Is This Something Interesting?

I saw this driving home from my attorney's office. It was parked in a low activity area of Mitchell Field in Milwaukee.

It has no windows and absolutely no numbers on it. In fact the only thing on it is a small US flag on the tail.

Did I catch something interesting, or is Zaphod going to laugh at me?

Definately interesting mate, well done. It's things like this is what ATS is about.
TPTB must be getting lazy not to hide this sort of thing better, unless they want it to be seen, or it might be nothing at all.

a reply to: Restricted

Don't yell!

Was it this?

E-6 Mercury

a reply to: Restricted

Interesting tail boom…

a reply to: Restricted

Sorry, probably not that interesting. It is a 727 and has the engines missing. Probably a stripped former Fed-ex jet ( hence the lack of Windows). Could also be used as a training jet for flight mechanics.

a reply to: Restricted

Seeing a 727 is always interesting. That particular one is a former FedEx aircraft, donated in 2010 after they removed them from their fleet.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Restricted

Seeing a 727 is always interesting. That particular one is a former FedEx aircraft, donated in 2010 after they removed them from their fleet.

Covered in white out. Question was, whats it purposed for?

a reply to: intrptr

Probably being used as an aircraft mechanic trainer like most of the other donated Fedex 727s.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I agree with Zaph. I like 727s for a commercial aircraft they were sorta unique with that rear stair ramp. I remember thinking how cool it was to disembark that way when I was a kid and we'd get to fly in them when visiting mexico. Mexicali airlines seemed to own a bunch of them and had put them to good use. So whenever I see a 727 I think about happier times as a kid traveling and visiting strange places.

Hey zaph,

Wasn't a 727 also used in a famous theft or robbery? The guy lowered the rear stairs in flight and parachuted out the back and nobodies ever found him. I know there was something that happened like that back in the 70's but forgot the details. Anybody remember that story?

a reply to: BASSPLYR

Yes it was. That was D.B. Cooper. He jumped out with a chute on a flight from Seattle to Portland. Still a mystery to this day what happened to him.

originally posted by: justwanttofly
a reply to: intrptr

Probably being used as an aircraft mechanic trainer like most of the other donated Fedex 727s.

These are the ones with rear stairs ? Maybe their are trainers alright. For covert airborne insertions…

a reply to: intrptr

It was a cargo aircraft. They can't leave the FedEx markings or N-Number on it after it was deregistered, and retired. Instead of spending the money to repaint the entire aircraft they just slapped a coat of white paint over the markings.

It's non-airworthy and used for fire department and A&P training.

a reply to: intrptr

There are almost none flying anymore and jumping from those stairs was extremely dangerous. In 2013 there were less than 200 flying worldwide, out of almost 1900 built.

a reply to: intrptr

Pretty hard to use for covert insertions from an aircraft with no engines.

a reply to: intrptr

That's because it's missing the panel that covered the jackscrew and other systems.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: intrptr

There are almost none flying anymore and jumping from those stairs was extremely dangerous. In 2013 there were less than 200 flying worldwide, out of almost 1900 built.

But 'theoretically' could be used in such a fashion by flying in airline corridors and dumping off special ops forces at high altitude, then wingsuiting for miles to covertly cross borders at night.

Come on, you never saw Navy Seals.

(I sawer it in the movies so I know they do that, lol.) But I'll let you disregard this suggestion and not present any info about those sorts of tactics.

HALO

originally posted by: Sammamishman
a reply to: intrptr

Pretty hard to use for covert insertions from an aircraft with no engines.

Everyone says its a trainer…

a reply to: intrptr

So could a C-130, which is a much better platform to jump from. Or any of a number of aircraft that are used by SOCOM that are far better for jumping from than a 727. Even highly experienced jumpers were scared of jumping from the back stairs of one.

If SOCOM is going for a long distance jump they use HAHO, not HALO, and use an airfoil chute, not a wingsuit. They can stay airborne longer with that than with the suit. And the 727 is still a lousy platform to jump from.

a reply to: intrptr

For an A&P program and airport fire department.

originally posted by: intrptr

originally posted by: Sammamishman
a reply to: intrptr


Pretty hard to use for covert insertions from an aircraft with no engines.

Everyone says its a trainer…

....because it is.

Obvious to everyone except you apparently.