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The Boeing 727 prototype on its final flight, just before landing at Boeing Field on March 2, 2016. Francis Zera/The Museum of Flight Photo
On March 2, the Museum of Flight’s recently-restored Boeing 727 prototype made its first flight in 25 years; the flight also marked the airplane’s last flight ever. The Future of Flight at Paine Field in Everett, Wash., held a preflight ceremony while hundreds of enthusiastic fans and former 727 flight crew members awaited the plane’s arrival at The Museum of Flight. The plane received a heartfelt welcome at the Museum when it taxied through the Boeing Field gate at 11 a.m.
The final flight from Paine Field to Boeing Field lasted less than 15 minutes. Upon landing, the aircraft taxied directly into the Museum’s parking area – through a celebratory arch of water created by water cannons on Boeing and King County firetrucks – where the engines were shut down for the last time. After the ceremonies, the plane was opened to the public, and they were able to tour for the remainder of the day as part of their admission.
The 727 will also be open to the public this weekend, March 5-6, also free with admission (tours inside of the plane will only be available if it is not raining that day).
The 727’s brief trip from Everett to Seattle was flown under a special flight permit, with only essential flight crew onboard during the flight: pilot Tim Powell, co-pilot Mike Scott, flight engineer Ralph Pascale, and safety officer Bob Bogash. Powell, Scott and Pascale fly 727s on a regular basis; airline and corporate pilot Powell has over 10,000 hours at the controls of various 727s. Bogash is the Museum’s 727 project manager.
The 727 will be on temporary display in the Museum’s Airpark through the summer. It will be moved for permanent display in the Aviation Pavilion in the fall.
The first of 1,832 Boeing 727 tri-jets built at the Renton plant, the Boeing 727 prototype went into service with United Air Lines in Oct. 1964. Ted Huetter/The Museum of Flight Photo
This unique jet has not been airborne since it was donated to the Museum by United Air Lines in 1991, and has been under restoration ever since by volunteer crews at the Museum’s Restoration Center and Reserve Collection at Paine Field, Everett, Wash.
Regular updates on the historic Boeing 727 can be found on the Museum’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram social media outlets:
www.facebook.com/museumofflight
www.twitter.com/MuseumofFlight
