HELP MAKE HISTORY BY PRESERVING HISTORY
Rewards
Take a look at how you can be a part of the restoration and recovery team even if you can't be there in person.
- $5 - Honoree: Receive a special thank you via email AND your name listed on our website.
- $10 - Red: Receive a personalized Cartificate of Appreciation in pdf form, AND your name listed on our website.
- $25 - White: Receive a personalized Cartificate of Appreciation in pdf form, AND your name listed on our website AND a 727 commerative pin.
- $50 - Blue: Receive a personalized Cartificate of Appreciation in pdf form, AND your name listed on our website AND a 727 commerative pin AND your choice of a patch or Coffee Mug.
- $100 - Eagle: Everything in the Blue Level AND your name will be placed on an honor wall onboard the aircraft AND a copy of the N874AA magazine to be published after the arrival of the aircraft.
- $250 - Admiral: Everything in the Eagle level AND you will receive a 1:200 desktop model.
Pick a "Seat"!!!
We wish we could offer you a ride on the flight to Kansas City. However getting the aircraft to that level of mainenace and gaining the proper approvals is very expensive. Instead, let us carry your name or your company name on a headrest cover and we will ship it to you after the flight. If you send us your picture, we will place it in the seat with your name.
Every "seat" comes with:
- Personalized Headrest cover with N874AA Logo and
- An original 727 Safety card form TWA and
- 727 special edition menu from the TWA Ambasssadors Club and
- American Airline Luggage tag with the Eagle Logo just like on the tail of N874AA
DISCLAIMER - This is not ticket for a ride on the aircraft. Your passenger pack will be carried aboard the aircraft in your honor on the flight to Knasas CIty and mailed to you as a keepsake.
$500 - Business Class (126 Seats Available): We almost forgot, your seat includes a copy of the N874AA Commemorative Magazine for your reading pleasure in flight.
$750 - First Class (12 Seats Available): Get a copy of the N874AA Commemorative Magazine AND Your first class service will include a commemorative AA wine glass.
$1,000 - Flight Attendant (Only 3 Seats Available): As one fo our Fllight Attendants, You will recieve your commemorative FA Wings, AND your emergency briefing kit including mask, life vest and seatbelt.
SOLD OUT - $1,000 - Flight Engineer (Only 1 Seat Available): As our Flight Engineer, you will recieve a commemorative copy of the aircraft checklist AND commemorative Flight Crew Wings AND your FE Shoulder Boards.
$1,250 - Co-Pilot (Only 1 Seat Available): As our Co-Pilot, you will recieve a commemorative copy of the aircraft checklist AND commemorative Flight Crew Wings AND your FO Shoulder Boards.
SOLD OUT - $1,500 - Pilot in Command (Only 1 Seat Available): As our Pilot in Command, you will recieve a commemorative copy of the aircraft checklist AND commemorative Flight Crew Wings AND your Captain's Shoulder Boards.
Be a N874AA VIP!
As a VIP, we sincerely aoreciate your commitment to help relocate and preserve this aircraft. In appreciation we will proudly dispaly your name or your company name on the aircraft. All VIPS will receive a copy of the N874AA Commerative magazine AND a passenger kit AND a commerative 1:100 desktop model with a 1" x 1" piece of a 727 attaced to the base.
Take a look at the options we have have for you:
$2,000 - Main Gear Door (10 Available): Have you name permanently dispayed on one of the main gear doors.
$2,000 - Engine Nacelle (10 Available): Have your name permanently displayed on one fo the engine nacelles.
$2,000 - Nose Gear Door (4 Available): Have your name permanently displayed on one of the nose gear doors.
$2,500 - Crew Cheif (1 Available): As the Honorary Crew Chief for the relocation, your name will be deisplayed under the pilot's window with the Honorary Chief Pilot.
$5,000 - First Officer (1 Available): As the Honorary First officer, your name will be displayed on the side of the aircraft below the co-pilot's window.
$7,500 - Chief Pilot (1 Available): As the Honory Chief Pilot, we will display your name below the Pilot's windw on the side fo the aircraft.
Corporate Sponsorship
Become a sponsor and have your company name and logo proudly displayed on the aircraft and we will also place an ad for your company on our N874AA Commerative Magazine.
$1,000 - Bronze Sponsor: Have your company name and a 4"x4" logo placed on the fuselage of the aircratt AND a 1/8 page add in the N874AA Commerative Magazine.
$2,500 - Silver Sponsor: Have your company name and a 6"x6" logo placed on the fuselage of the aircratt AND a 1/4 page add in the N874AA Commerative Magazine.
$5,000 - Gold Sponsor: Have your company name and a 10"x10" logo placed on the fuselage of the aircratt AND a 1/2 page add in the N874AA Commerative Magazine AND have an exclusive event* at the Airline Histry Museum for up to 25 guests after the arrival in 2017.
$7,500 - Platinum Sponsor: 12"x12" Logo logo placed on the fuselage of the aircratt AND a full page add in the N874AA Commerative Magazine AND have an exclusive event* at the Airline Histry Museum for up to 50 guests after the arrival in 2017.
$10,000 - CR Smith Presenting Sponsorship: Have your company name and a 24" x 24" logo placed on the nose of the aircratt AND a full page add in the N874AA Commerative Magazine AND have an exclusive event* at the Airline Histry Museum for up to 100 guests after the arrival in 2017.
* Events include venue, tables and chairs. Catering, music or any other special requests to be supplied by the sponsor.
Be A Member of the Team!
Fast Facts
- On April 12, 1978 Transport Category Airworthiness is issued
- On April 13, 1978 American Airlines takes possession.
- January 21, 2003 The Museum of Flight takes possession.
- March 4, 2016, Airline History Museum takes possession.
The Project:
The former American Airlines Boeing 727-200 bearing the registration number N874AA entered revenue service in April 1978 and was retired in April of 2003. The goal of the Airline History Museum (AHM) of Kansas City is to save it from the scrap heap for the second time this century so it can be preserved, flown on special occasions, and bear witness to our children (and grand children) of the wonder of commercial flight.
The once ubiquitous B-727 was on display at Seattle’s Museum of Flight from 2003 until it was made redundant by the arrival of an even more historic 727 in March, 2016. The newcomer, wearing the livery of United Airlines, was the first of its type to roll out of the Boeing Renton factory in 1962.
The original plan was to scrap the American Airlines 727 in place. A better option arose when AHM stepped forward to assume ownership of this increasingly rare transportation artifact.
The Urgency:
Your help is desperately needed to make this airplane airworthy so it can be flown to its new home in Kansas City, Missouri. Fortunately, the airframe remains complete with all major systems intact and operational; however, a big airplane requires a lot of space, insurance coverage, and many gallons of expensive jet fuel to simply test the engines. Without your help, this piece of aviation history remains at risk of scrapping.
Why it Matters:
- The aircraft will be incorporated into local high school programs revolving around aerospace.
- It represents a new chapter in our fleet that continues to reach out to more Airline enthusiasts.
- The 727 was prolific at KC downtown with TWA and a host of other carriers using this historic aircraft type, a great part of Kansas City history.
The Aircraft:
The 727 could bring prosperity to all it touched. Airports and the entire travel industry of hotels, restaurants, and rental cars took root. Certainly Boeing profited while it transitioned from military programs to civil aircraft. American Airlines, operator of the largest 727 fleet, grew until it stands as one of only four major airlines surviving in the United States. Production of the 727 ended in 1982 at 1,832 units when it was replaced by the 757. During its four-decade heyday, every United States trunk airline operated a fleet of Boeing 727 aircraft.
Many of us harbor pleasant memories of flight aboard the 727. The powerful aft mounted Pratt & Whitney JT8D engines provided for a quiet cabin. The acceleration was memorable and the angle of climb awesome. Another form of entertainment for those sitting over the wing was to observe the impressive choreography as the trailing edge flaps, leading edge devices, and spoilers all danced about during various phases of flight. Thrust reversers, spoilers, and hydraulic braking worked together to provide quick stops on a short runway.
The Boeing 707 Intercontinental brought glamour to international travel starting with its debut in 1959. Its design gave it the long legs necessary for transoceanic travel. Four pod mounted jet turbine engines attached to its swept wings assured the traveling public that long distance flight over water was economic, safe, and practical for all. The unprecedented speed combined with cruising altitudes far above the nastiest weather quickly shifted the paradigm of commercial flight. The public clamored for the jets as the old technology piston powered airliners quickly faded from the scene.
The top officials at Boeing in Seattle soon realized the Model 707 needed a smaller sibling able to serve the multitude of medium sized cities with shorter runways, smaller passenger payloads, and intermediate range destinations. The ideal solution became the three-engine Model 727. It soon became the trunk airliner of choice.
Our 727 remains in excellent condition for three reasons:
- It was pulled from service a year ahead of schedule because of the travel slump following the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks.
- It arrived at the Museum of Flight with all parts and systems intact.
- It was protected from vandals and the interior climate controlled during its tenure at the air park.
Who We Are:
The Airline History Museum (AHM) of Kansas City fills a unique niche. It was founded by a dedicated group of volunteers with the proud heritage of Trans World Airlines(or TWA). Unlike many museums built around military aircraft, AHM is dedicated to preserving the rich history of the airline industry.
The Excitment!:
People of varied backgrounds are stepping forward to assist. They include individuals with work history at American Airlines, Boeing, and elsewhere. A team of Alaska Airlines mechanics has stepped forward to perform needed maintenance. It is essential that all work be properly documented to demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the aircraft is safe and merits certification for flight.
The same crew of seasoned volunteers who restored the United Airlines B-727-100 have shared their wisdom by providing guidance while generously donating tools, parts, and needed supplies remaining from that project.
What We've Done So Far:
The first step was to vacate the Museum of Flight so that construction of a huge aircraft display building could move forward. Clay Lacy, a premier fixed base operator, generously provided ramp space, towing, and other ground handling support. The King County Airport has provided meeting space for gatherings, fire protection for functional tests, and other valued services.
The integrity of major systems to include avionics, fuel, hydraulics, engines, airframe, and flight controls has been validated. Actions are planned to resolve any minor discrepancies encountered.
Next Steps:
Our goal immediate goal is to fly N874AA from Boeing Field in Seattle to Paine Field in Everett for needed maintenance. The next destination is historic Kansas City Downtown Airport in March, 2017. There it will join the other aircraft in the AHM collection and receive the ongoing care necessary for its long term preservation. We anticipate that occasional flight and participation in various air shows will be feasible.
Schedule:
Follow us on our website and Facebook for up to date schedules and events
- December 2016 - First flight and relocation from Boeing Field to Paine Field in Everett Washing for further repairs and rework.
- Dec 2016 - March 2017 Aircraft will be based at Future of Flight Musuem for continued rework and public access to the aircraft.
- Early March 2017 - American Airline Reunion
- Late March 2017 Bon-Voyage - Thank you Seattle/Everett - Slated for a Friday evening in late March of 2017 at the Future of Flight Musuem in Everett Washington
- Departure for KC - The aircraft will depart for Kansas City the morning after the Bon-Voyage Celebration
- Arrival and Welcome Home Once we have the date set for the ferry flight, we will be making announcements for an arrival ceremony and banquet to be held at the Airline History Museum. We hope you will join us.