Boeing 757 Totally Explained

Everything about the Boeing 757 totally explained

The Boeing 757 is a short to medium range narrow-body commercial passenger aircraft manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was launched by Eastern Air Lines and British Airways to replace the Boeing 727 and entered service in 1983. Production of the 757 ended on October 28, 2004 after 1,050 had been built. The final aircraft was delivered to Shanghai Airlines on November 28, 2005. As of July 2007, a total of 1,019 Boeing 757 aircraft were in airline service.

Design and development

The 757 (designated "7N7" during initial development) was designed by Boeing to replace the Boeing 727 and complement the Boeing 767 on thin routes. Boeing originally offered the airlines a stretched, re-engined 727-200, known as the 727-300, but this never received enough interest from the airlines to proceed. Early 7N7 and 757 concepts featured a "T-tail" with under-wing engines, but a conventional tail was ultimately adopted. The 757 retains the same upper-fuselage diameter as the previous Boeing 707, 727, and 737. The first Boeing 757 was delivered to Eastern Air Lines on 22 December 1982.
   The 757 was the first Boeing airliner launched with engines produced outside the United States, with early customers selecting the Rolls-Royce RB211. Pratt & Whitney soon offered the PW2000, launched by Delta Air Lines. General Electric offered an engine option early in the program, the CF6-32, but eventually abandoned the engine due to insufficient demand.
   The 757 is used on heavy domestic routes as well as long routes between North America and Europe. Like the 727 it replaced, the 757 was designed for hot and high climates, such as Mexico City. For purposes of air traffic control spacing, the FAA requires greater separation behind a 757 than other large category aircraft because of their tendency to produce strong wake turbulence.

   Throughout the program, some viewed the 757 as "too much aircraft" for the role of a 727 replacement. With 20% more seats and a 50% longer range than the 727-200, the 757-200 was clearly not a like-for-like replacement. The nomenclature of the 757-200 suggests that Boeing had considered a smaller 757-100 variant. The 757-200 that entered production was too heavy for a shrunken variant, leaving a significant gap between the 757-200 and the 737-300. Boeing soon offered the 737-400 as a stopgap solution. However, when the Airbus A320 (which offered more range than the 737-400) entered service, sales of the 737-400 took a downturn, and some airlines, such as United and Northwest, began to consider the A320 as a 727 replacement. In reality, the gap left by the discontinuation of the 727-200 wasn't filled by Boeing until the release of the Boeing 737-800, which is most similar in size to the 727-200 and offers comparable range. This aircraft more closely matched the usual 150-seat configuration of the 727-200 (the 757-200 typically seats about 180) plus offered transcontinental range, something neither the 727 nor 737-400 could.
   The 757 maintains competitive economics with newer short haul aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 product lines, following the trend of larger aircraft having lower seat/mile cost. However, changing market conditions don't necessarily favor larger units of capacity. Should passenger loads fall, the smaller 737 and A320 reduce the airlines' exposure to financial risk. For those airlines in need of large capacity, the A321 and 737-900ER have lower trip cost, albeit with slightly fewer seats and less range. These airplanes fulfill the requirements of 90% of the routes served by the 757, and provide an alternative for airlines already operating 737 and A320 fleets.
   While the program was a resounding financial success, sales dwindled during the late 1990s, eventually forcing Boeing to cease production. The 1,050th and last 757, destined for Shanghai Airlines, rolled off the production line at Renton on October 28, 2004 In the short term, the 757-200 has been succeeded by the 737-900ER. Boeing believes the 737-900ER will be a suitable 757-200 replacement for most passenger applications, though the 737-900ER doesn't have the hot and high capacity of the 757 family. In the long term, the 757 is to be succeeded by the Y1. The 757-300 is being succeeded by the Boeing 787 widebody. Airbus hasn't yet announced future models in the 757 category, but currently the A321 is offered.
   The majority of 757s are in service with U.S. carriers (64% of aircraft in service at July 2007), Delta Air Lines and American Airlines being the first and second largest customers of the type, respectively. Prior to July 2007, American Airlines was the largest operator, operating a total of 141 757s. American Airlines has retired their 757 fleet that was inherited via American's buyout of TWA, due to the fact that they use Pratt & Whitney engines rather than Rolls-Royce like most of American's 757s. 13 of these 757s are being leased to Delta Air Lines via ILFC and Pegasus Aviation. United Airlines, Continental Airlines, US Airways, America West Airlines (now a part of the US Airways Group), and Northwest Airlines also operate large 757 fleets. The 757 is the only type of aircraft presently used by all six U.S. "legacy" airlines.
   The 757 is also used for holiday/charter airlines in the UK. Thomas Cook Airlines, First Choice Airways, Monarch Airlines, Titan Airways, XL Airways, Astraeus and Thomsonfly operate over 70 aircraft. British Airways profitably runs the aircraft on short routes such as London to Manchester (150 miles) and London to Edinburgh and Glasgow (350 miles), while other airlines have used the 757 for intercontinental and transatlantic routes.

Winglet upgrades

Although production has ceased, blended winglets are available from Aviation Partners Inc. as a retrofit to increase fuel efficiency and range. Aviation Partners claims improvements of 5% on fuel efficiency and 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) on range. Winglets on the 757 have only been approved for the 757-200 series as 757-200WL (757-200WingLets), and are pending approval for the 757-300 series.

Variants

There are several variants of the 757. The 757-200 was the original, launched in 1979 with introduction into service in 1983. The 757-300 was launched in 1996 with introduction into service in 1999.

757-200

The 757-200 is the definitive version and forms the majority of 757s sold. It shares its fuselage cross section with the smaller 727 and 737. Boeing positioned the plane above the 737 and as an eventual replacement for the 727. At first it was meant to be a little shorter in length. In the end it was positioned not only above the 737, but also the 727.
   This variant can carry 228 passengers in a single class. However, with a seat pitch of 29" it can carry a maximum of 234 passengers. This configuration is also the FAA limit for the aircraft due to emergency exit rules.
   The 757-200 was available in two different door configurations. One version used three standard doors per side with an additional, smaller door aft of the wing on each side for emergency evacuations. All eight door locations are equipped with inflatable evacuation slides. The alternate version is equipped with three standard doors per side (two towards the front and one at the aft of the cabin) with two "plug-type" overwing exits per side replacing the smaller door aft of the wing.
   The 757-200 introduced an interior that became standard on all narrowbody Boeing aircraft (including the Boeing 737 Classics) until the release of the Next Generation 737, which introduced an updated interior borrowing elements from the Boeing 777-style interior.

757-200PF and 757-200SF freighters

This proved to be a popular model after it was launched in 1985 and delivered in 1987 to UPS. The basic maximum takeoff weight of the 757PF is 250,000 pounds (113,400 kilograms), with an option for 255,000 pounds (115,600 kilograms). Other customers for the 757-200PF were Ethiopian Airlines, UPS and Challenge Air Cargo.
   The 757PF has no passenger windows or doors and no interior amenities. A large main-deck cargo door is installed in the forward area of the fuselage on the left-hand side. The flight crew boards the aircraft through a single entry door installed immediately aft of the flight deck on the left side of the aircraft.
   The interior of the main-deck fuselage has a smooth fiberglass lining. A fixed rigid barrier installed in the front end of the main deck serves as a restraint wall between the cargo and the flight deck. A sliding door in the barrier permits access from the flight deck to the cargo area.
   Up to 15 containers or pallets, each measuring 88 by 125 inches (223 by 317 centimeters) at the base, can be accommodated on the main deck of the 757PF. Total main-deck container volume is 6,600 cubic feet (187 cubic m) and the two lower holds of the airplane provide 1,830 cubic feet (51.8 cubic m) for bulk loading. These provide a combined maximum revenue payload capability of 87,700 pounds (39,780 kilograms) including container weight. When carrying the maximum load, the 757PF has a range of about 2,900 nautical miles (5,371 kilometers).
   Many former passenger 757-200s have been converted into 757-200 SF (Special Freighters), mainly for DHL. This conversion involves adding a cargo door on the left forward fuselage (identical to the 757-200PF), and removing all passenger amenities. All but the two forward cabin doors are sealed shut, and cabin windows are deleted. In September 2006, FedEx Express launched a US $2.6 billion fleet renewal initiative based on retiring its Boeing 727 aircraft and acquiring second-hand Boeing 757s. Converted 757s are expected to enter service between 2008 and 2016.

757-200M

This model was launched for Royal Nepal Airlines. It is a convertible version where the seats can be removed in order to place cargo on the main deck. Nepal needed a plane that could operate from high altitude airfields and, having low passenger traffic, they also were in need of a plane that could be converted to a freighter. Boeing saw this as an opportunity to showcase its 757. The 737 and 747 convertibles had proved popular and saw a market potential for the 757-200M. However only one example was ever ordered, delivered in 1988 to Royal Nepal whom still operate it under the registration 9N-ACB.
Other versions such as a 757-200ER were proposed, but never launched. However improvements such as winglets are offered for those upgrading their fleets. The winglet equipped 757-200s are also given other improvements, such as more comfortable seats for longer international journeys. These enhanced 757-200s are sometimes referred to as 757-200ER aircraft. All 757-200s in regular transatlantic service are equipped with winglets.
Total production was 914 757-200, 80 757-200PF, and 1 757-200M. In July 2007 a total of 964 Boeing 757-200 aircraft were in airline service. The largest operators of the aircraft include: American Airlines (141), Delta Air Lines (121), United Airlines (97), United Parcel Service (75), Northwest Airlines (55), US Airways (42), Continental Airlines (41), China Southern Airlines (22), DHL Air (21), Thomsonfly (18), Thomas Cook Airlines (16) and First Choice Airways (15). Some 91 other airlines also operate smaller numbers of the type.
At least three 757s are in use as private aircraft, one by supermarket magnate Ronald Burkle, and two by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Allen has one for personal use, tail number N757AF. The other, tail number N756AF, he purchased to serve as team aircraft for the Portland TrailBlazers and the Seattle Seahawks, both of which he owns.

Operators

Military and Government Operators

757 Deliveries

There is a large market for used 757 aircraft as they're needed to replace even older 727 aircraft.

Orders

2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994	1993	1992	1991
7	0	37	43	18	50	44	59	13	12	33	35	50
1990	1989	1988	1987	1986	1985	1984	1983	1982	1981	1980	1979	1978
95	166	148	46	13	45	2	26	2	3	64	0	38

Deliveries

2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994
2	11	14	29	45	45	67	54	46	42	43	69
1993	1992	1991	1990	1989	1988	1987	1986	1985	1984	1983	1982
71	99	80	77	51	48	40	35	36	18	25	2

Incidents and accidents

As of September 2007, there have been eight hull-loss accidents with a total of 700 fatalities (includes 125 fatalities on ground due to terrorist hijacking and subsequent crash in the September 11, 2001 attacks).

Recent notable incidents and accidents

October 2, 1990: 1990 People's Republic of China airliner collision. Registration: B-2812, Carrier: China Southern, Fatalities: 46 on board, Location: Guangzhou-Baiyun Airport, People's Republic of China

American Airlines Flight 965, Carrier: American Airlines, Fatalities: 163 on board, Approximate Location: Buga, Colombia

Birgenair Flight 301, Carrier: Birgenair, Fatalities: 189 on board, Approximate Location: Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

AeroPeru Flight 603, Carrier: AeroPeru, Fatalities: 70 on board, Approximate Location: Pacific Ocean off the coast of Pasamayo, Peru

Britannia Airways Flight BY226A, Carrier: Britannia Airways, Fatalities: None, Approximate Location: Girona-Costa Brava Airport, Spain

United Airlines Flight 93, Carrier: United Airlines, Fatalities: 44 on board, Approximate Location: Shanksville, Pennsylvania, United States

American Airlines Flight 77, Carrier: American Airlines, Fatalities: 64 on board and 125 on ground, Approximate Location: The Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, United States

DHL Flight 611, Carrier: DHL Aviation, Fatalities: 2 on board, Approximate Location: Überlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Specifications

	757-200	757-200F	757-300
Cockpit crew	Two
Passengers	200 (2-class) 234 (1-class)	N/A	243 (2-class) 289 (1-class)
Length	47.32 m (155 ft 3 in)		54.47 m (178 ft 7 in)
Wheelbase	18.29 m (60 ft)		22.35 m (73 ft 4 in)
Wingspan	38.05 m (124 ft 10 in)
Wing Sweepback	25°
Wing Aspect Ratio	7.8
Height	13.56 m (44 ft 6 in)
Cabin Width	3.54 m (11 ft 7 in)
Cabin Length	36.09 m (118 ft 5 in)		43.21 m (141 ft 8 in)
Max. take-off weight	115,680 kg (255,000 lb)		123,600 kg (272,500 lb)
Take-off Run at MTOW	9,550 ft (2,911 m)		9,600 ft (2,926 m)
Cruise speed	.80 Mach (530 mph, 458 knots, 850 km/h at 35,000 ft cruise altitude)
Range, loaded	7,222 km (3,900 NM) -200WL: 7,600 km (4,100 NM)	5,834 km (3,150 NM)	6,421 km (3,467 NM)
Max. fuel	43,490 L (11,489 US gal)	42,680 L (11,276 US gal)	43,400 L (11,466 US gal)
Service ceiling	12,800 m (42,000 ft)
Engines (2×)	Rolls-Royce RB211, Pratt & Whitney PW2037, PW2040, or PW2043 turbofan engines rated at 36,600 lbf (163 kN) to 43,500 lbf (193 kN) thrust each

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