Federal Express Boeing 727-100

Additional Information:

The Boeing 727 is a narrow-body airliner that was developed and produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. After the heavier 707 quad-jet was introduced in 1958, Boeing addressed the demand for shorter flights from smaller airports. On December 5, 1960, the 727 was launched with 40 orders each from United Airlines and Eastern Air Lines. The first 727-100 rolled out on November 27, 1962, first flew on February 9, 1963, and first entered service with Eastern on February 1, 1964.

The only trijet aircraft to be produced by Boeing, the 727 is powered by Pratt & Whitney JT8D low-bypass turbofans below a T-tail, one on each side of the rear fuselage and a center one fed through an S-duct. The Boeing 727 design was a compromise among United Airlines, American Airlines, and Eastern Air Lines for each of the three had developed requirements for a jet airliner to serve smaller cities with shorter runways and fewer passengers. United Airlines had requested a four-engine aircraft for its flights to high-altitude airports, especially its hub at Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado.

For over a decade, more 727s were built per year than any other jet airliner and in 1984 the production of the 727 ended with 1,832 built and 1,831 delivered. This was the highest total for any jet airliner until the 737 surpassed it in the early 1990s.

Federal Express is a cargo airline based in Memphis, Tennessee which first commenced operations in 1973. The carrier operates a “super hub” for cargo at its home base of Memphis. Federal Express began serving Albuquerque from Memphis later in the 1970’s using small Dassault Falcon 20 jet aircraft. Federal Express adopted the nickname “FedEx” and officially took on that name in 1994. The company grew quickly specializing in overnight package delivery and obtained larger aircraft including Boeing 727’s and 737’s and later acquired even larger wide body aircraft. FedEx now serves Albuquerque with morning and evening flights each day to Memphis using wide body Airbus A-300 and Douglas DC-10 aircraft.

Federal Express, who pioneered modern small package air cargo service, upgraded to the larger Boeing 727-100 N120FE to service the Albuquerque Sunport on April 7, 1979.

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