Why did PAL operate the Boeing 727 in the 1980s

The Boeing 727 was one of the least popular planes in Philippine Airlines’ previous fleet. Unlike the Boeing 747, BAC One-Eleven, Airbus A300, and McDonnell Douglas DC-10, the 727 made little “noise,” but it remains an interesting aircraft in the fleet to me. Some may wonder why PAL purchased the Boeing 727 only to use it for a short time. This is because the PAL Boeing 727 jets were primarily used as interim aircraft while the airline awaited the arrival of their Airbus A300B4s.

The B727 was the second tri-jet to join the PAL fleet. It served as a regional and domestic flight hub. The plane served in the PAL fleet until 1984.

The PAL Boeing 727 story

PAL ordered the Airbus A300B4, the world’s first twin-engine, dual-aisle, wide-body aircraft, in 1979. However, the plane was not readily available, and PAL required an aircraft to replace their aging Douglas DC-8s immediately. They needed an interim aircraft right away while waiting for their new A300s to arrive.

To serve regional and medium-haul flights, PAL required wider, faster, and longer-range aircraft.

In 1979, the airline leased two Boeing 727-200s while waiting for the A300B4 to become available. In 1981, PAL purchased two 727-100s, which were shorter versions of the 727-200s but had a longer range. These 727-100s eventually took the place of the leased aircraft. PAL retired the Boeing 727s in 1984, capping off a five-year run. They were replaced by the Airbus A300B4 for regional flights and domestic flights to Cebu.

Although few details are known about PAL’s B727s, their 727-200 series had a distinct livery from the 727-100 and the rest of the PAL fleet. My only guess is that it’s because the plane is leased.

PAL was a strong Boeing operator way back, operating the 747, 737, and now the 777-300ER.

About the Boeing 727

Boeing Commercial Airplanes produced the Boeing 727 narrow-body trijet airliner for 21 years, from 1963 to 1984. The Boeing 727 was designed as a follow-up to the Boeing 707 quad-jet airliner, from which it borrowed the cockpit and some fuselage design.

The Boeing 727 is a trijet with an engine on each side of the fuselage near the leading edge of the tail fin. An S-duct connected the third engine, which was mounted in the fuselage’s tail cone, to an air intake atop the fuselage at the leading edge of the tail fin. The 727 was an appealing aircraft due to its aerodynamic lines, such as the wings, which were free of engines.

The 727 was designed to operate from runways as short as 4,500 feet. This allowed it to fly into and out of smaller city airports as well as remote regional airfields. The Boeing 727 design had several advantages, including the ability to operate from short airfields while still providing a good range. Instead of flying a short distance to a major hub and then changing to a larger aircraft, the 727 was able to fly directly from smaller airfields to many more destinations.

The Boeing 727 is a medium to short-range single-aisle airliner with six seats per row. The 727-100 and 727-200 were the two main variants of the type. The 200 was 6.1 metres (20 feet) longer than the 727-100, allowing the 727 to serve the 120 to 180-seat market. The 727-200 was also available in a variant known as the 727-200 Advanced. The Advanced had increased lifting capacity through airframe strengthening, more powerful engines, and the option of a longer-range version with more fuel-carrying capacity.

The 727-100 is powered by three Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1 engines, each producing 14,000 lbf of thrust. The 727-200, on the other hand, is powered by three Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 engines that produce 14,500 lbf of thrust. The 727-200ADV, or advanced version of the aircraft, is powered by three JT8D-17R engines that produce 17,400 lbf of thrust.

Sources:

• Philippine Airlines 75 Years Anniversary coffee table book
• Modernjetliners.com