Boeing 727 Memories

[buzzdriver]

B727-The beauty,workhorse and the ultimate flyingmachine is almost retired worldwide. Please share your moments/memories of flying this beauty over the years and why you will miss the 3 holer queen of the skies!

 

[Extra300S]

RE: "The THREE HOLER"

Glad I had a chance to fly the old girl! I even was lucky to plumb her for a little while....


As a S/O:

My favorite for the after start flow; "A-Banana THREE-Feed em' Don't Bleed em' FUEL em' Cool em' B RIGHT PACK-BACK

As a F/O:

What a JOY to fly and only have to turn on the Pitot Heat! Checkrides were a breeze cause as a F/O they expected you to be brain dead!

Last flight in the old gal was Oct 21st 2001....GONE but not forgotten my friend!


Three man crews were always a blast!!

 

[mobs]

I flew the 727 for 5700 hrs. and loved the old lady every min. What a change without all the voice control to the plumber sitting back there. Had two engine shut downs(not at the same time) both false fire warnings.

 

[LASvegas777]

Is boeing ever going to reconfigure the 727 into a 2 man crew cockpit like the rumor once said? The plan was to extend the landing gear lever so the FE could reach it and then eliminate the co-pilot. just kidding but i thought that joke was a good one when i heard it. i saw a DAL 727 in cvg takeoff today how many more are they still flying around???

 

[boeingav8r]

It's amazing how people rarely say anything negative about the Boeing 727. In ground school it was a tough airplane to learn, but was well worth it when you got that f.e. ticket. The largest thing I flew before the 727 was a Beech Travelair. Boy what a jump that was. The 727 makes you a very confident pilot. I second what Extra300 said above....three person crews are the best. I will never forget my last landing at the controls of the 727....needless to say the 3 of us were a little misty, not just because we knew we were furloughed after that final leg, but mainly because we realized that we'd never get a chance to fly her again.

In addition to lengthing the gear handle for the flight engineer...if the pitot/static switches were ganged together, that would cut the fo's duties in half.

 

[Duke 6]

We (Champion Air) still have 13 of them and N697CA is the last passenger model built so ive been told

 

[LearLove]

Untill a few months ago Delta woke me up everyday I was home in SYR at 6am with their 727 when Rwy 28 was the active.

 

[yaks]

B727 memories

Flown all 3 seats and know I will never again fly a Jet airplane that will make me feel that good about being a pilot. Go fast, get down, carry ice, carry a load, make you look good, make you look bad, you name it and it's been done or or said about "the Boeing". 80's and 737's make money, the 72 made pilots.

 

[General Lee]

I flew (well, not really) the 727 for 6 months as an Engineer, and hated every minute of it. What a piece of junk. The pilots on it were usually jerks who loved to talk about their squadrons in the Air Force. The First Officer was always the one with the biggest Ego, and when we all arrived at the Hotel each night, both the Capt. and the FO stood clear of the hotel reception desk and watched me sign them BOTH in. If we got to the airplane late in the morning, the FO was usually talking on the phone in first class while I was struggling to pre flight HIS equipment in the cockpit. I was always the one doing everything, while he loved his right seat. I got even with that guy eventually. I moved on to the very advanced 737-800, and then on to the 757/767. One day during recurrent in ATL I saw that FO upgrading also to the 757/767, and he said he was confused about the FMS and autopilot usage on the 757 and asked for my help. I said I was too busy and had to make a really important phone call to "Movie Phone" so I could see what time the movie was starting in Buckhead that night. I walked off and smiled. And for the old 727, it took like 14 steps to start that **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** APU. The thing sucked. And watching guys land it was hillarious.

Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[pilot141]

Geez, I'm still amazed by people (ie, General Lee) who bitch about sitting sideways on the 72!

The school might not have been the most fun thing you've ever done, but come on - flying the panel was the easiest way to make money around! Once the gear came up, set the packs where you want them and shut your brain off!

I am envious of people that flew the 727 in every seat, though. That airplane made lousy planning look good. I stopped counting the number of times I looked left and said "No way in HELL can that overfed, underworked FO have THIS airplane make THAT runway".......only to have the 72 make it happen.

Check essential, baby!

 

[boeingav8r]

I flew (well, not really) the 727 for 6 months as an Engineer, and hated every minute of it. What a piece of junk. The pilots on it were usually jerks who loved to talk about their squadrons in the Air Force. The First Officer was always the one with the biggest Ego, and when we all arrived at the Hotel each night, both the Capt. and the FO stood clear of the hotel reception desk and watched me sign them BOTH in.


I agree with you, that is messed up General Lee. Alot of the older captains seemed that way...especially on the 727. Not only do you preflight your own panel, but the pilots panels as well...while they're visiting with the flight attendants. Dosen't seem fair when the FO does nothing. I've heard of some of the "real old" farts asking the fe to carry his bag for him. Maybe your bad experience with that particular crew is what's giving you a negative stereotypical opinion of the 727; it's really a great plane. As I'm sure you know, the person(s) you fly with can be the difference in a good month and a bad month.


I got even with that guy eventually. I moved on to the very advanced 737-800, and then on to the 757/767. One day during recurrent in ATL I saw that FO upgrading also to the 757/767, and he said he was confused about the FMS and autopilot usage on the 757 and asked for my help. I said I was too busy and had to make a really important phone call to "Movie Phone" so I could see what time the movie was starting in Buckhead that night. I walked off and smiled.



Ha Ha Ha...Oh, sweet revenge!


And for the old 727, it took like 14 steps to start that **CENSORED** APU.


That's one of the things that made pilots appreciate the plane. You had to think about what you were doing and keep up with system knowledge. The 727 is definately not like these new aircraft with all the "dummy lights" that alert the pilot that something is wrong, then fixes itself. Learning limitations was tough, because you had to learn all the individual numbers for the normal and max of everything, then there's your differences. We had some old TWA 727's that were all screwed up. I've been told in the newer aircraft (ie Airbus) the limitations are much easier. For example, instead of learning the exact temps of certain items, you only learn "Red Arc" and everything in "the green" is good...lol
If it weren't for all the 3-person crew aircraft, there would have been alot less jobs out there.

BA

 

[Extra300S]

GENERAL LEE....

YOU sir have made it CLEAR to me that you are a complete BAFOON.

As a S/O you have to work a little harder....Yes, the F/O and Captain sometimes "made" me sign them in at the Hotel---big deal---and If the F/O ever made some comment about doing a walk around in the rain--I just took his Jacket GOT IT NICE and wet and had a laugh when he found out.

Too bad you were not "MAN" enough to fly her! I have a TON of buds at DAL that took the F/O seat ASAP in the 727.

For you to KNOCK the 727 as a piece of JUNK really SPEAKS volumes about you!

Randy

 

[GCAP]

It's coming back as a two pilot airplane.......




They're moving the pitot heat to the engineers panel !!!!!

 

[General Lee]

Randy or Exta300S,

Whatever----you really are a MAN to fly that 727!!! You really are a better pilot than anyone who doesn't fly it. Let me guess----you were one of those cocky FO's who was a super lazy a$$!! You loved doing absolutely nothing. Give me a break----you probably were also a Zoomie from the Academy and loved to beat up on Doolies too.

I guess it was "part of the deal" getting harrassed during the 727 program---and guys that went straight to the 737 had it easy. I am really glad I was a part of it, not. But, we all got even when we went to glass on the 738 or 757/767, and watched those "MEN" turn into confused idiots. Welcome to the computer age boys! Oh, that's right---you're not a MAN if you don't hand fly your 767 half way to Germany from ATL----cause if you don't---you're not a MAN. Get over the 727, Randy, and get on with life. It was a gas guzzling hunk of crap. It didn't make you a man. Holding on harder to the memories will not bring it back any sooner. I am not a baffoon Randy, I am a realist. And, I call it like I see it. Let me guess, you are always right? Yup, A 727 FO at heart.

Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[dogman]

Lighten up Franics!

 

[NYRANGERS]

I had a blast as an engineer on the 727. I got along with the crews, and most of the time all three of us would go get a bite to eat or drink. F/A's rarely overnighted with us.

I didn't mind the duties, although I must admit I would have loved to fly the plane.

I only wish I was back pre-flighting at 5am in the cold rain with a newly acuired oil stain from #2.

"Start the trio for Leo"

NYR furloughed 510 days and counting.

 

[Huck]

Gotta admit, General Lee, you crack me up. After a bad day I probably would write the same things. Why the hell can't the f/o operate the anti-ice? I'm back there, closing the pack doors with one hand, setting climb thrust with the other, and he jacks his fat head around and says, "I said anti-ice open!" What, you mean right there above your bucket-head?

But the old girl is freaking bulletproof. An MEL is so rare we have to pull out the FOM to make sure we do it right. And humming along at .85, jet right on the tail, earplugs + ANC headsets, screaming at each other as we pass all the aluminum speedbumps, is a kick.

Get a copy of Hunter Thompson's "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72." He got high on acid and rode the jumpseat of a UAL charter 727 on Nixon's campaign. He called the takeoff acceleration "riding God's own motorcycle."

My father first sat in this seat in 1968 at NWA. My uncle sat in it at UAL in the eighties. Its a family tradition, man.

 

[Extra300S]

Hey General!

Wow take it easy! Doesn't take much to get you going huh?

Never was a Zoomie, sorry! Wasn't smart enough for the CO. Springs.

All I can say is:

The 727 MAKES noise, Burns lot's of GAS, and picks up chicks!"

I was HONORED to fly it. Sorry about all the F/O's that probably hit you with the shoulder straps! Why so much anger?

Now if you want to talk about the Jetstream 31....hey that's a different story!

DID you forget where I said I also PLUMBED it?

Chill brother Chill...

 

[General Lee]

Randy,

Yeah, I'm sorry---it has been a bad day watching all of the Delta news. And, I really never did like that 727, primarily because of the harsh training. I thought the 737-800 and 757/767 type was a lot easier. I guess I got a lot of "bad" FO's in a row, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. I think it was the training that made it bad for me. Maybe it was one too many Capt's telling me to start two and three when we were only second in line for takeoff. I don't know. Anyways.... Sorry.

Bye Bye--General lee

 

[MD80DRVR]

Flew one of the last TWA revenue trips on the 727. At the end of the day we ferried "the pig" over to MCI. Will never forget doing high speed low approaches over in MCI and hearing SWA ask the tower, " Have those TWA guys lost their minds". What a blast!!
What a great airplane! I'm so happy I got to fly it.