@ Sacramento Mather Airport, Sacramento, CA
March 2008
Federal Express began service in 1973 with Falcon 20 aircraft. A 1977 legislative change removed restrictions on the routes operated by all-cargo airlines, and enabled Federal Express to purchase its first large aircraft: seven Boeing 727-100s. The 727s were the backbone of the FedEx fleet until the 2000s, being replaced with Boeing 757s in 2007. The 727 is one of the noisiest commercial jetliners, current regulations require that 727s in commercial service must be retrofitted with a hush kit like the one seen here. This was the last production variant of the 727 to be developed by Boeing, and 15 aircraft were built, all for Federal Express. Nikon D70 w/28-85mm.
