First ever Boeing 727 to take its final flight

The very first Boeing 727, which had its maiden voyage more than 50 years ago, will take its final flight on Tuesday, March 1.

The 727 will fly from Paine Field to Boeing Field International, both in Washington state on its final journey. Following that, it will be placed on permanent display in the Museum of Flight, where it will help kick off Boeing's centennial celebration.



“There are a lot of people who thought this plane would never fly again,” Bob Bogash, the leader of the renovation, told Herald Net.

The aircraft took its first flight, from Renton Field to Paine Field, the opposite route of next week's flight, on February 9, 1963. It worked as a test vehicle for a year until it was delivered to United Airlines on October 6, 1964, where the aircraft stayed until it was retired in 1991.

The 727 would become a historic part of 1970s and 80s aviation. It was a multipurpose aircraft, used for commercial aviation, cargo and private flight. It became a vital part of the FedEx fleet and in the 1990s, Donald Trump flew in his own personal 727.

During its 27-year career, the plane flew 64,495 hours, made 48,060 landings and carried an estimated 3 million passengers. The 35-mile journey will mark an important moment in aviation history.



The three-engine system and T-tail design differentiated it from other aircraft of the time. On the 727, Boeing completely changed the shape of the wings from the norm. Triple-slot flaps came from the back edge and leads came out in front of the wings. But the protrusions disappeared and retracted while in flight, allowing the aircraft to fly faster that 600 mph.

There are still 69 Boeing 727s in service, according to 2015's World Airliner Census.



This article originally appeared on Mashable