Boeing 757

Boeing 757
A mostly white Boeing 757 with blue and yellow trim preparing for landing against a grey sky.
A Boeing 757-200 of United Airlines, one of the primary users, in February 2017
General information
TypeNarrow-body jet airliner
National originUnited States
ManufacturerBoeing Commercial Airplanes
StatusIn service
Primary usersDelta Air Lines
Number built1,050[1]
History
Manufactured1981–2004
Introduction dateJanuary 1, 1983, with Eastern Air Lines
First flightFebruary 19, 1982; 42 years ago (1982-02-19)
VariantsBoeing C-32

The Boeing 757 is an American narrow-body airliner designed and built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The then-named 7N7, a twinjet successor for the trijet 727, received its first orders in August 1978. The prototype completed its maiden flight on February 19, 1982, and it was FAA certified on December 21, 1982. Eastern Air Lines placed the initial 757-200 variant in commercial service on January 1, 1983. A package freighter (PF) variant entered service in September 1987 and a combi model in September 1988. The stretched 757-300 was launched in September 1996 and began service in March 1999. After 1,050 had been built for 54 customers, production ended in October 2004, while Boeing offered the largest 737 NG variants as a successor to the -200.

The jetliner is powered by 36,600–43,500 lbf (163–193 kN) Rolls-Royce RB211 or Pratt & Whitney PW2000 underwing turbofan engines for a 255,000–273,000 lb (116–124 t) maximum takeoff weight (MTOW). The 757 has a 2,000 sq ft (185 m2) supercritical wing for reduced aerodynamic drag and a conventional tail. It keeps the 707 fuselage width and six–abreast seating and its two-crew glass cockpit has a common type rating with the concurrently designed 767 (a wide-body aircraft). It was produced in two fuselage lengths: the 155 ft (47.3 m) long 757-200 (the most popular with 913 built) typically seats 200 passengers in two classes over 3,915 nautical miles [nmi] (7,250 km; 4,505 mi); while the 178 ft (54.4 m) long 757-300 typically seats 243 over 3,400 nmi (6,295 km; 3,900 mi). The 757-200F can haul a 72,210 lb (32,755 kg) payload over 2,935 nmi (5,435 km; 3,378 mi). Passenger 757-200s have been modified for cargo use as the Special Freighter (SF) and the Precision Converted Freighter (PCF).

Major customers for the 757 included U.S. mainline carriers, European charter airlines, and cargo companies. It was commonly used for short and mid-range domestic routes, shuttle services, and transcontinental U.S. flights. ETOPS extended flights were approved in 1986 to fly intercontinental routes. Private and government operators have customized the 757 as VIP carriers such as the US C-32. In July 2017, there were 665 Boeing 757 in commercial service, with Delta Air Lines being the largest operator with 127 airplanes in its fleet.[2] The airliner has recorded ten hull-loss accidents out of a total of 13 hull losses, as of November 2023.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference last757built was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "World Airline Census 2018". Flightglobal. August 21, 2018. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference ASN was invoked but never defined (see the help page).