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Boeing’s venerable 727 airliner is part of the Farnborough flying display this year, as Oil Spill Response is using the event to demonstrate its aerial spraying capabilities.

The 727’s usual oil-spill spraying flight profile involves passes at an altitude of 150ft (45m) and a speed of approximately 160kt (300km/h) with flaps at 15°. At Farnborough, the demonstration flyby is undertaken at around 300ft, followed by a steep climb-away.

Max Kingsley-Jones/FlightGlobal

Training specialist 2Excel’s 727 is a Valsan re-engined aircraft, equipped with two Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217C engines in the pods and a single hushkitted JT8D-17A in the central position.

The aircraft, a 1984-vintage ex-FedEx 727-200 Adv, was in fact the last of 1,832 727s to be built. The aircraft was acquired by its current operator, 2Excel Aviation, in March 2013, according to Flight Fleets Analyzer.

It is somewhat appropriate that the 727 is part of the daily flying display this year, as Boeing is marking its centenary at the show. Other Boeing airliner types participating in the display include the 737 Max 8, 787-9 and P-8 Poseidon which is based on the 737-800 platform.

Source: FlightGlobal.com