Boeing 757Boeing 757

Specifications Boeing 757

The figures in this table refer to one specific variant — 757-200. This avoids combining the range, capacity and dimensions of different versions into an inaccurate set of figures.

Variant shown in the table

757-200

Type

medium-haul narrow-body aircraft

Family's first flight

Year 1982

Passenger capacity

200 seats in a typical two-class layout; maximum 239

Flight range

up to 7,222 km (3,900 nautical miles)

Mach's Cruising Number

M 0,80

Length

47,32 m

Wingspan

38,05 m

How the aircraft came about

History Boeing 757

The 757 made its first flight in 1982 and was produced until 2004. It was created simultaneously with the wide-body 767, so the cockpits of these types have a lot in common.

The 757 began as a replacement for the three-engine 727 on medium-range routes. It was developed simultaneously with the 767, so the airlines received close cockpits for two aircraft of different sizes. The first operator of the 757-200 was Eastern Air Lines in 1983; production was completed in 2004.

Milestones and decisions

Programme development

The 757 was developed next to the wide-body 767, seeking close organization of the crew cabin. Initially, the aircraft was supposed to replace the Boeing 727 on medium-range lines, but the combination of powerful engines, capacity and fuel reserve expanded the scope. After the completion of production in 2004, many passenger cars continued service, and some were converted to transport goods.

Model features

Design and variants

The narrow fuselage was combined with powerful engines and a wing designed for a higher mass and range than many short-haul liners. These qualities made 757 suitable for long routes across the ocean with appropriate tolerance, and for airports with a limited length of the strip.

The basic passenger variant was the 757-200; a longer 757-300 later appeared. Factory cargo aircraft and alterations of passenger aircraft were also produced. The cargo and passenger versions may have the same family designation, but completely different internal layout.

Powerplant

Engines

Two Rolls-Royce RB211-535 or Pratt & Whitney PW2000.

The engine variant fitted to an individual aircraft is recorded in its documentation. The powerplant affects thrust, fuel consumption, noise and maintenance requirements.

On board

Cabin and passenger capacity

One pass, a 3+3 circuit and a long fuselage. Depending on the operator, a dense tourist or multi-class layout is possible.

Passenger capacity - 200 seats in a typical two-class layout; a maximum of 239. The exact number of seats is determined by the operator: business class, kitchens, toilets and recreation areas of the crew take place. Therefore, the layout of the cabin differs even with the same models.

In practice

Operations and uses

In addition to dense domestic routes, the 757 was used on transatlantic flights when the demand for a wide-body aircraft was too small. The possibility of such a flight is determined by the admission of a particular board and carrier. The elongated 757-300 carries more passengers, but solves a different range problem; cargo versions are estimated already in terms of volume and weight of shipments.

Technical analysis

How it works Boeing 757

The 757 was designed as a more economical replacement for the three-engined 727, but the project quickly surpassed it in size and possible length of the flight. Boeing simultaneously developed a wide-body 767, so the cabins of the two aircraft received a close organization. For the airline, this made it easier to train pilots for two types. At the same time, the aircraft have a completely different fuselage: 757 retained one pass, and 767 is designed for two.

The aircraft received powerful engines and a wing capable of operating with a high takeoff weight. This combination helped to use the 757 on routes where a conventional short-haul liner would have a smaller range margin. The engine and passport numbers depend on the order of a particular airline. High thrust does not make the aircraft universal for any short strip: restrictions are determined by the temperature, height of the airfield, weight and condition of the runway.

The main serial version of the 757-200 became the base of both passenger and cargo aircraft. The late 757-300 received a longer saloon and more seats, but remained part of the same design line. After the end of production, part 757-200 was converted from passenger to cargo: the cabin, doors and equipment for the new load were changed. When comparing options, it is important to distinguish between a factory cargo plane and a late conversion.

History and operations

Role Boeing 757 in airline service

Eastern Air Lines first commissioned the 757 in 1983. In the United States, the type was widely used on domestic lines with significant passenger traffic. Then its capabilities were useful in longer directions. The presence of one pass reduced the size of the aircraft compared to the 767, and the range margin allowed to open some routes across the ocean with the appropriate operational tolerance.

On trans-Atlantic flight 757 could fill a niche between a conventional mid-range aircraft and a large two-pass liner. This solution is especially useful with moderate demand: a direct flight is saved without the need to sell many additional seats. But the duration of the flight requires a well-thought-out scheme of the kitchen, toilets and seats for passengers. Comfort depends on the carrier and the type of chair, not on the mere fact of using the 757.

After 2004, the new 757 was no longer built, but the existing park continued to operate. For an aging aircraft, the maintenance program, the availability of parts and the history of repair of a particular board are especially important. In cargo aviation, the 757 remains interesting due to a combination of size and payload. The comparison of passenger and cargo applications on one range table is incorrect: the load and the internal structure have changed.

For comparison

Location Boeing 757 among other aircraft

Boeing models in this catalog were created for different stages of development of route networks. The 737 serves mass lines with one pass; the 747 ushered in an era of very large long-haul passenger aircraft. The 757 and 767 were designed in parallel as aircraft of different sizes with close crew cabins. The 777 showed just how much passenger load the long-haul twin-engine airliner can carry, and the 787 relied on new materials and routes with less flow. This story explains why a later index doesn’t necessarily mean more capacity. The airline can choose 787 instead of 777 precisely because it needs a smaller cabin for a direct flight. Conversely, the 777 is appropriate where sustained demand allows you to fill more seats and take commercial cargo.

The Boeing family name often covers decades of technical change. The early 737, the Next Generation and the 737 MAX require separate characteristics; similarly, the passenger 747-8 cannot be replaced with 747-400 data. The 767-300ER, 777-300ER and 787-9 suffixes denote specific variants, but not one common range calculation standard. When comparing, it is useful to take into account payload, number of engines, airport restrictions and available spare airfields. The layout of the cabin also depends on the carrier: two aircraft of the same type can have a different number of seats and different conditions for the passenger. Historical facts about the first flight or the beginning of production give context, but for today's flight, the age of a particular board, the improvements made and its maintenance are additionally important.

The 757 occupied the gap between the smaller 737 and the widebody 767. The narrow cabin with one pass was combined with characteristics that allowed the aircraft to be used on fairly long routes and from a number of limited airports. Passenger 757-200 and elongated 757-300 differ in the number of seats and operational profile. After the end of production, part of the aircraft continued to work in the cargo role after conversion. Such a history shows why the current geography of the type and the original task of its development do not necessarily coincide.

Where it flies

Airline operators

Examples of current or historically notable operators of the model and its variants:

• Delta Air Lines
• United Airlines
• Icelandair
• FedEx

Fleets change. Check the aircraft type and seat map on the airline's official website before your flight.