UP , UP AND AWAY : A LOOK INTO TWA ’ S FLEET
THE BOEING COMPANY
CONVAIR 880
TWA flew 28 Convair 880 jets from 1961 until 1974 . Although it bore some resemblance to the Boeing 707 , the Convair was smaller and faster . Pilots called it an ‘ airborne hot-rod ’ because it could reach speeds up to 650mph ( 1,045kph ). Unfortunately , the early 1970s ’ spike in oil prices highlighted the plane ’ s operational inefficiency , and TWA soon retired it .
PROCTOR-LIVESEY-THOMAS COLLECTION
BOEING 727
TWA took delivery of more than 90 727s ( both -100 and -200 variants ) over the years . It was the last aircraft type in the fleet to require a three-man cockpit . In the 1980s , the airline started replacing the three-engine jets with twin-engine MD-80s and , later , Boeing 717s . The final six trijets were retired in September , 2000 .
PROCTOR-LIVESEY-THOMAS COLLECTION
14 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE APRIL 2024 www . airwaysmag . com