I started flying shortly after 1989 and smoking was not allowed in the cabin. I'm so glad, too. I couldn't imagine being trapped inside a plane with everyone lighting up. God that must have smelled disgusting. I do remember flying coach and getting a full tray meal though! Surprisingly good quality video for 1989!
The story is that this was a former Piedmont crew flying as a USAir crew after their airline was purchased by USAir in 1989. USAir bought 22.8% of the Piedmont stock that Tom Davis the Piedmont CEO previously sold to Norfolk Southern Railroad. I flew as a Piedmont captain for 17 years in the '70s, '80s and '90s, being a '727 captain from '84 until sometime in '88 when I switched over to the '767. My usual trip's first leg was from CLT to LAX using long range 'Piedmont '727s purchased from PSA and TWA, with one formerly being a USAir '727. A normal '727 could not make it to either west coast destination without a fuel stop, but the long range variety could. One or two of those long range '727s grossed 198,000#, while the rest could gross about 201,000#, so their range actually varied somewhat. The '767-200ER Piedmont bought to replace those '727s on those domestic routes had a 5500 NM range, which meant it could go from CLT to Frankfort, Germany with fuel reserves, the plane that most times replaced the '727 on those long range routes as soon as USAir could find buyers for their long range '727s, which were fast but they were fuel suckers.
The first type aircraft I remember ever flying on was a 727, and I had flown on many since then. They will always be my all-time favorite airliner. I love their sleek proud lines and that intense powerful roar from those Pratt and Whitney JT8D engines! Airliners to today do not have that wow factor; not even an inkling.
Thanks for answering my question on that. So miss Piedmont Airlines. Fond memories of Piedmont Airlines and Charlotte. My first ride on a widebody was Piedmont 767 from LAX to CLT when they were first purchased. That was a frequent flyer miles award ticket I got as a teenager avgeek.
That continental DC-10 At the end looks so classy and elegant, that sun dusk reflection fits so well to its colors, really miss that livery also mexicana golden
They don't give complimentary anything anymore maybe a complimentary bag of alpo or stale peanuts you can't do anything it's like a flying jailhouse I'd rather walk or take a train
3:20 Flight Attendant says it’s ok to smoke as long as you are sitting in a designated smoking section. In September 1989, smoking was only banned on domestic flights less than 2 hours. In February 1990, the FAA would ban smoking on domestic flights that last 6 hours or less which would include this flight. 5:53 Flight Attendant gives landing notice to passengers and asks passengers to extinguish cigarettes if smoking
"Flight attendants will be now passing around complimentary quaaludes to get you through this long flight with nothing to do other than listening to screaming children"
Also they traded out food and comfort for enhanced safety yes you all will say what about the maxes that crashed those two incidents even in close proximity to each other pales in comparison to back during the 90s you heard about a high fatality plane crash every year so while food and comfort are becoming more scarce so are fatal plane crashes so what do you want food and little attention to hidden dangers or little food and a lot of detailed attention to hidden dangers I'd rather be stranded at the next airport than push pilots way past even the limits of today and be permanently stranded at a grave I believe it is too easy to get a fast food meal because look back then flights were almost 400 dollars back in the 90s which would equal to 800 in today's money so those meals weren't free you paid for it whether you wanted food or not.
Thank you for this video. You have done everyone a service by posting this. The audio is absolutely incredible, and the video quality is amazing! I felt like I was flying to SFO on a 727 in 1989 while I was watching this!
Pre 9/11, smoking allowed, meals served, flight attendants not kicking you off flights or dragging you down the isles. Man the nicer days of flight. The 727 always had a long takeoff roll for some reason but the flight was so smooth most of the time. Thanks for sharing!
When jets actually sounded like jets, when meals were actually meals and not snacks, and even when the seats on coach were as comfy as business class today. The word Glorious certainly defines those days.
Cool video, thanks! Wow, that B727 screams and roars!! I love the interior ..what a blast from the '70s! It still features the pearlescent panels with a pattern, and no wide-body look, so I assume it was not part of the late 727 deliveries made to USair in the '80s... I mean, the interior was already looking dated by 1989 standards.. I do miss the 727..I know it was burning a ton of fuel more than the current jets, but it somehow felt so much more "aircraft" (=flying machine) than a 738-800, or a plasticky A320.. sorry, my two cents! I remember RJ and NW crews complaining at first that the A320 felt too light in turbulence compared to the '27!!
Nah it’s not to bad... it’s on the longer end of its range but that’s what they did back in the day. Believe it or not 757 was intended as its replacement at first. Their original range was pretty close to the same.. 727-200 had a good range.
THIS is what I remember takeoff sounding like! The roar of the engines and all the creaks and rattles as you rocket down the runway - I loved the 727s, they were always my favorite plane. (And oh my gosh, a smoking flight! LOL #nostalgia)
Isn't it funny how when airlines served meals everyone made jokes about how bad airline food is, and now that the airlines don't serve meals, everyone complains how no food is served.....
Same as Hospital food, everyone complains about the quality, but if nothing was given to them, they would die of starvation, or whinging into their pizza or Mcdonald's smuggled in by family.
diapermanful I believe the ones who complain, weren’t even alive back then. I’m glad they don’t serve food. It really did suck. Better off buying a Dave’s Double Combo with chili for the fries, in the airport terminal instead 🤣
Lol that is funny. I've never complained about the inflight meals which had decent meals wheather was lunch, dinner or breakfast, miss those days of inflight meals.
Wow- took me right back to some of favorite flights during that period. The mighty 727 was an incredibly powerful machine. I rode aboard so many! Thanks for posting this look back to a friendlier time to fly. Also like the UTA, Mexicana, and Continental DC-10...and BA 747.
Great video. It really brings back memories of flying on 727's--- the JT8D engines, the wing and sounds of the flaps. It almost feels like I'm actually on the plane. The 727 was always a favorite plane for me. It was an absolutely magnificent-looking aircraft. Now most of the planes look alike with 1 engine under each wing. The good old days. Smoking or non-smoking? Tray meal service in coach.
Thanks for the memories. When I was a boy my parents would fly me to relatives for summer trips, and the 727s are so reminiscent of those days. I fell in love with flying, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The airlines served their customers back then. You couldn't pay me to fly these days with the condescending and suspicious attitude you receive from the check-in to the final gate. Not to mention TSA... Get rid of TSA and bring back PSA!
Wow, simply amazing. Great video and it's very interesting to see the changes made at SFO over the years and how it compares to the looks of it nowadays. Well done
This brings back good memories of flying from Little Rock to New Orleans in the early 90's on a Delta 727. Sitting in the back, just in front of the engine cowlings by the window. Almost time to land, looking out at the sun setting, and listening to Chicago's "Wishing you were here" on those stethoscope-type headphones plugged into the armrest. Hearing the comforting engine sounds spooling up and down with the light smell of someone's cigarette smoke, I tucked away my unopened Delta stamped peanuts and saved the Delta napkin. I also got to keep my headset. It was a vintage plane even then- so special to travel on. I also got to fly on a TWA DC-9 Series 10 that was manufactured in 1968. Thanks for posting 😊
What a magnificent record of a 727 take off/landing and interior. Very similar to a US Air 727 flight I was on from Pittsburgh to LAX in January of 1988. Window seat as usual. View of the Rocky Mountains while enjoying a Bloody Mary and a delicious hot omlette. They had real ovens on board.
Complimentary meals.. Now that's something you won't get at nowaday's domestic flight. Flew to Seattle from NY last summer and all i got were cookies, peanuts, and pretzels. I miss flying back in the days.. :(
The Foodie Duos - Christila U on our way back from Alaska the flight attendant had a full crapload of jumbo chocolate chip cookies on the tray just before landing. Pretty decent flight.
Thank you so much for the video. As a kid, I flew PIT to SFO on a US 727 and must say it was good service back then. I especially loved all the DC-10s in the background. Aircraft are a little too homogeneous today.
Great nostalgic video!!! One of Piedmonts long haul trans con routes with the ol' 727-200. The shots of SFO in '89 are priceless especially seeing the UTA DC-10!
The 727 is my all time favorite aircraft! Its sad that they arent flying anymore in the states :( It was a workhorse. This is a rare video and awesome. The last time I flew a 727 its was from SFO to CVG on Delta back in 99. 3 hours and 45 min long haul. It was awesome!
Excellent video footage! The editing is well done too. You really get a feel for what it was like to fly the 727 back in the day! Not to mention the complimentary dinner! You know, I never smoked, but I always requested to sit in the "smoking section" anyway! You could really hear those amazing engines and the people were friendlier back there... Back when strangers actually talked to each other!
In March of '90, My Dad and I flew from Portland, Oregon to Boston, Massachusetts on a United 727-200 with a stopover in Denver at the still active Stapleton International Airport for refueling and dropping off and picking up passengers, We were in Coach, The flight to Denver went quick but the Boston flight seemed like an ETERNITY!! However, On the way back, We flew First Class in a DC-10 to Chicago and then a 727-200 to Portland, So that was WAY more tolerable for us!!! That was still United
Some 727s had a 5700lbs aux fuel tank in the fuselage. One opened that tank by pulling down the leading edge Kruger flap, reaching in and pulling down the lever which opened the valve for that tank. Same for Delta 727s to the west coast, they took a LOT of runway at CVG. Flights to the west coast were a mix of 727/757 and 767s, mostly determined by the loads.
Thanks for sharing. As a boy I spent hundreds of hours at Melbourne Tullamarine airport watching TAA @ ANNSET 727-100S & 727-200S .I nowadays I have an AMERICAN AIRLINES -200 proudly in my living che
My goodness.... "Smoking is now permitted in the designated smoking areas" Seems so alien these days. Complimentary dinner is another thing that's gone the way of the DoDo too!
Those were the days when could smoke on plane, Delta started the non smoking flights in 1980 something then all other airlines did the same there after.
@@doug9066, I think you meant 1990, not 1980. Throughout the 80s, domestic flights had their smoking and non-smoking sections, like the one in this video (1989).
@@warrenhuffman4236, yeah, airlines have definately done their job in making flights more uncomfortable for us. No meals, no smoking, less friendly flight attendant service, more uptight security (you can thank all those terrorist psychos for that last one)
Wow, thick economy seats...with leg room. And complementary dinner service. Back then, when airlines cared for the customers and did not squeeze them for every penny they're worth today. Back to my real post: WOW...back when 727s ruled the skies. I flew four times on a 727 and I still miss those three holers. Thank you for posting the experience on how to fly on them!
I remember hanging out at the end of the runway in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and when the 27's took off, we'd get blown into the ocean! All three of those engines pointed at the back had so much thrust! It seems like people love the 27 more than any other jet airliner. There's a shell of a 27 next to the runway at BUF where they train the emergency responders. It's nice to see it sitting there, but kind of sad too.
Wow, saw someone smoking! That's a blast from the past! Great vid, I flew on these birds so many times between Kingston, Jamaica and Miami in the 80s and 90s til Air Jamaica introduced the A320 family in the mid 90s. That sound is so unmistakable.
You do a great job with your uploaded vintage footage. You simply let the planes and the surroundings speak for themselves, rather than making yourself the focus as modern vloggers do. Your videos are documents and artifacts giving the viewers a realistic glimpse into a time gone by.
Aw man this is a great video, I miss the 27's some much , We got rid of ours after 9/11 and its been truly missed at our MIA base so im 757 qualified which I dont care for but its gets the job done. Once again thanks for the video.
This is one of the best I've seen for the 727-200. Nice look at the wing configurations etc., speed brakes (while in air), flaps, spoilers (after touchdown), cabin, just everything. Thanks I guess this was one of the USAIr original 727-200 Advanced rather than an ex Piedmont 727-200 non-advanced.
I miss the 3 holers. The 727-100 a PSA flight from KBUR-KSMF was the first flight I ever took in 1974. In 1998 a Boeing 727-251 was the first aircraft I released as an aircraft dispatcher. I do miss the 72’s.
"Burn one at 5:15"!! I remember lighting up back then! LOL! Do that now, you'd be in Pelican Bay on bread and water! A lot of memories in this great clip, thank you for posting SDMullis.
+FSAUDIOGUY I think about that a lot. If I went back to the 80's, the first thing I'd have to get re-adjusted to is people, smoking, EVERYWHERE! Even in most of the 90's.
Good Times! Thank you for actual sound.... not a Topgun, Eye of the Tiger soundtrack! "Complimentary Dinner"....that's a blast from the past! Again. Thanks-
When I was a teenager in the 80's my brother and I used to fly to Philly several times a year to visit our father & step mother so we flew Piedmont (we had to fly to BWI & he'd pick us up there) and then USAir when they bought them out. I remember being very disappointed early on that we weren't allowed to wander around and hang out in the gally like they did in the movies lol. Planes seemed so much bigger in the movies!
The captain flew that thing right into the ground haha! Didn't pull back on the throttle until those wheels were planted. -- Must have been a Navy pilot...
It's been so long that I honestly do not remember the exact length . . . but I would say probably around 4 and a half to 5 hours. Just in case any one is wondering, it was indeed non-stop. These 727s were fitted with auxiliary fuel tanks. I think Piedmont/USAir had 5 or six that were used for transcon flights.
+carleton morris Really? I don't really think it was all that "glamorous" in the 80's. I like these old plane vids but I see these comments constantly saying how great the 80s were. I feel flying today is much nicer than in the 80s, especially if you're traveling international or on a good domestic carrier. The 80's were kind of a dark time for flying. Not a particularly safe decade either. Sure you got fed , the service was a little more personable and the flights were less crowded but it wasn't that great. Those old birds were cool loud mechanical things but most of them were dated, drab and they smelled, --especially with people smoking on them-- Like kerosene, cigarette buts, rusty metal, odd food, brittle plastic and beer farts. The food in coach wasn't great either, about on par with hospital food at the time, maybe worse. Don't get me wrong, I like the nostalgia because that's when I was a kid flying but in this decade you can get far more for your money. Entertainment systems, wifi, beds, bars, lounges, private rooms, on demand food/drink service, interactivity with other seats, you can even see what's happening outside the plane via a camera. I'll take an 80's coach fare, adjust it for inflation and fly a lot more glamorous today in first or business class.
Great video. Miss the Boeing 727, have a diecast AA 727, USAir 727 diecast in the maroon colors, love the Continental Airlines livery as seen here & the meatball logo vs the current globe logo of CO/UA.
Crazy to think that about 30 days from this flight (in October 1989), the Bay Bridge and San Francisco would be heavily damaged, and many killed, by the Loma Prieta earthquake.
Those were the good days. The only thing you had to pay for back then was alcoholic beverages. Everything else was complimentary. Unlimited drinks of coffee, soda, and even snacks before the main course. And yes, they had smoking sections. You could get up and use the restroom any time you needed to. The seats were big. The passengers and flight attendants respected each other. Flying was a pleasure, something to look forward to.
@@bmused55 (s)he spoke the truth. But my best landing in the 727 was at LAX....it rolled on. The Captain and flight engineer couldn't believe it. Also, after one of my landings a retired 727 Captain from my airline who was a passenger told my Captain that that was the best 727 landing he experienced.
My first flight was in august 1977 on Eastern from JFK-MIA a 727-023 i even remember the flight #15, worked on it a few years later in my aviation career as a flight attendant
That's a long flight for a B727!! Back in the days with 60% load factors, I guess, but most B727s were used on much shorter routes. It certainly seemed slow to leave the runway, must have tipped to the top with jet-A! Meanwhile, down the road in Atlanta, Delta was flying L-1011s on similar routes to the west coast!
The 727 is the sexiest piece of machinery to ever take flight.
I totally agree man!
The 727's, and don't forget the Mad Dogs!
I vote for the Caravelle.
Sorry 767-300 is my girl for life
I miss her....
I agree! I was priveleged to fly it.
727, the most beautiful airliner ever built.
The 727 wing is a thing of beauty, especially when everything is hanging out
And the orchestrated sound of her trio of Pratt & Whitney engines.
I started flying shortly after 1989 and smoking was not allowed in the cabin. I'm so glad, too. I couldn't imagine being trapped inside a plane with everyone lighting up. God that must have smelled disgusting. I do remember flying coach and getting a full tray meal though!
Surprisingly good quality video for 1989!
"Complimentary dinner " on a 727....... my heart aches
The story is that this was a former Piedmont crew flying as a USAir crew after their airline was purchased by USAir in 1989. USAir bought 22.8% of the Piedmont stock that Tom Davis the Piedmont CEO previously sold to Norfolk Southern Railroad.
I flew as a Piedmont captain for 17 years in the '70s, '80s and '90s, being a '727 captain from '84 until sometime in '88 when I switched over to the '767. My usual trip's first leg was from CLT to LAX using long range 'Piedmont '727s purchased from PSA and TWA, with one formerly being a USAir '727.
A normal '727 could not make it to either west coast destination without a fuel stop, but the long range variety could. One or two of those long range '727s grossed 198,000#, while the rest could gross about 201,000#, so their range actually varied somewhat. The '767-200ER Piedmont bought to replace those '727s on those domestic routes had a 5500 NM range, which meant it could go from CLT to Frankfort, Germany with fuel reserves, the plane that most times replaced the '727 on those long range routes as soon as USAir could find buyers for their long range '727s, which were fast but they were fuel suckers.
Sabra S FedEx owned 2 in which zone F3 and A1 were eliminated for aux tanks
The first type aircraft I remember ever flying on was a 727, and I had flown on many since then. They will always be my all-time favorite airliner. I love their sleek proud lines and that intense powerful roar from those Pratt and Whitney JT8D engines! Airliners to today do not have that wow factor; not even an inkling.
@Councilman Les Wynan yep they did.
@@michaelo1929 the 727 will always be my favorite too, great looking designed aircraft plus was great to fly on. Miss them.
Thanks for answering my question on that. So miss Piedmont Airlines. Fond memories of Piedmont Airlines and Charlotte. My first ride on a widebody was Piedmont 767 from LAX to CLT when they were first purchased. That was a frequent flyer miles award ticket I got as a teenager avgeek.
That continental DC-10 At the end looks so classy and elegant, that sun dusk reflection fits so well to its colors, really miss that livery also mexicana golden
Proud bird the Boeing 727 !! Wings uncluttered of engines. With 3-rear mounted engines and a high T-tail, this fine bird is practically a rocket.
"Smoking is now permitted"
"We will be serving complimentary dinner (on a US airline)"
Good old times.
They don't give complimentary anything anymore maybe a complimentary bag of alpo or stale peanuts you can't do anything it's like a flying jailhouse I'd rather walk or take a train
They switched out complementary dinners for wifi and personal seat screens and movies.
3:20 Flight Attendant says it’s ok to smoke as long as you are sitting in a designated smoking section.
In September 1989, smoking was only banned on domestic flights less than 2 hours.
In February 1990, the FAA would ban smoking on domestic flights that last 6 hours or less which would include this flight.
5:53 Flight Attendant gives landing notice to passengers and asks passengers to extinguish cigarettes if smoking
"Flight attendants will be now passing around complimentary quaaludes to get you through this long flight with nothing to do other than listening to screaming children"
Also they traded out food and comfort for enhanced safety yes you all will say what about the maxes that crashed those two incidents even in close proximity to each other pales in comparison to back during the 90s you heard about a high fatality plane crash every year so while food and comfort are becoming more scarce so are fatal plane crashes so what do you want food and little attention to hidden dangers or little food and a lot of detailed attention to hidden dangers I'd rather be stranded at the next airport than push pilots way past even the limits of today and be permanently stranded at a grave I believe it is too easy to get a fast food meal because look back then flights were almost 400 dollars back in the 90s which would equal to 800 in today's money so those meals weren't free you paid for it whether you wanted food or not.
Thank you for this video. You have done everyone a service by posting this. The audio is absolutely incredible, and the video quality is amazing! I felt like I was flying to SFO on a 727 in 1989 while I was watching this!
Pre 9/11, smoking allowed, meals served, flight attendants not kicking you off flights or dragging you down the isles. Man the nicer days of flight. The 727 always had a long takeoff roll for some reason but the flight was so smooth most of the time. Thanks for sharing!
Such nostalgia. The glory days of flight.
When jets actually sounded like jets, when meals were actually meals and not snacks, and even when the seats on coach were as comfy as business class today. The word Glorious certainly defines those days.
As a zoomer, I agree with everything except for the smoking bit, that would be extremely selfish for those who don't want secondhand smoke...
@@fernando13e But yes, the sounds were quite insanely good...
I can almost smell that vintage cabin from here! Really great video, and fantastic sounds from the 727
Cool video, thanks! Wow, that B727 screams and roars!! I love the interior ..what a blast from the '70s! It still features the pearlescent panels with a pattern, and no wide-body look, so I assume it was not part of the late 727 deliveries made to USair in the '80s... I mean, the interior was already looking dated by 1989 standards.. I do miss the 727..I know it was burning a ton of fuel more than the current jets, but it somehow felt so much more "aircraft" (=flying machine) than a 738-800, or a plasticky A320.. sorry, my two cents! I remember RJ and NW crews complaining at first that the A320 felt too light in turbulence compared to the '27!!
This is obviously a ex Piedmont . Those 727 were quite old and had seen service on several other carriers.
The audio on this video is just excellent ! You can even hear the deployment of the flaps beginning at 6:47! Sounds like you're actually on the plane!
Oh those were the days.. you got dinner and could smoke
Dinner is fine, but you’re really nostalgic about smoking on airplanes? That shows how selfish you are. I don’t miss it AT ALL.
Yup.and people still criticized everything.
@@redcomic619 Karen moment
CLT-SFO sounds like a long haul for a 727
That's what I thought!
Nah it’s not to bad... it’s on the longer end of its range but that’s what they did back in the day. Believe it or not 757 was intended as its replacement at first. Their original range was pretty close to the same.. 727-200 had a good range.
I remember we'd fly from Cleveland to San Francisco on an AA 727 back in the late 80's.
I love hearing the whine of the engines in this video... I miss the 727.
Fantastic footage of an exceptional aircraft in a simpler and better time. Thank you so much for sharing!
THIS is what I remember takeoff sounding like! The roar of the engines and all the creaks and rattles as you rocket down the runway - I loved the 727s, they were always my favorite plane. (And oh my gosh, a smoking flight! LOL #nostalgia)
Sad to think that this bird is most likely either rotting slowly in a desert some place or long been turned into pots and pans :(
bmused55 tbh I want a 727 pot or pan
it's probably in the desert having small talk with a DC-8...busting a plane's chops
WOW this is one hell of a long roll - 52 seconds! Got to love the 727 though. Pity they are gone now. Modern planes are so boring.
Perfect! I grew up on these! If I ever won the lottery, I would get a 727 painted in USAir colors!
I would do American’s old livery🤪
Isn't it funny how when airlines served meals everyone made jokes about how bad airline food is, and now that the airlines don't serve meals, everyone complains how no food is served.....
My husband said the food was ok but then again he was just hungry.The 707s served good food.
Same as Hospital food, everyone complains about the quality, but if nothing was given to them, they would die of starvation, or whinging into their pizza or Mcdonald's smuggled in by family.
diapermanful
I believe the ones who complain, weren’t even alive back then. I’m glad they don’t serve food. It really did suck. Better off buying a Dave’s Double Combo with chili for the fries, in the airport terminal instead 🤣
Lol that is funny. I've never complained about the inflight meals which had decent meals wheather was lunch, dinner or breakfast, miss those days of inflight meals.
@Councilman Les Wynan same here.
Wow- took me right back to some of favorite flights during that period. The mighty 727 was an incredibly powerful machine. I rode aboard so many! Thanks for posting this look back to a friendlier time to fly. Also like the UTA, Mexicana, and Continental DC-10...and BA 747.
Gotta love the 27! I remember flying on them with my mom a lot with USAir. Thanks for the wonderful memories!
Great video. It is a time capsule into the former glory of air travel.
What I wouldn't give to go back to those days.
Great video. It really brings back memories of flying on 727's--- the JT8D engines, the wing and sounds of the flaps. It almost feels like I'm actually on the plane. The 727 was always a favorite plane for me. It was an absolutely magnificent-looking aircraft. Now most of the planes look alike with 1 engine under each wing.
The good old days. Smoking or non-smoking? Tray meal service in coach.
Thanks for the memories. When I was a boy my parents would fly me to relatives for summer trips, and the 727s are so reminiscent of those days. I fell in love with flying, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The airlines served their customers back then. You couldn't pay me to fly these days with the condescending and suspicious attitude you receive from the check-in to the final gate. Not to mention TSA... Get rid of TSA and bring back PSA!
Great video. Love that 727 wing. Miss this plane.
Wow, simply amazing. Great video and it's very interesting to see the changes made at SFO over the years and how it compares to the looks of it nowadays. Well done
This brings back good memories of flying from Little Rock to New Orleans in the early 90's on a Delta 727. Sitting in the back, just in front of the engine cowlings by the window. Almost time to land, looking out at the sun setting, and listening to Chicago's "Wishing you were here" on those stethoscope-type headphones plugged into the armrest. Hearing the comforting engine sounds spooling up and down with the light smell of someone's cigarette smoke, I tucked away my unopened Delta stamped peanuts and saved the Delta napkin. I also got to keep my headset. It was a vintage plane even then- so special to travel on. I also got to fly on a TWA DC-9 Series 10 that was manufactured in 1968. Thanks for posting 😊
What a magnificent record of a 727 take off/landing and interior. Very similar to a US Air 727 flight I was on from Pittsburgh to LAX in January of 1988. Window seat as usual. View of the Rocky Mountains while enjoying a Bloody Mary and a delicious hot omlette. They had real ovens on board.
Complimentary meals.. Now that's something you won't get at nowaday's domestic flight. Flew to Seattle from NY last summer and all i got were cookies, peanuts, and pretzels. I miss flying back in the days.. :(
Yep in the good old days they fed you on all flights that were an hour or 2 long and now a days its either you pay for it or you starve lol
The Foodie Duos - Christila U on our way back from Alaska the flight attendant had a full crapload of jumbo chocolate chip cookies on the tray just before landing. Pretty decent flight.
Gese the sounds here are the BEST of them all !! B R A V O !!!
"Great Clip" !!
Another classic 10 star from SD!! =)
Thanks for the memories...she (727) was a beast to work but i miss her allot.
This is an outstanding video! Was pleasantly surprised to find it! The 727 was the first plane I ever flew on, great sound! ❤
Thank you so much for the video. As a kid, I flew PIT to SFO on a US 727 and must say it was good service back then. I especially loved all the DC-10s in the background. Aircraft are a little too homogeneous today.
Thank you for recording this!
Great nostalgic video!!! One of Piedmonts long haul trans con routes with the ol' 727-200.
The shots of SFO in '89 are priceless especially seeing the UTA DC-10!
All those sounds!!!! The engiens, the flaps and slatas, amazing 👏
can't imagine being stuck next to a smoker on a flight that long.
The 727 is my all time favorite aircraft! Its sad that they arent flying anymore in the states :( It was a workhorse. This is a rare video and awesome. The last time I flew a 727 its was from SFO to CVG on Delta back in 99. 3 hours and 45 min long haul. It was awesome!
One of the greatest videos on UA-cam, I must watch this vid at least once a month.
I’ve watched this video millions of times. Never gets old 😊
Excellent video footage! The editing is well done too. You really get a feel for what it was like to fly the 727 back in the day! Not to mention the complimentary dinner! You know, I never smoked, but I always requested to sit in the "smoking section" anyway! You could really hear those amazing engines and the people were friendlier back there... Back when strangers actually talked to each other!
the 727 was a very nice plane, very strong too. I loved that plane. we could even smoke onboard. very beautiful video.
In March of '90, My Dad and I flew from Portland, Oregon to Boston, Massachusetts on a United 727-200 with a stopover in Denver at the still active Stapleton International Airport for refueling and dropping off and picking up passengers, We were in Coach, The flight to Denver went quick but the Boston flight seemed like an ETERNITY!! However, On the way back, We flew First Class in a DC-10 to Chicago and then a 727-200 to Portland, So that was WAY more tolerable for us!!! That was still United
This was such a great video, smoking on a plane, the sound of those JT8's, just an amazing video for the time.
Some 727s had a 5700lbs aux fuel tank in the fuselage. One opened that tank by pulling down the leading edge Kruger flap, reaching in and pulling down the lever which opened the valve for that tank.
Same for Delta 727s to the west coast, they took a LOT of runway at CVG. Flights to the west coast were a mix of 727/757 and 767s, mostly determined by the loads.
Thanks for sharing. As a boy I spent hundreds of hours at Melbourne Tullamarine airport watching TAA @ ANNSET 727-100S & 727-200S .I nowadays I have an AMERICAN AIRLINES -200 proudly in my living che
This is FANTASTIC Footage!!! I Love the 727, especially in the old American Airlines Chrome Livery at 1:23!!
Nice video. thanks for sharing. I love the 727 and those engines are the best!!!!!!
Man... those engines, the interior... so nostalgic!
Nothing like a trip back in time!Nostalgic.
My goodness.... "Smoking is now permitted in the designated smoking areas"
Seems so alien these days.
Complimentary dinner is another thing that's gone the way of the DoDo too!
Im glad that is rare theese days because now i dont have to worrie about the plane blowing up.
Those were the days when could smoke on plane, Delta started the non smoking flights in 1980 something then all other airlines did the same there after.
@@doug9066Hey man, I hope youre doing good Doug. NW started the smoking ban (who whas bought by DL later), It was nice to be able to smoke in llight
@@doug9066, I think you meant 1990, not 1980. Throughout the 80s, domestic flights had their smoking and non-smoking sections, like the one in this video (1989).
@@warrenhuffman4236, yeah, airlines have definately done their job in making flights more uncomfortable for us. No meals, no smoking, less friendly flight attendant service, more uptight security (you can thank all those terrorist psychos for that last one)
5:10 the passenger in the opposite window seat is smoking! Wow have times changed. Great look into the past!
Wow, thick economy seats...with leg room. And complementary dinner service. Back then, when airlines cared for the customers and did not squeeze them for every penny they're worth today.
Back to my real post: WOW...back when 727s ruled the skies. I flew four times on a 727 and I still miss those three holers. Thank you for posting the experience on how to fly on them!
I remember hanging out at the end of the runway in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and when the 27's took off, we'd get blown into the ocean! All three of those engines pointed at the back had so much thrust! It seems like people love the 27 more than any other jet airliner. There's a shell of a 27 next to the runway at BUF where they train the emergency responders. It's nice to see it sitting there, but kind of sad too.
Wow, saw someone smoking! That's a blast from the past! Great vid, I flew on these birds so many times between Kingston, Jamaica and Miami in the 80s and 90s til Air Jamaica introduced the A320 family in the mid 90s. That sound is so unmistakable.
You do a great job with your uploaded vintage footage. You simply let the planes and the surroundings speak for themselves, rather than making yourself the focus as modern vloggers do. Your videos are documents and artifacts giving the viewers a realistic glimpse into a time gone by.
Best in cabin and definately the best sounds of any in cabin 727 video, especially the appraoch sound just after the flaps are deployed! Good 1!
Nice. Brought back old memories!
Love the sounds of the old Boeing flaps. And the JT8s.
Aw man this is a great video, I miss the 27's some much , We got rid of ours after 9/11 and its been truly missed at our MIA base so im 757 qualified which I dont care for but its gets the job done. Once again thanks for the video.
This is one of the best I've seen for the 727-200. Nice look at the wing configurations etc., speed brakes (while in air), flaps, spoilers (after touchdown), cabin, just everything. Thanks I guess this was one of the USAIr original 727-200 Advanced rather than an ex Piedmont 727-200 non-advanced.
I Loved all the announcements regarding "smoking"....WOW...I remember smoking on a plane...Great video...It brings back terrific memories...thanks
Sucks i wasnt born during this era. Love all these old era of the T tail jetliners.
God I love the sound of those engines!
I miss the 3 holers.
The 727-100 a PSA flight from KBUR-KSMF was the first flight I ever took in 1974. In 1998 a Boeing 727-251 was the first aircraft I released as an aircraft dispatcher. I do miss the 72’s.
For a video camera from 1980's, that's very clear quality! :D
"Burn one at 5:15"!! I remember lighting up back then! LOL! Do that now, you'd be in Pelican Bay on bread and water! A lot of memories in this great clip, thank you for posting SDMullis.
FSAUDIOGUY now today lighting up will get you thrown in prison
+FSAUDIOGUY I think about that a lot. If I went back to the 80's, the first thing I'd have to get re-adjusted to is people, smoking, EVERYWHERE! Even in most of the 90's.
This was also shot a month before the 1989 earthquake.
Good Times! Thank you for actual sound.... not a Topgun, Eye of the Tiger soundtrack!
"Complimentary Dinner"....that's a blast from the past! Again. Thanks-
Great history here! I really regret that I personally never had the chance to fly on one of these beauties. If I did, I was too young to remember.
When I was a teenager in the 80's my brother and I used to fly to Philly several times a year to visit our father & step mother so we flew Piedmont (we had to fly to BWI & he'd pick us up there) and then USAir when they bought them out. I remember being very disappointed early on that we weren't allowed to wander around and hang out in the gally like they did in the movies lol. Planes seemed so much bigger in the movies!
Look at all that leg room!
this brings back good memories very nice video
The captain flew that thing right into the ground haha! Didn't pull back on the throttle until those wheels were planted. -- Must have been a Navy pilot...
+Evan J Nope, that's how you land a 727. Fly and roll it on or things get bumpy.
It's been so long that I honestly do not remember the exact length . . . but I would say probably around 4 and a half to 5 hours. Just in case any one is wondering, it was indeed non-stop. These 727s were fitted with auxiliary fuel tanks. I think Piedmont/USAir had 5 or six that were used for transcon flights.
Wow! A state of the art CO B737-500!! ;-)
Thoroughly enjoyed this vid! I miss the 727!
I loved the 727 - not only were they beautiiful but fast too! There literally is nothing to compare to them now!
A few days before I was born... I missed these beautiful aircrafts
I just realized this is 1 month before the Loma Prieta Earthquake in SF
when flying even coach was glamorous......those were the days.
Well the prices were insane too...
+carleton morris Really? I don't really think it was all that "glamorous" in the 80's. I like these old plane vids but I see these comments constantly saying how great the 80s were. I feel flying today is much nicer than in the 80s, especially if you're traveling international or on a good domestic carrier. The 80's were kind of a dark time for flying. Not a particularly safe decade either. Sure you got fed , the service was a little more personable and the flights were less crowded but it wasn't that great. Those old birds were cool loud mechanical things but most of them were dated, drab and they smelled, --especially with people smoking on them-- Like kerosene, cigarette buts, rusty metal, odd food, brittle plastic and beer farts. The food in coach wasn't great either, about on par with hospital food at the time, maybe worse. Don't get me wrong, I like the nostalgia because that's when I was a kid flying but in this decade you can get far more for your money. Entertainment systems, wifi, beds, bars, lounges, private rooms, on demand food/drink service, interactivity with other seats, you can even see what's happening outside the plane via a camera. I'll take an 80's coach fare, adjust it for inflation and fly a lot more glamorous today in first or business class.
+Martin Juul Andersen I got to fly coach on TWA from LAS to PHX for $86 roundtrip back in 1988.
JMMT7022801 Not bad, that's about $175 in today's money.
+Evan J And I was on an L-1011 no less.
Great video. Miss the Boeing 727, have a diecast AA 727, USAir 727 diecast in the maroon colors, love the Continental Airlines livery as seen here & the meatball logo vs the current globe logo of CO/UA.
The DC10s, 727s and 737-300s oh how I miss flying on those aircrafts! :"(
That on 737-300's is still possible. I fly for instance as an FO on 737-300's. Plenty still around.
I love the sound of this jet
Love those engine sounds!
JT8Ds on the 727s and 737-200s are the loudest but the best jet engines. Todays CM-56 engines are ok.
OG ! thanks for sharing
Crazy to think that about 30 days from this flight (in October 1989), the Bay Bridge and San Francisco would be heavily damaged, and many killed, by the Loma Prieta earthquake.
that's the sound I would like to hear when I fly... :)
nicely done, thank you
Those were the good days. The only thing you had to pay for back then was alcoholic beverages. Everything else was complimentary. Unlimited drinks of coffee, soda, and even snacks before the main course. And yes, they had smoking sections. You could get up and use the restroom any time you needed to. The seats were big. The passengers and flight attendants respected each other. Flying was a pleasure, something to look forward to.
wow... What a soft landing! And how I love those whining JT8D engines!
I miss that sound, a lot! The 727 was the plane that made me want to be a pilot. That airplane had such great character, it was just cool!
Pilot friend of mine told me that the 727 was a handful to land. If you managed to grease a landing in one, you were a pilot!
@@bmused55 (s)he spoke the truth. But my best landing in the 727 was at LAX....it rolled on. The Captain and flight engineer couldn't believe it. Also, after one of my landings a retired 727 Captain from my airline who was a passenger told my Captain that that was the best 727 landing he experienced.
My first flight was in august 1977 on Eastern from JFK-MIA a 727-023 i even remember the flight #15, worked on it a few years later in my aviation career as a flight attendant
look at that legroom!
Yeah!! like in first class nowadays lol
Love the JT8D's!!!!!
I love the seats back then, so colorful and stylish leather.
Such clear quality for 1989
That's a long flight for a B727!! Back in the days with 60% load factors, I guess, but most B727s were used on much shorter routes. It certainly seemed slow to leave the runway, must have tipped to the top with jet-A! Meanwhile, down the road in Atlanta, Delta was flying L-1011s on similar routes to the west coast!