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+--- Thread: From Props to Jets (/showthread.php?tid=3390)
From Props to Jets - 727Sky - 02-21-2026
The B-36 was flying all over my area of Texas; nothing sounds like 6 turning and 4 burning.
Then the B-47 was made by Boeing and I remember thinking what a weird but beautiful airplane. Next came the BUFF or the B-52.
I went to flight engineer school with the son of a Boeing test pilot who rolled the 707 during a super bowl game.. The pilot nearly lost his job because the engineers were afraid in a roll you could sling an engine off the wing of the 707...That is what the son told me... I found that hard to believe and have never been able to confirm the story. I knew Tex the Chief pilot for Boeing had rolled the aircraft over a speed boat race which helped sell the 707.
Given the right altitude and deck angle I always figured I could roll any aircraft as a bird does not care if it is right side up or dirty side up as long as there is a positive amount of "G" loading on the wing. . I did airshows at some of our local fly-ins with a Super Swift and never crashed , "Ta Da" however the first time I tried to do a low level roll in the Boeing 727 with no flaps I nearly crashed; without major rudder input I would have hit the simulated dirt.. Roll rate clean ( no flaps) was terrible at 250 knots in clean configuration.. The roll was attempted in one of our full motion simulators at the airline. I continued to mess around with doing what I considered fun weird stuff with the 727 but that bitch did not like it; otherwise the 727 (Iron maiden) would save your butt if you knew what to do in a given situation. 280 knots with 25 degrees nose up was the best speed to roll the 727 clean unless you were using some flaps which would enabled the actual ailerons on the wings to become operative. Flaps 2 you get the leading edge devices 2,3, 6 and 7 slats plus partial ailerons but you are speed restricted.
A lot of stuff happens when the flaps are extended but you never get full Aileron control until flaps 5 and beyond. It is designed that way to prevent wing bending/twisting at high speed aileron use. Lessons learned from the B-47 and B-52.
OK a brief history on how we got jets and how a company bet the farm on an Idea.
RE: From Props to Jets - 727Sky - 02-22-2026
The B-36 was not very reliable and most piston aircraft of the time. It was plagued with engines overheating and engine fires. But still a mountain of an aircraft.
RE: From Props to Jets - 727Sky - 02-22-2026
The 727 could humble a pilot until they learned her ways . She was pretty to me even though she could be a real Bitch at times if you did not listen to her. When flying out of Guam and doing Island hopping there were several island runways less than 7000 feet and some around 6000; short field landings and take offs were called for.
I always enjoyed going into Narita (Tokyo) and other Japanese airports as I found it interesting when parking the aircraft at the gate. If you stopped exactly on the yellow lead-in line and at the proper stopping mark the Japanese ground would give a deep bow of recognition and respect . If you were off even a little you would be lucky to get a quick nod..!
The company finally parked the 727s so I ended up on the 737 which was OK and much better at simulator acrobatics but I never had the close attachment I had felt for the 727 Iron maiden !! hahah