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Boeing 727

Boeing · Trijet · Retired from airline service

The jet that opened the small airports.

Length46.69 m
Wingspan32.92 m
Range4,020 km
MTOW95 t
Typical seats155
Built1,832
Our numbers

Derived metrics

Computed by aircraft.fyi from the core specification — see how we calculate these.

Seats per metre#24 of 35
3.32 seats/m typical seats ÷ fuselage length
Range per tonne#47 of 65
42.3 km/t maximum range ÷ MTOW in tonnes
Span-to-length ratio#52 of 68
0.71 wingspan ÷ fuselage length
Weight per metre#42 of 68
2.04 t/m MTOW ÷ fuselage length
Range in hours#42 of 65
4.2 h maximum range ÷ cruise speed
Weight per seat#22 of 35
613 kg MTOW ÷ typical seats
Sense of scale

How big is it, really?

The Boeing 727's wingspan, against things you already know the size of.

Boeing 72732.92 m
Football pitch (width)68 m
Blue whale25 m
New Routemaster bus11.2 m
You (probably)1.75 m
Specification

The numbers

Length (727-200)46.69 m
Wingspan32.92 m
Height10.36 m
MTOW (-200 Adv)95,028 kg
Range≈4,020 km
Typical seats (-200)155 (up to 189)
Max speed953 km/h (Mach 0.90)
Engines3 × P&W JT8D, rear-mounted
First flight9 February 1963
Built1,832

Compare it

Put the Boeing 727 next to something

Last verified: 2026-07-14 · Spot an error? business@luck.fyi

The story

What makes it different

The 727 was designed to bring jets to airports that could not handle them: short runways, no ground equipment, thin markets. Boeing gave it a remarkable high-lift wing with triple-slotted flaps, three engines clustered at the tail so the wing stayed clean, and airstairs built into the rear so it could turn around anywhere.

It worked so well that it became the first jetliner to pass 1,000 sales, and 1,832 were built — a record that stood until the 737 passed it. For two decades it was the sound of American aviation.

Noise rules and fuel prices retired it from the airlines, and the famous rear airstair was locked shut after D.B. Cooper parachuted out of one in 1971. A handful still fly as freighters and government aircraft.

Common questions

Boeing 727 — the short answers

How fast is the Boeing 727?
The Boeing 727 cruises at about 953 km/h — roughly 515 knots, or 592 mph.
How far can the Boeing 727 fly?
The Boeing 727 has a maximum range of about 4,020 km (2,171 nautical miles, 2,498 miles). At its cruise speed that is roughly 4.2 hours in the air.
How many people does the Boeing 727 carry?
A typical Boeing 727 carries 155 passengers. Exact figures vary with the operator's chosen configuration.
Is the Boeing 727 still in production?
Status: Retired from airline service. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and about 1,832 have been built.
How big is the Boeing 727?
The Boeing 727 is 46.69 m long with a wingspan of 32.92 m and a height of 10.36 m. Its maximum takeoff weight is 95,028 kg.
Variants

The Boeing 727 line

727-100
The 40.6 m original.
727-200 / -200 Adv
The 46.69 m stretch — most of the fleet. Spec shown above.
727F / Super 27
Freighter and re-engined conversions — the last flyers.
Operators

Who flies the Boeing 727

No current operators — this aircraft's flying days are over. The operators of record are below.

USCargo and government operatorsA handful of freighters, VIP transports and special-mission aircraft remain airworthy worldwide.≈10