Federal Express operated the Boeing 727 for 35 years. It took delivery of the first aircraft in 1978. Initial acquisitions were from other carriers before the Memphis, Tenn.-based airline purchased new aircraft from Boeing. In fact, they took delivery of the very last 727 built in 1984. Line number 1832, registered N217FE.
Now as the world’s largest express transportation carrier for cargo and freight, the airline operated up to 170 727s at any one time. At one point it was the world’s largest operator of the 727 which became the workhorse for the company. Now, FedEx serves over 650 airports in more than 220 countries and territories.
Now known as FedEx Express, it began retiring its 727-200 fleet in 2007 with the last flight on June 13, 2013. It replaced the narrowbody freighter with more modern Boeing 757 aircraft, later followed by Boeing 767s. It currently has 119 757s and 114 767s with 13 more on order, as the company’s aircraft modernization strategy comes to an end.
A crew member for 35 years at the time said, “The 727 was a mainstay aircraft and one of the most dependable we ever had in our fleet. More importantly, it was the plane that really put FedEx on the map as an overnight express carrier,” concluding with, “It’s the end of an era, but it’s only natural because of changing technology that improves the fuel and operational efficiencies of today’s new aircraft. The 727, for many pilots, will always be the airplane that really brought the airline industry into the jet age.”
So what happened to them? A few found their way to other carriers while many found their way to storage yards like Victorville, Calif. and eventually broke up. However, FedEx saw the potential to give back to the aviation community. Upon retirement, It was kind enough to donate many of the aircraft to aviation schools, colleges and local communities.
They can be seen throughout the U.S. supporting school curriculums that are developing the next generation of aviation professionals. The donated aircraft are also being used for training by emergency response teams at local airports and fire departments. A few have even found homes in other countries.
It is reported that FedEx donated 84 727s, almost half of the fleet. I have a list of 62 that may remain, although it’s clearly subject to change as they don’t survive forever. I know the aircraft donated to Kalamazoo and Jacksonville Cecil Field have been broken up in recent years. Here is a list of where you can find them:
N479FE – Albany – Albany Airport Authority
N485FE – Albuquerque – Albuquerque Aviation Department
N492FE – Anchorage – University Of Alaska Merrill Field
N488FE – Appleton, WI – Fox Valley Technical College
N234FE – Atlantic City – FAA
N487FE – Austin – Bergstrom Fire Department
N258FE – Battle Creek, MI – Western Michigan University College Of Aviation
N468FE – Billings – Logan Fire Department
N275FE – Boise – National Interagency Fire Center
N276FE – Brunswick, GA – Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
N268FE – Buffalo – Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
N257FE – Chicago – O’Hare Fire Department
N107FE – Columbus – State Community College Bolton Field
N272FE – Dallas – Fort Worth Fire Department
N221FE – Dayton – Sinclair College
N493FE – Everett – Everett Community College Aviation School
N511FE – Everett – Everett Community College Aviation School
N467FE – Fairbanks – University Of Alaska
N135FE – Fayetteville, AR – Arkansas Aviation Technologies Center
N235FE – Fort Lauderdale – Fort Lauderdale Aviation Department
N149FE – Greensboro, NC – Guilford Technical Community College
N236FE – Greenville, SC – USAeroTech Institute
N181FE – Greenwood, MS – Mid America Transportation & Aviation Museum
N494FE – Helena, MT – Rocky Mountain Emergency Services Training
N150FE – Hollywood, FL – Broward College North Perry
N483FE – Kansas City – Kansas City Airport Authority
N188FE – Lake Charles, LA – Southwest Louisiana Technical Community College
N265FE – Lakeland – Florida Air Museum
N495FE – Liberal, KS – Mid America Air Museum
N160FE – Memphis – Children’s Museum of Memphis ( Purchased by FedEx but Registration not taken up and never actually flew for them. Previously N7025U with United. Forward Fuselage preserved)
N267FE – Memphis – Mid South Community College, West Memphis Municipal Airport
N510FE – Memphis – Tennessee Technical Center
N277FE – Miami – George T Baker Aviation School
N491FE – Mojave – LA Police / SWAT Trainer
N151FE – Moses Lake, WA – Big Band Community College
N117FE – Murfreesboro – Middle Tennessee State University
N114FE – New York – Aviation High School JFK
N233FE – Oakland – College Of Alameda
N279FE – Plattsburgh, NY – Plattsburgh Aeronautical Institute
N266FE – Riverside – California Baptist University
N136FE – Rome, NY – Mohawk Valley Community College Griffiss Airport
N191FE – Roswell – Eastern New Mexico University
N466FE – Sacramento – Sacramento City College McClellan Airport
N223FE – Sacramento – Sacramento Mather Fire Department
N270FE – Shreveport, LA – Southern University Shreveport Louisiana
N246FE – Sioux City – Mid-America Transportation & Aviation Museum
N264FE – Spokane – Spokane Community College
N288FE – St Louis – Cahokia Fire Department
N489FE – St Paul – Minnesota Association Of Women In Aviation, Holman Field
N287FE – Thief River Falls, MN – Northland Community & Technical College
N486FE – Tucson – Pima College Technical School
N115FE – Tucson – Pima College Technical School
N464FE – Tulsa – Spartan College Of Aeronautics & Technology
N478FE – Watertown, SD – Lake Area Technical Institute
N199FE – Wichita – Kansas Aviation Museum McConnell Airport
N465FE – Williamsport, IA – Pennsylvania College Of Technology
N127FE – Winnipeg – Red River College
N219FE – China, Tianjin – Civil Aviation University Of China
N469FE – EL Salvador, San Salvador – University Don Bosco Ilopango Airport
N166FE – France, Paris – Musee De L’Air Et De L’Espace, Le Bourget
N482FE – Trinidad & Tobago, Port of Spain – Civil Aviation Authority
N269FE – Turkey, Eskisehir – Anadolu Universites
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