Boeing 727 prototype makes its final flight

After a restoration that took nearly 25 years to complete, the Boeing 727 prototype has made its final flight.

Using a special flight permit, and with only essential flightcrew onboard, the trijet was flown on Wednesday 2 March 2016 from Paine Field to the Boeing Field where it will be on display at the Museum Of Flight. The final flight, with a flight time of fifteen minutes, will help kick-off the Museum’s year-long recognition of the Boeing Company’s centennial.

This unique jet has not been airborne since it was donated to the Museum by its last commercial operator 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.

This ferry flight was the trijet’s final flight. The aircraft will be exhibited in the Museum’s Airpark through the summer, then it will join the Museum’s prototypes Boeing 737 and Boeing 747 for permanent exhibition in the Museum’s new Aviation Pavilion.

The Boeing 727 made its first flight in 1963 and introduced the jet age to millions of new passengers around the globe.