What Makes The Boeing 757 An Iconic Aircraft?

It has been over four decades since the Boeing 757  took to the skies for the first time. Developed as   a successor to the Boeing 727, it may not have  been the best-selling single-aisle model in   Boeing's history, but it’s a type that many pilots  and aviation enthusiasts respect and revere. While   it’s no longer in production, the 757 continues  to serve in commercial and cargo operations today. But what, exactly, gives the 757  its iconic status? What is it   about the jet that people love? Let’s  explore this topic for today’s video! Boeing concluded production of the  757 about two decades ago, in 2004. When all was said and done, there were a total  of 1,050 airframes manufactured during its   production run. Most of these were 757-200s, while  a smaller number were the extended 757-300 models. Even as newer Boeing 757s  approach 25 years of age,   over 500 of these airframes are still  actively flying with 47 different   airlines - at least according to data  from ch-aviation from late July 2024. And so the first factor making the 757 an  iconic jet is the power relative to its size. Many pilots call the 757 a sports car in the sky. The aircraft is said to fly best when it is light,   and its handling is described as  quote "almost perfectly neutral." Indeed, some have gone so far as  to say that handling of the Boeing   757 is the way one should expect  an airliner to fly. For example,   the large rudder on the airliner makes  quick work of crosswinds and V1 cuts. The 757 is sometimes regarded as one of  the best designs the Boeing engineers   got right - at least from a pilot's  perspective. Commentators point out   that no modern design performs  its mission as well as the 757. The Boeing 757 was engineered with  powerful engines considering the   size of its airframe. The 757  came with two engine choices:   the Rolls-Royce RB211 high-bypass  turbofan and the Pratt & Whitney PW2037. Rolls-Royce engines provided 37,400 pounds  (166 kN) of thrust per engine at full throttle,   an uncommon level of power for the  slender 757 design. Pratt & Whitney   PW2037 engines provided 38,200  pounds (170 kN) of thrust each. Both engine options enable the 757 to  achieve takeoff on runways as short as   6,000 to 7,000 feet (1,660 to 2,070  meters) in length under 140 knots. This has given the type’s operators the ability  to fly from smaller and more remote airports. Interestingly, it was the first time that   Boeing launched an aircraft with a  non-domestic engine manufacturer. Another aspect that made the Boeing 757 genuinely   unique and versatile for its  time was its cockpit design. These days, piilots may find the flight  deck quaintly antiquated. However,   when it first flew in 1982, it was  a rather revolutionary aircraft. In the 1970s, Boeing ruled the commercial aviation  scene because Airbus was just starting out. As   it stood, Boeing's planes, like the 707 and  727 trijet, dominated the commercial skies. When Boeing introduced the  757, it brought something new:   a glass cockpit, which earlier single-aisle  aircraft, like the 727, did not have. The introduction of this high-tech cockpit  made it feasible to fly further with only   just two crew members in the cockpit, with  the engineer no longer needed onboard. Other aircraft had also transitioned to  two crew cockpits, but the 757 took safety   a step further with the EFIS (Electronic  Flight Instrument System) glass cockpit. It is worth noting that the Boeing  757 was developed concurrently with   the Boeing 767 widebody. Therefore,  the cockpit is virtually identical,   making it easy for pilots to  transition between the two aircraft. The next notable 757 feature  is its supercritical wings. The Boeing 757 was an early aircraft incorporating  what is called a supercritical wing design. This   wing design underwent testing in the 1970s,  around the same time the 757 was being designed. Unlike conventional wings that are  rounded on top and flat on the bottom,   supercritical wings have a flatter top  and a rounded bottom. These supercritical   wings effectively reduce aerodynamic drag,  resulting in enhanced fuel efficiency, improved   cooling, better engine compartment  layout, and reduced production costs. According to NASA, testing validated wind tunnel  data, showing the supercritical wing increased   efficiency by as much as 15%. This made the 757  a worthy competitor in the market at the time. In addition to the 757, Boeing decided  to include the supercritical wing design   on their Boeing 767s, Boeing 777s, and  their C-17 military transport aircraft. Our next point is more of a  coincidence based on airline   preferences rather than something built  into the structural design of the 757. Nonetheless, Based on multiple historical  flight reviews, and other information gathered,   there’s some indication that passengers  feel comfortable traveling on the aircraft. Although subjective and HIGHLY variable between  airline operators, some passengers consider this   jet as being more comfortable than the popular  Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 series of aircraft. Indeed, before considering airline configuration,   we know that the 757 had comparable  cabin dimensions as the 737NG. The 757 has a cabin height of about 214  centimeters (84.2 inches). This is slightly   less than the 737NG’s 220 centimeters (86.6  inches). Cabin width is close, with the 737NG   being about an inch wider. Both also sport a  3-3 seating configuration for economy class. And so with all this in mind,  any feelings of elevated comfort   and spaciousness on the 757 seems to come  from the interior fitting of the airline. Nonetheless, according to Boeing, the 757 can  accommodate between 200 and 295 passengers,   depending on the configuration and variant. And nearing the end of our video, it’s worth  mentioning that the Boeing 757 was one of the   first aircraft designed specifically for the  short and medium-haul market. According to its   specifications, the 757-200 variant can fly as  far as 3,900 nautical miles (7,220 kilometers),   and the larger 757-300 variant can reach a maximum  range of 3,395 nautical miles (6,287 kilometers).   In comparison, the Boeing 727 was more  suited to operating shorter trips,   as the 727-100 variant had a maximum range  of 2,300 nautical miles (4,300 kilometers). The 757 was one of the first aircraft  to be granted Extended Twin-engine   Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS)  certification. Not only is it ideal for   domestic flights within the US, the jet is  capable of completing popular transatlantic   city pairings non-stop, making it a  rather versatile aircraft for operators. Quite sadly for avgeeks - and  even some airline operators,   it seems there was never really a  proper replacement for the Boeing 757. This is partly why airlines  have continued to fly it. Many airlines and pilots hope that Boeing's  New Midsize Airplane (culturally called the   Boeing 797) will fill the gap left by  the now-aging 757 fleet. Of course,   it is far from certain that the Boeing  797 will ever go into production. Now feeling more like a myth,  the Boeing '797' project started   in 2015 (around 11 years after the  Boeing 757 went out of production). Various airlines had expressed interest  in the new aircraft in those early years. However, the pandemic was a  major factor scuttling any new   aircraft progress. Boeing’s more recent  troubles over manufacturing and assembly   quality have only further delayed  progress on developing a new type. So what do YOU think of the Boeing  757? How long do you think the type   will continue to be operated by airlines?  Share your thoughts by leaving a comment! simple flying publishes over 150  articles every week if you're   looking for the latest Aviation news  and insights visit simplefly tocom