N7001U
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| N7001U | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Boeing 727-22 |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Owners | United Airlines |
| Registration | N7001U |
| Total hours | 64,495 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | November 27, 1962 |
| First flight | February 9, 1963 |
| Last flight | March 2, 2016 |
| Preserved at | Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington. |
| Fate | On static display |
N7001U is a Boeing 727-22 aircraft that was built by Boeing in 1963 for United Airlines as the prototype of the Boeing 727.[1]
History
Birth and Rollout
On November 27, 1962, N7001U was rolled out of the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington. It sported a striking paint scheme—lemon yellow and copper-brown, reminiscent of the iconic Boeing 367-80 prototype from eight years earlier.[2][3]
Maiden Flight and Service
N7001U took to the skies for the first time on February 9, 1963. After completing the flight test and certification program, it was delivered to United Airlines on October 6, 1964. United operated N7001U for an impressive 27 years, accumulating 64,495 flight hours and executing 48,060 takeoffs and landings during its service. In 1991, United Air Lines made a generous gesture by donating N7001U to The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.[3][4]
Final Flight and Legacy
On March 2, 2016, after extensive restoration, N7001U had made its final flight to the museum.[5] Until the advent of the Boeing 777 in the 1990s, the 727 was the only Boeing commercial jet without a dedicated prototype. Instead of being retained as a flight test airplane, it went directly into regular service with the "kickoff customer" airline.[2][3][6]
Over its years of service, N7001U carried approximately three million passengers aboard its sleek fuselage.[3]
References
- ^ Dwyer-Lindgren, Jeremy. "World's first 727 makes final flight after 25-year restoration". USA TODAY.
- ^ a b Swopes, Bryan (2024-02-09). "N7001U | This Day in Aviation". Retrieved 2024-02-29.
- ^ a b c d "Boeing 727-022". The Museum of Flight. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
- ^ Farris, Brandon (March 3, 2016). "The First Boeing 727 Prepares For a Last Flight". Airways News. Airways International, Inc. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
- ^ "Iconic first Boeing 727 makes final flight". CNN. 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
- ^ "The First Boeing 727's Final Flight is Scheduled for Today : AirlineReporter". www.airlinereporter.com. Retrieved 2024-02-29.