, even with a Stage III hush kit installed. The -1 through -17s are a completely different engine building off the J52 Turbojet, and have a much lower bypass ratio then the -200s, and the size and configuration is different as well such as for example the -200s having a single stage fan, and the -1 through -17s having a two stage fan, and a multitude of other differences. A 727 (with all original engines), 732, and DC-9 even all with Stage III hush kits will put an MD-80 and Super 27 to shame on noise any day of the week. Most MD-80 fan boys have never seen any of these planes, so they got no idea what a laughing stock the MD-80 is on noise, hell, a little Learjet 23, 24, 25, or 28 can put an MD-80 to shame.

[@reynolds727]

Former FE here. We had 2 “Supers” in the fleet, but they were outfitted with -219’s on the pods rather than the 217’s. They ran a -15 in the middle. The nice thing at the time was that it cut a little of the noise down (not much) but the kick in the pants they gave you in power left no doubt. They lived up to the name. Incredible airplanes.

[@OlesonMD]

@@Duderocks5539 Yes, #2 is the -17R. More power, with reserve power available in the event of an engine failure. I flew 727's with -15's and -17's.

[@steliosioannou925]

What a sleek and elegant a/c the 727 is!!! Simply awesome!!!

[@jamesm3471]

It’s a shame there aren’t more Super 27’s and 727’s. Those rear stairs are so cool, helping the type win Hijacker’s Choice Awards year after year!

[@JoaquínMortiz-l2l]

😂 Yes because the owners of the Airline company were terrible with their employees. Pure capitalism. 🎉

[@jamesm3471]

Cannot argue with that!

[@gcrauwels941]

The 'Cooper vane' stopped that from happening.

[@lbowsk]

It happened once.

[@10293]

⁠@@JoaquínMortiz-l2l🙄👎

[@davidwolf226]

I'm very surprised to see this great Boeing jet is still in service even if it's a rarity these days. In my younger adult years, this was my favorite plane to fly in.

[@valterdomingoscoelhocoelho2769]

Saudoso e imponente Boeing 727. Saudades 😢😢😢

[@jonm6756]

Oh how I miss that sound!!!

[@MohamedMohamed-li5jx]

What a great add. Thank Allah. Then thank you so much for this lovely moments. I hope to ride it and 737-200.

[@dullesspotter]

Thanks!!

[@marblox9300]

Watching 727s take off from Chicago Midway in the 80s - incredibly loud from the back.

[@leslieadkins5774]

What a beautiful aircraft...super paint job...

[@b717]

Man I miss these.

[@JamesAMG]

I love the super 27’s, it’s really cool to hear one that sounds exactly like an MD80. I know the differences aren’t huge, but a 727 and an MD80 do sound different.

[@thomasburke7995]

N215fe.. one of the last 727-200 ever make . N199fe thru n200fe were the final airframes manufactured for federal express. The planes is unique in that the windows are not cut out, all the emergency exits are blanked out NOT PLUGGED and the floor as well as other high stress points like the cargo door have been significantly reinforced. Other then being a gas hog fedex would still be flying those t airframes today. BTW engine #2 is identical to the others because its strict cargo only subsystems located in the rear were moved to accommodate the slightly lager engine.

[@bobbaker1998]

In the ‘70s our class went on a field trip to the airport (CLE) we boarded a United 727 via the rear stairway walked up the center isle to the cockpit and then out the door to the jet bridge. Also remember flying one from CLE to MCO in the ‘80s whisper jet comes to mind.

[@adriantayler1868]

Nice moody shot. Sort of thing I would have loved to get when making de-icing training videos for British Airways years ago, but London Heathrow wouldn't let us start until the airport PR department had signed us in at 09:00, even though we were filming BA kit and BA personnel in an area solely used by BA. By which time the sun was up and the frost had disappeared.

[@tilolenk5556]

Geil geil geil!!!👍👍👍 das schönste Flugzeug das je gebaut wurde!😘

[@billymania11]

Back in the day, the airlines used speedy 727's to get their routes back in sync at the end of the day. I remember being on a few of those flights.

[@coyotegrad-collectables]

Damn that 727 is loud

[@jamesm3471]

Hush kit.

[@Duderocks5539]

Number 1 and 3 engines are JT8D-200s, much much quieter then the center remaining JT8D-1 through -17 engine even with a Stage III hush kit. Outboard engines on the other hand are already Stage III noise complaint from factory without the need for Stage III modifications or mixers added. In fact, the JT8D-200 engines have a very similar noise signature to a CFM-56 for example. The JT8D-200s may in fact be the quietest Low Bypass Turbofans ever made. They have never impressed me, and they honestly ruin the charm of the 727, and ironically, the sound from the remaining number 2 engine will still overpower the other 2 on idle and take off power.

[@Mskenergy]

It’s pretty loud sounds like a md 88 but the ones at delta where I worked were louder they had no hush kit and they were old 1965 ones they leaked oil pretty bad the apu was loud as hell 😂

[@goldduster318]

Home base for this is Oakland County, MI, KPTK - I can hear this thing taking off inside my house and know that its a 727 and I'm over 10 miles from the end of the runway.

[@brittsaunders4621]

The original 727-100 and -200 were much louder, just like most jetliners of that era. The original JT8D engines produced quite a roar at takeoff and plenty of smoke. However, flying in them, they were much quieter due to the tail-mounted engine layout.

[@Wildlifesupernannyfan]

One of my faverate fuselage mounted engine jet planes.

[@gcrauwels941]

A guy I knew flew these for a cargo company that serviced the Caribbean. These 722-Adv were rocket ships.

[@rafaelwilks]

Imagine a B727-200 with three CF34-10 turbofans 😍

[@darrelmorgan6266]

I actually see these fairly frequently coming in and out of CVG. Always Kalitta Air charters. First time I saw one I was surprised because I had thought they were all retired.

[@BGTech1]

I made a tour video with this exact aircraft.

[@Kramskybmw]

Love it!!!!🤩

[@fgm1197]

Those are engines! Not like this high bypass whisper crap these days.

[@aircraftview3538]

Agreed 👍👍

[@1moredayof]

The 727 was the first airliner on which I flew. On a later flight on a 727 I had the experience of exiting the plane using the rear stairway. It was so cool, but I don't remember why we used that stairway.

[@cll1639]

I'm showing my age here...my first flight was on a DC6; first jet, a 707. But most of my flying miles are divided pretty equally between the MD80 and the 727. More room in the 80 but I don't recall it sounding much different from inside. The 727 gets the Best Appearing award - for jets - but the best looking of all time has to be the Constellation. Flew from OKC to LAX on one of them.

[@skipcampbell4226]

👍

[@ustica69]

it has new engines

[@ellischernoff8603]

Of course, this is former FedEx ship. I have many hours flying it.

[@lbowsk]

And if it was a FedEx plane, then it was likely a former United ship. I have many hours flying them. ;).

[@jebb125]

that plane was a purpose built freighter for FedEx , S/N 22936 line # 1830. 3 from the last to ever be built. Came with the Boeing cargo door not the AEI door. @@lbowsk

[@eduardogomez6343]

No entiendo alos de los la Boeing, pues viendo que le apostaron al 737 max y no les resultó por qué no hacer el renacimiento del mejor avión que han fabricado el 727, con nuevos materiales y motores repotenciados?

[@Banksia]

Its a pity it was filmed at night, hard to see whats going on!

[@dullesspotter]

Agreed, I recommend watching it in a dark room, it seems to help a little, and I need to look into changing the camera setting to increase exposure for night videos! This was my first time shooting one.