The World’s Last Passenger 727 Just Flew for the Last Time

I didn't realize that the number of 727s flying had gotten so low if virtually not at all. While today's aircraft are a lot more efficient in fuel consumption, design, and avionics, it's a shame that the "fuel-inefficient" engines of the 727 couldn't have been replaced and maybe their avionics brought up to a more efficient design so that they could still be flying. It is an iconic airplane and it won't be the same knowing that it will never be seen at US airports again. I'm kind of going to miss it.

I wonder if the Iran airline knew the importance of that particular flight. I hope the aircraft flying that last flight has a good future instead of just being left to rust somewhere or chopped up for scrap.

In the mid 70s I got to stay in Frankfurt with my pen friend for 2 weeks, the return trip to LHR was on a Lufthansa 727, I was 11 years old and the man sat next to me asked if I liked the plane, guess he could see from my face how excited I was. He was a regular passenger on the flight and I could not believe how lucky he was to get paid to do this, as the stewardess walked by he asked if I would be able to visit the flight deck, she replied she would ask and I sat for a while but not holding out much hope.
She returned after what seemed an eternity and said “come along” in a thick German accent. My heart was pounding and I went into what felt like a dream, three crew up front and I got put in the jump seat behind the captain.
I sat and marveled at everything going on around me, then the captain said something the the flight engineer in German, however I couldn’t make out what he said and figured it was “get this kid out of here” as we was descending. He reached over and pointed to my self belt, told me to fasten it, by now I’m almost shaking with excitement, and not daring to move I buckled up and the rest was history, forty plus years later I can close my eyes and be there.
I’m sure I said thank you a hundred times to those Lufthansa pilots and here it is one more time. Danke.

Progress marches on ..... the 707 and 727 are no more, but the venerable DC3 remains in commercial service in many parts of the world....

Even with a re-engine option,(which UPS did by the way). The sad reality of having to meet Stage III noise rules was one factor. Also, when you consider that consumption of fuel on the order of several hundred gallons per hour as opposed to the newer generation engines, it was simple economics. I am sure there will be a few that will soldier on in the cargo world for a few years to come. As Ed Norton said, "Time and tide wait for no man!"

I always enjoyed my flights on 727's out of Burbank in the early 70's. PSA with hourly service in California. However, on the ground under the flight path they were louder than a red necktie in an Amish church!

727 always was and always will be my favorite Boeing plane. Still miss flying it. Flew it many times on leave from the Navy to Spokane Washington as the 727 seemed to be the plane in and out with United. Usually swapped to a DC8 out of Denver, and never liked that one.

I grew up in the era of the 707 and 727 and loved them both. I had an instructor who was a C5 commander and he jokingly described the flap sequence as "wing disassembly", because the wing would appear to separate into sections. I always enjoyed watching "wing disassembly" on landing as a passenger, seeing the actuators and the wing work. It became my favorite part of flying the 727.

the 727 was once considered the "workhorse of aviation"..i remember it well as American had quite a few..time marches on however,and aircraft technology and fuel efficiency has changed..

An end of an error.... Fantastic planes... The Fastest Airliner ever built... Really hate to see it go!

I remember working as a ramp rat for Eastern and thinking that standing on the apron near a throttled up 727 was like standing next to a blast furnace in a steel mill. Ear protection wasn't strictly enforced back then. Sorry, what did you say?

I worked on the 727 on a maintenance level for Pan Am and Delta Airlines. the 727 was one of those planes that when it was good it was very very good but when it was bad it was broke LOL. Delta did have a fuel efficiency program in place. they added winglets 2 to 727 and it did increase the fuel efficiency upwards of 10% but alas they were retired

To my memory, 727 had a flaw in handling upon landing which caused a few stall undershots. One case at Salt Lake City, caused the loss of the sales manager at a small company in New England where I was employed in the late 60's. Everyone turned out for his funeral; he had just married the boss's daughter and moved into a new house in Wellesley. FAA finally responded by mandating 40 degree over 30 for flap setting on landing. Approaching Washington National one time I was seated toward the rear and noted a swaying side to side instability before we touched down and I wondered if this was the edge of the problem. Otherwise, seemed to be a very good plane.

Back in the early 80's I flew on ARCO Alaska's 727 every week, from ANC to Prudhoe Bay one week, and back the next week. Landed and took off from ARCO's gravel strip next to base camp. It could get a little exciting in the winter with white out conditions, but ARCO had some amazing cockpit crew and very few flights were cancelled. Occasionally they were diverted to the paved strip at Deadhorse. On nice days, the pilots would weave in and out of the clouds; those were fun times. Those 727's were just very dependable.

First class on the 727 was the best. Because you were so far away from the engines it was amazingly quiet.

Great aircraft, and you can parachute out the back stairs at low level!

I was stationed in Seattle in June 1963. We lived in a small trailer park where now the Boeing Museum is located. I would walk my 2 year old son down the short dead end street to the South end of Boeing Field where we would watch the first 727 in Yellow Chromate Primer practice very short takeoffs and landings. It was awesome to see how little runway it was using to do this.

Trump had a corporate 727 parked at LaGuardia (NYC) about 9-10 years ago. Will post my photo of it as I come across it.

My first time traveling by air was on an AA Flight from KEWR to KBUF.1966..Model was a 727.

I remember flying on UAL's 727s. I also remember the USPS had a bunch of them.

As an 11 year old, my first memory of the first Eastern 727 flights out of KLGA was to look up for a rocket. I grew up to the steady drone of Connies.
I had no idea a few years later I’d find myself on rwy 31 making a film of my nrw fav, the 727. Search YT for LaGuardia 1968.

Trijets are beautiful aircraft.

As a young GI, the first 727 I remember seeing was at Rhein Main with Lufthansa on the fuselage. I remember thinking,” Wow! these German airliners look funny with three engines.

I have had a little more exposure to aviation since then.

Ah the famous "tri-motor" as we controllers referred to them. Seems like I cleared a million of them to climb out of and for approach into ORD.

Great, great, great, great,great, great, great, great, great aircraft to ride in (unless youre riding middle seat) and to work on!

I know one re-engine proposal was to turn it into a twin jet by faring in the center intake but it was just not economically feasible. Hitting about the time the flight engineer station was being removed was another strike against it.

Two cargo 727’s & a DC-9 arrived @ TCL this evening from Laredo, TX. They either return to Mexico, Laredo, or Willow Run.

One of the first jets my dad taught me how to recognize. Obviously the engine lay out was easy for a 10 year old to distinguish.

First 727 flight was from the Boeing Renton plant. Landed at King County Municipal (Boeing Field) because the Renton runway was too short. Watched it live on black and white TV - lived in West Seattle. Also was out on Lake Washington when Tex Johnson rolled the first 707 in a low fly by.

727 were flown by Continental on the "island hopper" out of Hawaii ending up in Guam. It could use coral runways.

Watched the727's maiden flight in Seattle. Flew the Continental 727's between New Orleans and Wichita a couple of times. Thought that was the most beautiful livery for that aircraft. Also flew the 727 shuttle in Korea/Japan many times. Never a bad flight. 727 out of Yakota flew the Stars and Stripes newspaper to Korea every morning, and included my family and I one morning.

Sad to see 727 depart... Early travel memories for me were of flights on Braniff (now long departed!) to visit relatives in Texas... always on 727s. A few years back I got this photo in Rwanda - perhaps this 727 is still soldiering on...? https://flightaware.com/photos/view/136843-0baef24850ad422fbbb823e20f72cedcad98ac92/user/bcayley/sort/votes/page/1