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Boeing 757

Boeing 757: Encyclopedia - Boeing 757

The Boeing 757 is a medium-range transcontinental commercial passenger airplane manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was designed for Eastern Airlines and British Airways to replace the Boeing 727 and entered service in 1983. Production of the 757 ended in October 2004 after 1,050 had been built. Boeing 757 - Introduction. The 757 (originally designated "7N7") was designed by Boeing to complement the 767 on less dense routes. It has transatlantic range, and was one of the earliest ETOPS-rated air ...

Including:

Boeing 757 - Introduction

Boeing 757 - Variants

Boeing 757 - 757-100

Boeing 757 - 757-200

Boeing 757 - 757-300

Boeing 757 - Private and military variants

Boeing 757 - In-service

Boeing 757 - Winglets

Boeing 757 - General characteristics

Boeing 757 - Accident summary

Boeing 757 - Related content

Boeing 757, Boeing 757 - 757-100, Boeing 757 - 757-200, Boeing 757 - 757-300, Boeing 757 - Accident summary, Boeing 757 - General characteristics, Boeing 757 - In-service, Boeing 757 - Introduction, Boeing 757 - Private and military variants, Boeing 757 - Related content, Boeing 757 - Variants, Boeing 757 - Winglets

Boeing 757: Encyclopedia - Boeing 757

Boeing 757

The Boeing 757 is a medium-range transcontinental commercial passenger airplane manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was designed for Eastern Airlines and British Airways to replace the Boeing 727 and entered service in 1983. Production of the 757 ended in October 2004 after 1,050 had been built.

Boeing 757 - Introduction

The 757 (originally designated "7N7") was designed by Boeing to complement the 767 on less dense routes. It has transatlantic range, and was one of the earliest ETOPS-rated airliners. As it needs to fly high and far, it is fitted with relatively high-thrust engines. Originally conceived as the Boeing 727-300, a stretched variant over the 727-200, the 757 was a newer design. For better economics, the passenger capacity is increased by 50 over the 727. The 757 uses many of the same components as the widebody 767, and the two planes have a common FAA type-rating, enabling flight crews to earn certification for both by training and testing only on one. The 757 maintains the same fuselage diameter as the previous 707, 727, and 737. The 757 was discontinued just after crossing the 1000-produced mark. The 737-900 fulfills Boeing's marketing niche previously occupied by the 757, though it does not have the same range or take-off performance.

Indeed, the 757 was preferred by airlines which needed to traverse long, thin routes, chiefly transcontinental and transatlantic routes. It was also desired by airlines flying from hot and high climates, such as Mexico City. The 757's resale value has increased since the discontinuation of new production. In fact, a December 29, 2004 order from Continental Airlines for Boeing's new 787-8 and currently-produced 737-800 airliners included ten used 757-300s.

The 757 is the first Boeing airliner launched with non-US engines, Rolls-Royce RB211-535. Later, however, the Pratt & Whitney PW2000 was also offered as an option.

Boeing 757 - Variants

It has been manufactured in two basic variants. The 757-200 is shorter and has a longer operating range than the 757-300. The -100 was to be a variant but was not built. Some airlines truncate the full designations of these aircraft, and refer to them as the 752 and 753.

Boeing 757 - 757-100

This is the initial design with 150 seat capacity which is the direct replacement of the 727. It failed to generate interest and was not built.

Boeing 757 - 757-200

The 757-200 is the definitive version and forms the majority of the 757. It has also been manufactured in freighter (757-200F) and passenger-freight combi (757-200M) versions. In the late 1990's some of the airliner 757-200 were converted to freighters. This model has 8 standard doors.

757-200ER : Extended range version.
757-200PF : Package freighter version.
757-200SF : Special freighter version for DHL.

First flight: February 19, 1982 Wingspan: 124 ft. 10 in. / 38.05 m Length: 155 ft. 3 in. / 47.32 m Height: 44 ft. 6 in. / 13.56 m Ceiling: 41,000 ft. Range: 3,928 nm / 7,275 km Weight: 128,730 lbs / 58,391 kg Power plant: Two RollsRoyce RB211535C / RB211535E4 -or- Pratt & Whitney PW2037 / PW2040 Speed: 530 knots / 982 km/h / 0.80 mach Crew: 2 Accommodation: 192-239 in two or one class configuration

Boeing 757 - 757-300

The 757-300 is a stretched version, trading range for passenger capacity and the plane first flew in August 1998. The 757-300 is configured to carry 252 passengers. Range is 3,500 n.mi. Only 55 have been ordered. This model has 8 standard doors, with 4 over-the-wing exit doors, 2 on either side.

First flight: August 2, 1998 Wingspan: 124 ft. 10 in. / 38.05 m Length: 178 ft. 7 in. / 54.47 m Height: 44 ft. 6 in. / 13.56 m Ceiling: 41,000 ft. Range: 3,467 nm / 6,421 km Weight: 141,330 lbs / 64,106 kg Power plant: Two RollsRoyce RB211535E4-B -or- Pratt & Whitney PW2043 Speed: 530 knots / 982 km/h / 0.80 mach Crew: 2 Accommodation: 239-289 in two or one class configuration

Boeing 757 - Private and military variants

The United States Air Force has fitted 757s for VIP transport duties: designated C-32, these aircraft are often used to transport the Vice President of the United States under the callsign "Air Force Two". The Royal New Zealand Air Force has two 757s that are used for transporting troops and VIPs. A 757 is also serving as the Presidential Transport in Argentina, and 757s form part of the fleet used by the royal family of Saudi Arabia.

Presidential challenger John Kerry used a chartered 757-200, Freedom Bird, during the 2004 U.S. presidential campaign.

At least two 757s are in use as private aircraft, by supermarket magnate Ron Burkle and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Allen also purchased a 757 to serve as team aircraft for the Portland TrailBlazers.

Boeing 757 - In-service

The majority of 757s are found in domestic service with U.S. carriers, most notably American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. American operates the largest fleet of 757s and Delta comes in at a close second only by about 20 planes. Some airlines, such as Icelandair, Continental Airlines, American Airlines and ATA Airlines use the aircraft for transoceanic flights. For many airlines, like Royal Brunei and Royal Nepal Airlines, the 757 provided them an economical intercontinental airliner allowing such airlines for the first time service to European cities. For many third world airlines, the 757 is also a perfect substitute to the ageing Boeing 707s in their fleet.

The 757 is a popular aircraft for holiday/charter Airlines in the UK such as Thomas Cook, First Choice Airlines (Air 2000), Monarch Airlines and Thomson Fly (Brittania Airways). The 757 can reach South Africa as well as places nearer to Britain such as Amsterdam and Paris.

After initially successful sales, the sales of the 757 went down dramatically from the middle of the 1990's onwards. The 757 was first bought mainly by airlines wishing to tap long and thin (as well as young) routes. However, as the routes matured, the 757 was replaced by widebody airliners with better economics. On the short haul market, airlines consider the 757 too big as it is profitable only when it is at least three-quarters full. The short haul markets are better served by the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families of airliners. Should the passenger load reach three-quarters, the A321 and the 737-900 are more economical. Although neither have the range of the 757, they fulfill the requirements of 90% of the routes served by the 757. The 757 became the victim of changing market condition rather than technical obsolescence.

The 1,050th and last 757 destined for Shanghai Airlines rolled off the production line at Renton on October 28, 2004. The 757-200 is being replaced in the short term by the 737-900ER, and in the long term by the Y1. The 757-300 is being replaced by the 787-3 widebody.

Boeing 757 - Winglets

Although production has ceased for the 757, blended winglets are now available from Aviation Partners Inc. as a retrofit to increase fuel efficiency and range. American Airlines, Continental Airlines, and Icelandair have commenced fitting them to some of their fleets, targetted at longer range routes which are too far for 737 or MD-80 aircraft but not popular enough to operate a B767 or A300.