Iconic first Boeing 727 makes final flight

Seattle’s Museum of Flight successfully completed the final journey, Wednesday, of the first Boeing 727 ever built.

The iconic aircraft flew from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, where, for 25 years workers have been slowly restoring it in hopes of eventually flying the jet about 30 miles south for display at the museum.

After a special permit was granted by the Federal Aviation Administration, a flight crew of four strapped themselves in: Capt. Tim Powell, co-pilot Mike Scott, flight engineer Ralph Pascale and restoration manager Bob Bogash.

The 727 pushed back from its stand at 10:30 a.m. for a ceremonial fire department water cannon salute after an engine start-up.

The aircraft deafeningly roared down runway 16R to the delight of the crowd at 10:50 local time.

One of its three engines experienced a noticeable backfire.

Though the Boeing 727 is considered obsolete today, the technology used to promote this specific plane’s final flight certainly is not.

Social media channels were very active.

On Twitter, followers used the hashtag #727FinalFlight.

Users watched live streaming videos of the takeoff and landing via different Periscope and website feeds.

As the trijet soared into the sky for the last time, a trail of black smoke emanated from its three Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7s engines.

During the entire flight, the plane’s landing gear remained down.

On the wings, flaps were deployed.

As a precaution, the 727 was escorted by two chase planes.

Elaine Thompson/AP

United Airlines was the launch customer for the first Boeing 727. This beauty was the first to come off the production line. Tail number N7001U flew a short hop to Boeing Field airport to be put on display at Seattle's Museum of Flight on Wednesday March 2, after a yearslong restoration project near Boeing's factory in Everett, Washington.

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The 727 was so popular when it hit the market that it was the first commercial jetliner to receive more than 1,000 orders from airline companies. It's easy to recognize by its three engines and high-set "t-tail."

Elaine Thompson/AP

The last time this airliner flew passengers was 1991. Its interior has been restored to the very colorful seating style of that day. The Museum of Flight estimates this specific plane flew about 3 million passengers during its 28 year career.

Elaine Thompson/AP

If you think overhead compartments are small now, take a look at what they were like inside the first Boeing 727. Museum of Flight senior curator Dan Hagedorn shows us. Do you think you could fit your luggage in there?

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For a bit of authenticity, the museum placed cigarette stubs in an ashtray in the cabin's first class section. Since 2000, all flights between the United States and other nations have been smoke free, by law.

Elaine Thompson/AP

Former Boeing engineer Bob Bogash, who was in charge of restoring the aircraft, served as flight crew safety officer on Wednesday. FedEx donated a Boeing 727 as a source for parts and also worked with Aviation Technical Services and the Museum of Flight to restore the aircraft. In total, about $500,000 has been invested in the project, along with labor worth millions of dollars donated by dozens of volunteers, AirwaysNews.com reports.

Elaine Thompson/AP

Inside the 727's restored cockpit, this instrument panel shows traditional gauges that told pilots the plane's speed, direction, altitude and its relation to the horizon. From 1963 to 1991, this airliner logged 64,495 hours of flight time.

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This throttle controls the 727's three engines. Flying aboard a so-called "three-holer" nowadays is a rare experience. More efficient twin-engine airliners have become dominant in the industry.

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Volunteer Jim Munneke closes a luggage compartment on the airliner that he helped restore. The 727 expanded air travel in the 1960s by allowing airlines to open shorter U.S. routes. Boeing manufactured 1,831 727s before the production line shut down in 1984. By 2003, all major U.S. airlines had retired the 727, AirwaysNews.com reports. But a few still serve as freighters and VIP transports.

Former test plane

The plane touched down at Boeing Field at 11:07. Total time: 17 minutes.

The route is not one unfamiliar for this aircraft.

It was once a test aircraft for Boeing, completing its first flight in 1963.

After the aircraft’s time with Boeing on the flight test certification campaign, the 727 was delivered to United Airlines in 1964, where it spent its entire 27 years flying as a passenger airliner.

Over the course of its career, registered as tail number N7001U, the plane carried around 3 million passengers and generated an estimated $300 million for United.

In 1991, United retired the plane by flying it from San Francisco to Seattle/Tacoma airport.

It was repainted in the original 1960s United livery and flown to Everett as a donation to the Museum of Flight.

Massive volunteer effort

This flight has been 25 years in the making, as volunteers have spent thousands of hours along with blood, sweat and tears during that time restoring this first of its kind airliner.

It is the beneficiary of many donations of parts from FedEx and airlines throughout the world over the years as they retired the iconic 727 from their fleets.

The final push came in May 2004, when FedEx donated another 727 that was destined for retirement.

The 727 will be on temporary display in the Museum of Flight’s airpark through the summer.

Then, it will be placed inside a new covered aviation pavilion, which will also include a 1960s-era VC-137 Air Force One, the first Boeing 737-100, the first 747-100, the third Boeing 787-8, a Concorde supersonic jet and many other historic aircraft.

Brandon Farris and Royal Scott King write for Miami-based AirwaysNews.com.