The Final Flight: Only 22 Boeing 727s Remain in the Skies Worldwide

The Boeing 727, one of the icons of commercial and cargo aviation, is approaching its final years of operation. Of the thousands that graced the skies since its first flight in 1963, only 22 units remain active worldwide, marking the end of an era for this trijet that revolutionized the aviation industry.

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The last survivors

Among the 22 Boeing 727s still flying, two stand out for surpassing 57 years of operational life, becoming true symbols of the durability and versatility of this model. These aircraft not only survive the passage of time but continue to perform specific missions that demonstrate their value in roles requiring robustness and reliability.

The oldest is the Boeing 727-100 registered as AVIONS-1001, operated by the South Sudan Air Force and Air Defense. At 57.8 years, this trijet is still used for multifunctional military transport, showcasing the strength of its design and its ability to adapt to demanding operational environments. The aircraft has logged 48,268 cycles and 51,964 flight hours, reflecting a long and intense operational life, according to data obtained by Aviacionline via Cirium Fleet Analyzer.

Close behind in age is the Boeing 727-100 registered as VP-BAP, owned by Malibu Consulting Ltd, a private company using it for corporate purposes. This aircraft, at 57.6 years, has logged 38,967 cycles and 41,257 flight hours, serving as a premium transport for a niche operator. This specific case highlights how the 727 has found more specialized applications towards the end of its mass commercial life.

The 727’s legacy in Latin America: resilience in regional skies

Boeing 727s still operational in Latin America perform diverse roles, ranging from military transport by the Mexican National Guard to cargo transport by airlines like Aerosucre in Colombia and Air Class Cargo in Uruguay. These aircraft have proven essential in countries where operational conditions and airport infrastructure can be challenging.

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With ages ranging from 42 to 45 years, these aircraft have accumulated tens of thousands of cycles and flight hours, showcasing their durability. Their ability to operate on short runways and their robust structure make them ideal tools to meet the logistical needs of the region, despite limitations in fuel efficiency and environmental compliance.

A marvel of engineering

The Boeing 727 debuted as a response to the need for an aircraft capable of operating on short runways with high efficiency. Its three Pratt & Whitney JT8D engines and iconic T-tail design made it a globally recognizable model. Over its 22 years of production, more than 1,800 units were built, including the 727-100 and 727-200 variants.

Although its mass commercial operation ended years ago due to environmental regulations and the advent of more efficient aircraft, the 727 is still remembered as one of the most influential and beautiful designs in history. Its twilight, with only a few active units, symbolizes the end of a golden era for classic aviation.

These are the Boeing 727s still in operation:

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SN	Variant	Registration	Age	Operator	Country	Hours
19011	727-100	AVIONS-1001	57.8	South Sudan Air Force and Air Defense	South Sudan	51964
19260	727-100	VP-BAP	57.6	Malibu Consulting Ltd	United States	41257
21243	727-200	N794AJ	48.7	Everts Air Alaska	United States	61810
21247	727-200	EY-627	48.4	Eagle Enterprise	Kenia	60103
21459	727-200	EX-27015	46.8	Blue Jet Airways	Kenia
21930	727-200	5Y-GMA	45.5	Safe Air (Kenya)	Kenia	49054
21958	727-200	CX-CAR	45.2	Air Class Cargo	Uruguay	60920
22460	727-200	HK-5239	43.6	Aerosucre Colombia	Colombia	58895
22467	727-200	N289MT	43.5	Raytheon Corp	United States	51963
22469	727-200	N726US	43.4	USA Jet Airlines	United States	67182
22470	727-200	N727US	43.4	USA Jet Airlines	United States	66366
22552	727-200	HP-1939UCG	43.3	Uniworld Air Cargo	Panama	59446
22663	727-200	GN-402/XC-NPF	43.3	Guardia Nacional Mexicana	Mexico	59699
22664	727-200	GN-401/XC-MPF	43.2	Guardia Nacional Mexicana	Mexico	60263
22676	727-200	GN-403/XC-OPF	43.6	Guardia Nacional Mexicana	Mexico	61932
22759	727-200	9T-TCR	43.1	D R Congo Air Force	DRC	45650
22924	727-200	9S-ASS	41.7	Serve Air	DRC	32132
22931	727-200	9S-AVS	41.0	Serve Air	DRC
22935	727-200	9S-AVV	40.6	Serve Air	DRC	24578
22936	727-200	N215WE	40.5	Gulf and Caribbean Cargo	United States	36827
22938	727-200	G-OSRA	40.3	2Excel Aviation	UK	29427
22983	727-200	CX-CLC	42.1	Air Class Cargo	Uruguay	65359

See also: #TBT: Aerolíneas Argentinas flights between Buenos Aires Aeroparque and Miami in 1987 with Boeing 727 aircraft

The twilight on the ground: stored Boeing 727s

Despite some Boeing 727s still flying, a significant portion of these aircraft are stored, awaiting their final fate. These planes are often no longer economically viable for regular operation but represent a fragment of history preserved in hangars or airplane graveyards.

The oldest in storage

Among the stored aircraft is the Boeing 727 registered as N30MP, operated by MP Aviation LLC, boasting an impressive age of 58.8 years. Originally designed for corporate use, it has logged 34,929 cycles and 35,891 flight hours. Although its operational capability has diminished, it remains a testament to the durability of the model and the ingenuity of operators who kept it flying for decades.

Another veteran is the 9T-TCL, stored by the Democratic Republic of the Congo Air Force, with 57.9 years of service. This 727 was used for multifunctional military transport roles and has recorded 50,390 cycles and 68,411 flight hours, making it one of the units with the highest operational history in its category.

Diversity of uses in its history

Stored Boeing 727s encompass a wide variety of roles, from military transport, like those operated by the Congo Air Force, to exclusive corporate uses, such as the N908JE from Jet Assets Inc, aged 55.5 years. The latter stands out for its more limited operational profile, with 21,117 cycles and 30,845 flight hours before retirement.

On the other hand, aircraft like the N724CK, owned by Kalitta Charters II, have a background in cargo transport. This plane, aged 54.4 years, accumulated 44,609 cycles and 56,790 flight hours, serving as a workhorse on logistics routes before being relegated to storage.

The uncertain future of stored 727s

The fate of these stored aircraft varies. Some might be temporarily reactivated, particularly in niche markets or emergency situations, while others could be scrapped for parts. However, their presence in hangars and airplane graveyards is a tangible reminder of the Boeing 727’s legacy and its impact on global aviation.

These aircraft, though no longer operational, continue to captivate enthusiasts and industry professionals who see in them not just flying machines but witnesses of an era of innovation and growth in aviation.

Stored Boeing 727s

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SN	Variant	Registration	Age	Operator	Country	Hours
18998	727-100	N30MP	58.8	MP Aviation LLC		35891
19359	727-100	9T-TCL	57.9	D R Congo Air Force	DRC	68411
19806	727-100	9T-TCK	56.8	D R Congo Air Force	DRC	54399
20115	727-100	N908JE	55.5	Jet Assets Inc		30845
20383	727-200	N724CK	54.4	Kalitta Charters II	United States	56790
20512	727-100	N311AG	53.8	Gordon P Getty	United States	31065
20735	727-200	N422BN	51.3	Antares Aviation LLC	United States
20905	727-200	EW-494TT	49.9	Undisclosed Bank / Broker / Lessor		45118
20994	727-200	N209TR	48.6	Interjet West	United States	66928
21045	727-200	N438BN	49.6	Towards Air		65295
21119	727-200	N164TS	49.1	Air Speed Charter FZE	Kyrgyzstan	70474
21200	727-200	YV	48.6	Solar Cargo	Brazil	74294
21266	727-200	N615PA	48.2	TBM Inc	United States	43074
21345	727-200	HP-1937UCG	44.2	Uniworld Air Cargo		62390
21455	727-200	N281FL	46.9	Gulf and Caribbean Cargo	United States	49767
21460	727-200	HZ-SKI	46.7	Al Tameer Co	Saudi Arabia	9086
21502	727-200	PR-TTP	46.7	Total Linhas Aereas	Brazil	65515
21523	727-200	N165TS	45.7	Air Speed Charter FZE	Saudi Arabia	73908
21525	727-200	N104HR	45.7	XYREC Inc	Saudi Arabia	61823
21526	727-200	9S-ABC	45.7	Joseph Kabila	Zimbabwe	61382
21580	727-200	5Y-	45.9	Safe Air (Kenya)	Kyrgyzstan	64032
21595	727-200	C-	46.0	Undisclosed Bank / Broker / Lessor	UK	9302
21620	727-200	FAE620	46.1	Ecuadorian Air Force	Ecuador	55124
21945	727-200	N727NK	45.5	Antares Aviation LLC	United States	41105
21951	727-200	N726CK	44.2	Kalitta Charters II	United States	38259
21996	727-200	HK-5216	44.9	Aerosucre Colombia	Colombia	61599
22162	727-200	5N-BNQ	43.9	Emirate Touch Aviation Services	Nigeria	64114
22252	727-200	N725CK	44.0	Kalitta Charters II		59767
22362	727-200	N531BN	44.3	N531BN Holdings LLC	United States	3575
22430	727-200	XT-BFA	43.9	Government of Burkina Faso	Burkina Faso	29662
22462	727-200	5Y-NIV	43.6	Astral Aviation		51777
22465	727-200	N708AA	43.5	World Aviation Services LLC	México	62496
22543	727-200	5Y-JIB	44.0	Safe Air (Kenya)	Kenya	56449
22609	727-200	YV665T	43.8	Solar Cargo	Venezuela	36761
22687	727-200	N	43.2	Undisclosed Bank / Broker / Lessor		6004
22825	727-200	VQ-BNF	42.6	Enterprise Aviation Bermuda Limited	United States	4405
22927	727-200	HK-4636	41.4	LAS Cargo	Colombia	32709
22928	727-200	HK-4637	41.3	LAS Cargo	Colombia	32187
22929	727-200	G-OSRB	41.2	2Excel Aviation	UK	32434
22937	727-200	N216WE	40.4	Gulf and Caribbean Cargo	United States	37955
22982	727-200	N729CK	42.6	Kalitta Charters II	United States	34388
22984	727-200	PR-IOC	42.1	ASAS Linhas Aereas	Brazil	64440