Boeing 757
| Boeing 757 at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Role | Narrowbody Jetliner |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Status | Out of Production |
| Number Built | 454 |
| Unit Cost | 66.000.000v$-78.000.000v$ |
| File:Airplanes-Boeing 757.jpg | |
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twinjet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the 757 can carry between 186 and 279 passengers, and have a maximum range of 3,100 to 3,900 nautical miles (5,900 to 7,200 km) depending on variant and seating configuration. The Boeing 757 has been produced in two fuselage lengths: the original 757-200 entered service in 1983, and the stretched 757-300 entered service in 1999. Freighter versions of the 757-200, the 757-200PF and 757-200SF, have also been produced.
Launched with orders from Eastern Air Lines and British Airways in 1978, the Boeing 757 was intended to replace the previous narrow-body 727 trijet on short and medium routes. The 757 was conceived and designed in tandem with the 767, a wide-body twinjet with which it shares design features and two-crew flight decks. The operating similarities between the two aircraft allow pilots to obtain a common type rating to operate both jets. After its introduction, the 757 became commonly used by operators in both the United States and Europe, and particularly with mainline U.S. carriers and European charter airlines. The 757 has also been acquired for use as government, military, and VIP transport.
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. A total of 1,031 Boeing 757 aircraft were in airline service in July 2008. Delta Air Lines operates the largest 757 fleet as of 2009.
Boeing 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 inches 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" over-wing exits per side replacing the smaller door aft of the wing.
Total production was 914 757-200s. In July 2009 a total of 929 Boeing 757-200 aircraft (all -200 variants) were in airline service, the main operators being Delta Air Lines (137), American Airlines (124), United Airlines (97), UPS Airlines (75), Northwest Airlines (55), US Airways (43), Continental Airlines (41), China Southern Airlines (22), DHL Air (22), FedEx Express (22), many other airline throughout the world still operate smaller numbers.
Boeing 757-200PF and 757-200SF
This cargo variety of the 757-200 proved to be a popular model after it was launched in 1985 and delivered in 1987 to UPS. The basic Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) 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 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 m³) and the two lower holds of the airplane provide 1,830 cubic feet (51.8 m³) 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.
Boeing 757-300
The 757-300 is a 23.4 ft (7.1 m) stretched version of the -200, that first flew in August 1998. The 757-300 has the capacity to seat 289 passengers in a 29-inch (740 mm) pitch one class cabin, though the highest configuration in airline service is 280 seats, as operated by Thomas Cook Airlines. The fuel capacity was not increased and therefore the range was reduced to 3,395 nmi (6,287 km). 55 were ordered and delivered. This model has 8 standard doors, with 4 over-the-wing exit doors, 2 on either side. This model also features the interior of the Next Generation 737, which blends aspects of the 757-200 interior with the Boeing 777-style interior. It has proved popular with charter airlines for its efficiency and dense capacity.
For Boeing to have increased the fuel capacity, it had to strengthen the undercarriage and other areas to increase the MTOW. The 757-300 series was available for purchase with four engine options: either 43,100 lbf (191.7 kN) Rolls Royce RB-211-535E4-B turbofans, 43,850 lbf (195.1 kN) Pratt & Whitney PW-2043 turbofans and older versions known from 757-200 series, PW2037 and PW2040. In the end, only Northwest Airlines ordered the 757-300 with the Pratt & Whitney engines, making them unique among the series. As of July 2008, there are 51 Boeing 757-300 aircraft in airline service with Continental Airlines (17), Northwest Airlines (16), Condor Airlines (13), Arkia Israel Airlines (2), Thomas Cook Airlines (2) and Icelandair (1).[3]
Boeing decided against further investment in the 757 family and focused efforts on the 737 Next Generation series (specifically the 737-900ER which Boeing believes will be a suitable 757-200 replacement for most passenger applications) and the Boeing 787, which Boeing believes, in smaller versions, will substitute for larger versions of the 757 family.
Specifications
| 757-200 | 757-200F | 757-300 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cockpit crew | Two (pilot, co-pilot) | ||
| Typical seating | 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 area | 181.25 m² (1,951 sq ft) | ||
| 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 (MTOW) | 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 PW2000, Pratt & Whitney PW2000, or Pratt & Whitney PW200W0 turbofan engines rated at 36,600 lbf (163 kN) to 43,500 lbf (193 kN) thrust each | ||