The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, is the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world. It has more than 175 aircraft and spacecraft. In the museum’s outdoor pavilion are some of the classic jet passenger airplanes.
Boeing 727
First flown in 1963, the Boeing 727 was made for flying shorter routes and was able to operate from smaller runways. Over a period of 22 years, Boeing built more than 1,800 of these tri-jets. According to the display:
“The aft location of the 727’s engines allowed for improved ground clearance, less cabin noise on take-off, and reduced control problems should one engine become inoperative.”
The 727 has a cruising speed of 596 mph and a range of 3,430 miles.
One of the most famous 727 passengers was the mysterious D.B. Cooper (shown above). On November 24, 1971, a man using the alias Dan Cooper hijacked the Boeing 727 and demanded $200,00.
Boeing 737 Prototype
The Boeing 737, nicknamed the “Baby Boeing” due to its small size, has been in production since 1967. It was originally intended for short routes under 1,000 miles. The Museum’s 737 was the first 737 built and first flew in 1967. In 1974 it became NASA’s Transport Systems Research Vehicle. The 737 has a cruising speed of 575 mph, a range of 2,140 miles, and a ceiling of 35,000 feet.
Aérospatiale/British Aerospace Aircraft Group Concord
Between 1966 and 1979, 20 Concord aircraft were built. According to the display:
“The supersonic jets offered a luxurious and speedy trip across the Atlantic Ocean for 27 years with Air France and British Airways. Capable of speeds over two times the speed of sound, the Concord could fly from London to New York and return in the time it took a conventional aircraft to go one way.”
The development of the Concord began in 1962 when Britain and France signed a draft treaty to collaborate on building a supersonic aircraft. The Concord first flew in 1969 in France. It was not, however, the first supersonic transport (SST) to fly: the Soviet Tupolev TU-144 flew in 1968. The first orders for the Concord were placed in 1972. Concord received British and French certificates of airworthiness in 1975. Scheduled Concord service began in 1976.
The Concord has a cruising speed of 1,354 mph, a range of 3,870 miles, and a ceiling of 60,000 feet.
More airplane photo tours
Museum of Flight: The Boeing 747 Prototype (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War II bombers (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War II carrier-based airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Naval aircraft (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Air Force One (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Some early airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Some early Boeing airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Building early airplanes (photo diary)