Some 727 trivia...........................................................................

[Hakan_Olsson]

Which airline was the launch customer for the "silent 727", ie Super 27, with JT8D-217C engines?


Best regards,

[Paul Golding]

Sun Country? No idea to be honest, but I doubt it was a major.

[Hakan_Olsson]

Paul,

I suppose this was a tricky question since not even you did know the correct answer. You were almost right though.

The first customer for the VALSAN modified 727 was Sterling Airways of Denmark. cn 20765/984, OY-SAS was the first aircraft that was converted in 1988. It later went to Air Columbus and to Sun Country.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/508057/M/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/062044/M/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/086282/M/

The next question springs to mind. VALSAN was founded by Bob Wogenfeld, but what does the abbreviation VALSAN stand for?

Best regards,

[Paul Golding]

Put us out of our misery then Hakan :-)

[Hakan_Olsson]

The company was named after his daughter VALerie and his wife SANdra :)
I had no idea about it until a month ago when I read an article written by an ex-Sterling F/E. He also wrote about the change in CG due to the heavier engines and that there always should be about 2000 lbs of fuel in the forward extra tank when the aircraft was parked on the ground. Thank God that the DF 727 hasn't got the extra tanks :)

Best regards,