Blast from the Past

PC Pilot’s Richard Benedikz evaluates the Boeing 727 Series v2, the latest study level simulation from X-Plane developer FlyJSim.

The Boeing 727 was developed in the early 1960s as a shortrange counterpart to the intercontinental 707. Initial interest in the distinctive T-tailed tri-jet was limited but the US manufacturer pressed on, driven by initial orders for 80 aircraft shared equally between United Airlines and Eastern Air Lines. The 727 was designed from the outset for use from rudimentary airstrips, featuring triple-slotted flaps for improved take-off and landing performance, a sturdy undercarriage, and an auxiliary power unit (APU) that eliminated the need for a ground-based power supply. By the time the type made its first flight in November 1962, orders were still below the estimated break-even point of 200 but quickly picked up after Boeing undertook a 76,000 mile (122,310km), 26-country sales tour. The aircraft proved so popular the firm introduced a stretched -200 series, capable of carrying 189 passengers, in 1967.

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