Boeing
began studies of a short/medium range passenger jet as early as
1956; however, development had to wait until sales of the 707 had
proven the passenger jet concept.
The 727 pioneered the rear trijet
configuration as it gave better climb performance than a two engines
and was more economical than four. The 727 kept the same
fuselage cross-section as the 707. The prototype 727 first
flew in 1965.
A stretched version, the 727-200, first flew in
1967. Over 1,800 727 of all models were produced before
production ceased in 1984.
