I Went in a 60 Year Old Airliner 

727's APU isn't back there with the engines. It's actually in a very weird place near the center of the plane. The APU exhaust on the 727 is at the root of the right wing.

I flew on a 727 as a child, and I’ll always remember climbing the stairs at the tail. The same stairs D.B. Cooper descended and jumped from!

The 50’s-70’s was truly the Golden Age of Flight. The mix between the older prop-driven airliners, to the first jetliners, to the Concorde. The apron would’ve been a GLORIOUS sight to see. The sounds, smells.

I wish we had planes like this that actually still functioned, like a TWA L-1011 or something

My very first assignment as a pilot for a major airline was as a flight engineer on the 727-200 based in the Pacific. I always felt safe over the Pacific in that airplane. It will go down in aviation history as one of the safest and reliable jets.

Funny thing, the seats you are watching are actually modern. 1960's seats were huuuuuuuuuuuge and very thick (resembled a living room couch compared to the crappy modern ones). Regardless of the APU thing and other little mistakes, I really appreciate the time you took making this video, I always wanted to go to this museum and take a look of this specific aircraft. Thank you!

My father flew the 727 for Lufthansa between ‘84 and ‘92. I flew on it myself in July 1993 to Mallorca and it sure was a great experience. It would be a privilege to fly on such a rare aircraft today, but back then it was about as special as flying a regular 737-800 today. 😄

So cool to have a display with actuating landing gear and flaps! I could probably sit and watch the gear cycles alone for at least an hour. The "Seven-Two" has always been one of my favorites.

Ive worked as staff there multiple times, it's actually really funny, they hooked up the flaps, landing gear and rest of the stuff to a remote control, so staff can just point at it and click a button. They removed all the aircraft's hydraulics and used servos to link to electrical motors. It is insane how they can lift such heavy weight

The 727 was a fantastic plane I spent 10000 hours as a pilot on the 100 and 200 Did a great job as it was designed to do

I always love seeing these old airliners. It does a good job of reminding us of the golden age of aviation. There were so many diverse and interesting aircraft, as well as many diverse and beautiful retro liveries It brings about a special part of me.

727 is the most beautiful aircraft Boeing has built. She was a fine bird!

What a fantastic museum treatment of the 727! Someone really thought it through with love and care. I especially like how you can stand right next to the engine and touch those jet pipes! The 727: my favorite airliner of all time.

That has to be the finest display of a classic airliner I've ever seen. Well done! I just wish it was closer to home....

I rode on 727s multiple times of year until about '75... family things. Back then as a kid and young teenager you visit the cockpit on the ground and those guys loved to sit you in the seat and have you point to different things as they talked about it. In CAP, we got to fiddle around in a Level D sim and tour the AA flight academy. I remember being impressed with the smell and sounds. A truly crew served aircraft and a lot can be said in favor of the concept. To me, maybe its nostalgia, the 727 is the sexiest airliner there is.

The 727 on of my all time favorite aircraft to fly on! It also among the fastest.

I had the privilege of flying as a passenger on the B727. The scream of those JT8D engines was something to behold. I will never forget that sound.

My favorite exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. Love when they extend the flaps, and the "clamshell" opens up on the reverse thrust. So cool!!!!

A beautiful tour of the airplane! Thank you, I will pause it and read the descriptions. Very nicely done! That is a beautiful display of a 727. A couple of minor corrections. When you mentioned you were looking at the Hydraulics, you were actually showing a cutaway of the number 1 engine, the Compressors, Burner Cans, and Turbine wheels....the actual core of the engine that produced the thrust. Hydraulics are 3000 PSI electric and engine driven pumps located on the accessory drive on the external part of the engine. Hydraulic pressure is used for raising and lowering the landing gear, the brakes and nose wheel steering, raising and lowering the flaps and spoilers, and a power boost for the alerons and Rudder. Also, while you are correct that the vast majority of APU's are located in the tail.....that big opening in the tail you showed was actually the Number 2 engine exhaust. The 727 was unique in that it's APU is at the junction of the aft right wing root and the fuselage. The APU is a small jet engine that supplies electrical power and pneumatic pressure, (high pressure air). The APU was a vast improvement over the 1st generation jets like the DC-8 and B-707 which didn't have APU's and required ground provided electric and pneumatic carts when parked. The APU electrical generator powers the electric systems on the plane when the engines are shut down and the pneumatic system operates the air conditioning/ heating on the ground as well as driving the engine starters....they use pneumatic motors to spool up the engines until they were spinning fast enough that the fuel and igniters could be turned on to bring the engine up to idle power and then the starters are disengaged. And the bright orange seats in the cabin were 1960's First Class seats....Business Class hadn't been thought of yet. The only things missing were the little plastic signs they used to attach to the bottom of the overhead bins about halfway back in the cabin designating the aft half of the cabin as the Smoking Section and the seats forward of those signs were the Non-Smoking seats....

My first ever flight was on an Eastern Airlines 727 in1972. I have no negative memories of it.

This is the best maintained, the best displayed museum aircraft I have EVER seen! Many other museums could take a tip from this. With its working gears an surfaces its beyond words BEAUTIFUL!

Nice! When I was a boy in the 60's, American Airlines offered a free short promotional flight to children and a parent on the Boeing 707. Took off from Oklahoma City, over around Norman, and back. As you departed each child was given a set of nice metal Captain's wings. Cherished those wings for years.

Working for United Airlines from 1959 to 1998 I worked the ramp working the first DC-8 out of Ohare and worked the 727 here on display . Worked the first 747 from Ohare in 1970 , During my career I worked the first 767 , DC-10, 757 and the first 777also worked the last DC-8 out of Ohare. I became a Ramp Service Instructor from 1978 to 1998 when I ended my career. United was and is a Great Airline, This is a great display of History which I am part of !

Its amazing that all the flight parameters still work flaps,spoilers,gear,ailerons

why are old planes so beautiful? like the l'1011 or 727 even the 747 is almost 60 years old! the 747 was built in 1969 but the dc 6 is still a legend

My first jet job was flying freight in 727s. I got type rated in it in 1999, close to the end of their useful lifetime. Soon after, they were just too expensive to operate. It was a fantastic aircraft, and the type rating I’m most proud of.

That plane is so historical !

Ok for an avgeek this is a new level of cool! Definitely on my bucket list!

Grew up outside Chicago, Captain Norwood's 2 sons went to my H.S. My Mom used to take us O'hare to watch planes,ppl& eat lunch, guess parking was cheap back then.Been to see this plane many times

Used to fly frequently on Continental and United 727s and United DC-8. Both great experiences and much different than today. No TSA, and great service on board. Great memories of those days.

I once flew on a 727 on my way from Seattle to LA (I flew from Vancouver first, with a stopover at Seattle). I think it was in 2014 when I flew on a 727. AWH DANG!

My great uncle was a UA 727 mechanic for decades and came back from retirement to help build this exhibit. It’s so cool seeing this and knowing that he brought it to life.

Boy this brings back memories of flying on 727s growing up! The last time I flew on one was with ATA in 1999. The 727 is just sleek and beautiful. The cockpit utilized a three man flight crew including a flight engineer. The cutaway of the JT8D engines are fascinating. Miss these classic birds. 🛫

0:21 three cheers for the cute baby planes

Nice reminder of a fine airplane. A 727 was the first jet I flew on in 1965. It was Eastern Airlines and called a Whisper Jet. I then started traveling for work and probably logged 100s of flights on 727s and many, many miles. Since then have flown on virtually dozens of other models of airplanes with only one I absolutely hated - a pokey, clapped out rattletrap Vasp Brazil French Caravelle. One thing that bothered me at some small Caribbean Island or South American airports while taking off in a 727 was the mid engine compressor stall and the thump or, occasionally, bang

Nicely done museum and your presentation of this 727 exhibit. Thanks.

I flew several times in 707s during the 1960s, including an Atlantic crossing. They were very comfortable compared to today's airliners. They were faster too. Today the priorities are not speed but efficiency and noise.

The legroom in the 727's economy seating was fantastic. Although the aircraft was fairly loud, it was very comfortable.

Work required me to frequently fly out of McAllen, Texas (MFE) to Houston Intercontinental (IAH) on Continental Airlines (merged with United in 2010) back in the mid '90s. 737s were the primary aircraft used but there was one lucky time I found myself boarded into a 727. It had been years and years since I had flown on a 727. I remember clearly how quiet and smooth the entire flight felt with the engines all the way at the tail. I also remember the cabin as being quite a bit larger than the 737s but that could just be a faulty memory. It was the last 727 I flew on. Continental retired what was referred to as the "three holer" from their fleet that same year. I really appreciated your video showing the 727 in great detail. The shot of the gear, flaps, and thrust reverse functioning was an unexpected bonus! There is a video on YT of the local Chicago news media documenting when the plane you featured was retired and flew to Meigs Field adjacent to Chicago for donation to the museum in the early '90s. Quite an event to land a 727 on a windy day on a 3000' runway! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NV4tgjSPgks.html Again, great video and nothing but clear skies and tailwinds for your channel!

B727, 707s, DC-8s & 9s, the Golden Age of jet travel. Happy that the good people of Chicago preserved this one! As a retired airline EVP who actually purchased and supervised production of our fleet with Douglas and Boeing, visiting the production floor and observing true craftsmen at work was like being able to visit Disneyland everyday! Truly inspiring to witness attention to detail, quality and above all, extreme focus on safety! Thank you.

The APU is located in the Main Landing Gear Wheel Well on the Forward side. The air intake is on the Left side and the Exhaust vents out on the upper right side on the top of the wing. I have removed and re-installed hundreds of them. The 727 is by far my favorite aircraft to work on. We still overhaul the Pratt & Whitney JT8D's that power those magnificent birds! We still fly 3 cargo 727's, I'm just happy and amazed to see them in the air still. Parts for the engines are getting scarce.

I live in the area and I remember that plane! I was in cub scouts, and we once did an event where got to sleep in the museum of science and industry and I slept right outside the plane since we weren’t allowed to sleep inside of it. I remember I was 6, and it got me into aviation and here I am now.

There's literally a Stuka diving and a Spitfire catching him

It's hard for me to think of this as an antique having flown captain on them for years in passenger service. They are still out there working around the world.

It's cool to see the plane still intact without being split, the 727 is just one of my favorite planes too

2:55 those are modern United seats.

I worked on many of this type aircraft. Both the 100 (short ) and 200 ( long ) series. The pilots called the type, a hot rod , of those with the more powerful engines. The fun part that no one talks about , the cement filled 55 gallon drum, that had to be hung near the nose wheel when the plane was defueled to counter the want of the aircraft to rotate nose high and sit on the rear tail skid. Saw one that the seats were removed along with the fuel, sitting on the ramp nose high. They had a heckive a time getting the nose wheel back to the ground.

Been through this plane many times. Sometimes they have retired pilots there volunteering to be docents. They have some great stories. I have flown on 27s more times than I can remember. It was the only jet I ever flew on before I turned 18. I think the last time was in 1996. The exhibit is great. If you are in Chicago it is worth the time and even the pricey admission to see it and the other fascinating exhibits. They have the greatest model train setup I have ever seen. It includes a scale m9del on Chicago on one side. Then there are plains and mountains and scenery in the middle. On the other side is a scale model of Seattle. It is something you can watch for hours. But there is a lot of other stuff to see.

I made two jump from a 727 in 1993 and saw the one at the museum a few years later. It's a beautiful airplane.

Bruh I’ve been to Chicago so many times idk how I missed this place lol- cool video btw

My Dad flew a 727-100 for Air America, the old CIA airline. While the DC-3 was his favorite warhorse, he loved that model of the 727, and said it was like flying a sports car.

The APU of the 727 is located in the main landing gear wheel well bays, exhaust on top side of the right wing. I was on board this plane in the museum around 2017 and spent three or four hours to enjoy to see a 727 directly again.

Excellent video. Thanks for posting.

Interesting to see people that don't know, what they don't know. 727 is a trijet, with the APU mounted between the wheel wells. APU Exhaust on top of the right wing root.

Remember flying on Eastern Airlines 727 from Miami to St Croix in the USVI back in the late 80's.

I'm proud to say, I've seen the first Boeing 737, first 727, and first 747 ever built. I've also seen one of the earliest production 787 Dreamliner models ever. All at The Museum of Flight.

4:39 I like how united named their wine "United Air Wines" It got me laughing!

I remember as a kid in the early 80’s, getting off of these planes via the Air Stairs at Lihue airport on Kauai.

For some reason at the thumbnail I first thought it was the Dassault Mercure,but nevermind it's a 727.

4:48 Spirit: *that's about right, wait let me cram the passengers instead*

nicely done, thanks for posting.

I've flown on the following...707, 727 737, 747, 747 sp, 757, 767,777, 787 and every Airbus except the A380 as well as de Havilland, l1011 Tristar, sud caravelle, vc10, Douglas dc3, dc8, dc9, dc10......awesome memories. Thats why they call me grandad

That is a very well displayed aircraft. Thanks for sharing

I loved the 727, flew on them in S.America and Alaska. A hot rod airliner!

The B 727 was one of the Most Beautiful Airliners Ever. Flew it for LADECO Airlines in the late 80's. That was a Most Elegant Airline with Beautiful young all female Cabin Crew . We flew South America and Miami , a few times JFK replacing the company's B 707 s.

Very nice video! Here in Brazil we have some 727-200 that still operational. They are freight converted, If you wanna see some of that nice birds flying look for Total Linhas Aéreas and Asas Linhas Aéreas on the search off RU-vid.

Very COOL, thanks for sharing.. always love these old aircraft.

Very nice video, favorite plane is the 727

That 27 was one of the best,thank you!

My Brother and I flew from Dallas to JFK on a 727 and boarded by the airstair at the back,great !!

The United livery is absolutely beautiful.

Great vid, and marvelous exhibit! I still have some rather vague memories of my first flight in 1969, at 5 years old. But one thing I *do* remember is that everyone dressed up for flying, and everyone was nice, flight crew and passengers alike.. those *were* the days!

When it comes to non-freighters, there are five operators of the standard 727-200 passenger variant. These are: Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) Guardia National (Mexican National Guard) Raytheon Technologies République du Mali Safe Air

As a Chicagoan. I come to the MSI twice every year to get that traveling feeling espec in the B27-1! (Ofc I still fly on airliners 3 times a year, etc)

Beautiful airplane and museum. The Boeing 727 is a lot more interesting than the usual 737-800s and A320s that dominate aviation today.

I was on that jet around 2005 as luck would have it a retired pilot was volunteering at the plane and i talked to him, he had checked his log book and had flown that plane during his carer he told me flame outs were common but most passengers not aware of the engine restart.Interesting museum i loved the u505 as well

I used to make the stage 8 and 9 blades for the JT8D. They were made at ExCellO in Orlando, which now Mitsubishi.

Oldest plane I flew on was a DC-3. They used them to fly Boston to Nantucket up till the mid to late 80"s. That thing was nearly 40 years old when I took those flights!

GREAT video, thanks for sharing !

The 72 is bad ass. High mach and sturdy as a rail. Actually they only recently stopped flying them in the US majors.. Good ol 3-holer...

Hell yeah chicago! MSI is a lifelong favorite.

I flew the 727 on American airlines. Loved the aircraft.

Loved flying the 727!!!

The people there respect and treat the exhibit very well! if that were where I lived, it'd be torn up and nasty EVERYWHERE

That’s my favorite part of the museum whenever I get to go there.

Awesome the way they have that display!

Thanks for sharing this unique & important part of aviation history.

I love the 727 it will always be my favorite plane.

Interesting video. Nice to see a little history in action 🎬

I was there so recently in that plane with my friends!!!!!

suggestion: go to the seattle's museum of flight and head inside a lot of planes including a concorde, the first 727 and a 737-200

These 727 aircraft would take off from LaGuardia's short runways at near full thrust and fly over Shea stadium during Mets games. It was deafening. This was the model aircraft thet DB Cooper parachuted from way back when.

This is a beautiful classic Boeing airplane

2:58 I don’t think United in 60s have seats like that… but the one at 3:19 is.

Hey! I was there end of May’22. Great museum!!

Ah yes, the 727, the world's second commercial trijet.

You did a really good Professional video-Thanks....................At 61 it reminds me of being a kid again-Having EUROPEAN parents living in Canada-we flew a lot to see relatives!

Back when the airline loved the passengers more than the money 😪❤✈

He made a Beatles reference because that plane first flew in 1964 and one of the video sections is called A Hard Day’s Night which is a Beatles song and album that game out in 1964!

Cool, I didn't know much about the 727 a lot but, this boosted my knowledge about this. I need to go to that museum.