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In late 1961 Eastern began to take delivery of 15 Boeing 720s for short-range routes but soon realised that they were still too large for its needs and worked with Boeing on the specification that would become the 727. They also organised a deal with Boeing that would allow them to trade in their 720s for 727s. Still the 720s served for about eight years and were used on the Shuttle services before the 727s arrival. N8701E was exchanged back to Boeing in 1969 and joined TEA as OO-TEA in April 1971. She served with the Belgian carrier until November 1977 and was scrapped from October 1980.
Eastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on Flickr
Eastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on Flickr
N8715E was the last delivered and one of the last six returned to Boeing. She was sold to Calair as D-ACIT and operated with them for just over a year until their bankruptcy. Sold to Air Rhodesia despite UN sanctions as VP-YNN ‘Manicaland’ in April 1973 she was transferred to Air Zimbabwe 7 years later as Z-YNN and was stored at Harare in 1985. She was sold to Air Charter Zaire who used her for spares only.
Eastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on Flickr
Eastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on Flickr
The 720s main claim to fame with Eastern was that they introduced what became known as the 720 scheme. Eastern wanted to give their 'modified' L-188's a new look before re-entering service in 1961 but the 720's were soon to be arriving, so the new colors would be known as the '720 scheme'. They were updated in 1963 when the titles were shortened to just 'Fly Eastern'.
Eastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on Flickr
Eastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on Flickr
Aeroclassics 720
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I really like the Aeroclassics Boeing 720 mould. Aeroclassics has released 39 Boeing 720s, 13 Boeing 707-138Bs and 1 Boeing 707-123B using the same mould. Around 2008 AC changed the gears to use rolling wheels and these have been fitted to 12 Boeing 720s and 5 Boeing 707-138Bs. I personally prefer the original non-rolling gears as the new nosewheel always seems too small for my liking.
Anyway all of Aeroclassics 720s have been turbofan B variants except for the 3 Easterns. As is clear from these photos from Airliners.net the AC outer engine pylons are not correct - being a bit too short for the engines.
Personally I don't really care much about this but is this the reason why no more turbojet 720s were made by Aeroclassics? I recall hearing Andrew say that the tooling for the turbojet 720 was no longer around which is a shame and personally I'd like to see some turbojet releases (especially United).
In fact there is a serious lack of early 707s available on modern moulds. Aeroclassics fabulous mould is only a 707-320B/C and doesn't work for the original 707-320 Intercontinental whilst a real 707-100 mould and an updated 707-400 are major holes in Aeroclassics output.
Eastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on Flickr
Eastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on Flickr
Eastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on Flickr
Eastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on FlickrEastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on FlickrN8715E was the last delivered and one of the last six returned to Boeing. She was sold to Calair as D-ACIT and operated with them for just over a year until their bankruptcy. Sold to Air Rhodesia despite UN sanctions as VP-YNN ‘Manicaland’ in April 1973 she was transferred to Air Zimbabwe 7 years later as Z-YNN and was stored at Harare in 1985. She was sold to Air Charter Zaire who used her for spares only.
Eastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on FlickrEastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on FlickrThe 720s main claim to fame with Eastern was that they introduced what became known as the 720 scheme. Eastern wanted to give their 'modified' L-188's a new look before re-entering service in 1961 but the 720's were soon to be arriving, so the new colors would be known as the '720 scheme'. They were updated in 1963 when the titles were shortened to just 'Fly Eastern'.
Eastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on FlickrEastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on FlickrAeroclassics 720
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I really like the Aeroclassics Boeing 720 mould. Aeroclassics has released 39 Boeing 720s, 13 Boeing 707-138Bs and 1 Boeing 707-123B using the same mould. Around 2008 AC changed the gears to use rolling wheels and these have been fitted to 12 Boeing 720s and 5 Boeing 707-138Bs. I personally prefer the original non-rolling gears as the new nosewheel always seems too small for my liking.
Anyway all of Aeroclassics 720s have been turbofan B variants except for the 3 Easterns. As is clear from these photos from Airliners.net the AC outer engine pylons are not correct - being a bit too short for the engines.
Personally I don't really care much about this but is this the reason why no more turbojet 720s were made by Aeroclassics? I recall hearing Andrew say that the tooling for the turbojet 720 was no longer around which is a shame and personally I'd like to see some turbojet releases (especially United).
In fact there is a serious lack of early 707s available on modern moulds. Aeroclassics fabulous mould is only a 707-320B/C and doesn't work for the original 707-320 Intercontinental whilst a real 707-100 mould and an updated 707-400 are major holes in Aeroclassics output.
Eastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on FlickrEastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on FlickrEastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 by rstretton, on Flickr
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