The PSA History Page

Boeing 727

N534PS taxis to the runway in SFO during April 1978. (Jon Proctor)	A delivery shot of a non-smiling 727-200. (PSA)	San Jose Airport was also visited by 727-200s.	Flying over the Golden Gate bridge. (Gerald French)	N972PS between leases in PSA operation, 1971. (Exavia slides)	Aircraft 224 in the Hangar. (Photovault)
N550PS on the ramp in SFO. (Bill Thompson)	N557PS taxiiing. (Tom Livesey)	N970PS taxiiing at Boeing Field. (Terry Collier collection)	N974PS caught on the ramp. (Clint Groves)	N693WA, on short-term lease, spotted departing from SAN in 1977. (Frank Duarte)	N530PS landing in delivery colors. (Bill Thompson)
N555PS, with Donald Duck titles, caught in Atlanta. (Dave Floyd)	N558PS caught landing at SJC, 1981. (Tom Livesey)	N970PS caught in the second color scheme. (Jon Proctor)	N975PS, in original colors, loading at SFO. (Bill Thompson)	N972PS caught just after painting into Orange, in 1977. (Frank Duarte)	N532PS caught in a pre-delivery shot. (PSA)
N555PS, in Donald Duck colors, at SJC. (Tom Livesey)	N558PS taking off at SFO, August 1, 1982. (Tom Livesey)	N972PS in a rare all/white shot. (Jon Proctor)	A PSA bird on short-term lease to Continental in IAD. (Jay Selman/Avion Foto)	N546PS, an early smiling 727-200 at SFO. (William T. Larkins)	N556PS on approach to Runway 24 in 1984. (T. Owen/ARO Productions)
N972PS, shockingly pink, lands. (Clint Groves)	The interior of PSA's 727. (Photovault)	A 727-100 taking off from San Diego. (PSA)	The new PSA terminal at Burbank.	N691WA at night in SFO. (via Sara Gradwohl)	N550PS at night in SFO. (via Sara Gradwohl)
A 727 caught landing in LAS. (Doug Bauder)	N550PS on approach to SAN, 1977. (Frank Duarte)	N554PS landing in SAN, 1984. (Frank Duarte)	N558PS caught in San Diego, 1982. (Frank Duarte)

The 727 program started in 1964, when PSA placed an order for 6 airframes and associated spare parts. While the existing fleet of Electras was excellent for PSA's operation, Jet aircraft were rapidly overtaking the turboprops, and the 727 was the first jetliner designed for true short-haul operations. The 727-14 was an instant success with PSA, and orders were quickly placed for the stretched -214 version as traffic was growing tremendously.

With the retirement of the Electra in 1968, the 727-214 would become the backbone of PSA's fleet for the next 16 years. The 727-14 played a supporting role in smaller markets, as well as on lease to other airlines during the 1970s. The 727-214s were the first aircraft to have Stewards in 1968, while two 727-14s were traded in as downpayment on the first L-1011 order in 1969.

With increases in fuel prices, Barkley felt PSA needed more efficient aircraft to compete and ordered the stretched DC-9 Super 80 in 1978, marking the eventual end of the 727 fleet. The last new 727s were delivered in 1978-79, and then progressively sold off to other operators, most notably Eastern and Piedmont.

The fleet statistics listed below are from PSA archives. They do not correspond with what I have seen in production list books. In this case, I have elected to use PSA data over the production list data.

Items from the Gallery

N975PS in the delivery colors, on the ramp at SFO.	727 over the Golden Gate Bridge.	N530PS in delivery colors upon landing.	Boeing 727, with smile, at San Jose Terminal (today's Terminal C.) (Photographer unknown)	Boeing 727 in flight.	N550PS in shocking pink colors at SFO.
The new PSA Terminal at Burbank with 727s abounding.	Boeing 727-100, San Diego Airport, 1977.	The last 727 departure from SAN, on November 26, 1984. Inside the terminal, a Dixieland band played for the passengers. (San Diego Tribune)	The last 727 crew. Captain Ray Keough and FE Pierre Dubois retired that night. FO Bill Dutton filled out the crew. (San Diego Tribune)	727 Flight checklist, 1983	Flight Attendant Manual

Flt #	Registration	Type	MSN	LN	History
101	N970PS	727-14	18908	133	PSA 04/05/1965 - 11/30/1971
					LT AS 7/30/69-8/17/69
					LT MX 9/27/69-11/20/71, XA-SER
					Mexicana XA-SER 11/30/71-9/9/81
					Mexican Air Force XC-FAY, 10503, RR 3503 3/00
102	N971PS	727-14	18909	150	PSA 05/22/1965 - 11/30/1971
					LT MX 9/27/69-11/30/71 XA-SER
					Mexicana XA-SER 11/30/71-9/9/81
					Mexican Air Force, XC-FAZ, 10504, RR 3504 12/03
103	N972PS	727-14	18910	159	PSA 06/27/1965 - 03/31/1983
					LT AS 5/23/69-9/22/69, 10/20/69-10/31/70
					LT ANA 1/18/73-3/74
					LT MX 5/23/79-10/27/82, XA-IUP
					Northwest N460US, 3/31/83-1/13/92
					WFU, Thief River Falls Tech School
104	N973PS	727-14	18911	167	PSA 08/10/1965 - 07/17/1969
					Mexicana XA-SEA 7/17/69-9/9/81
					Mexican Air Force 10505, 9/81-12/89
					TAESA CVT -14F, XA-RRA 12/89-
					Stored MEX 9/97, BU
105	N974PS	727-14	18912	169	PSA 08/10/1965 - 03/05/1970
					LT ANA 2/28/69-1/14/70
					Lockheed trade-in, 3/70
					LT MX 3/5/70-8/30/70, XA-SEP
					LT MX 1/6/72 XA-SEP (BT 12/74)
					Mexican Air Force 10501, 5/81
					RR XC-FAD/3501 10/00
106	N975PS	727-14	18990	238	PSA 03/07/1966 - 02/28/1972
					LT ANA 4/5/69-2/5/70, 4/13/73-3/15/74
					ST Lockheed, 2/28/72
					LT PSA 3/3/72-4/30/74
					Hapag Lloyd 3/15/74-5/24/82
					Burkina Faso gvmt XT-BBE 7/88
					WFU Ouagadougou
107	N976PS	727-14	19398	345	PSA 12/16/1966 - 11/30/1971
					LT MX 6/9/69-11/30/71, XA-SEN
					Mexicana XA-SEN 11/30/71-10/20/73
					WO Mazatlan 10/20/73, landed short
108	N977PS	727-114	19815	443	PSA 08/03/1967 - 11/12/1969
					LT MX 12/21/68-11/69, ST MX and op until 1/81
					LT Aerotal 6/81-7/83 HK-2637X, HP-1001
					LT Panama AF FAP501, 12/83-8/85
					Jet East 8/85, LT Skybus 9/85, World 10/85-4/86
					LT Avensa YV-84C 7/86, BU 10/00 EZE
					SLT TAESA XA-NAD 7/10/91-4/27/93
109	N691WA	727-173C	19505	432	World Airways N691WA
					LT JAL 3/69-8/69, 7/70-1/73
					LT PSA 3/30/76-5/27/77
					Dominicana HI-312 7/30/77
					Dominicana HI-312CT 1/89-10/91, WFU
					BU Miami, FL 10/1/94
110	N693WA	727-173C	19507	449	World Airways, LT United 10/01/1967 - 06/01/1968
					LT JAL 8/69-6/70, TOA 1/73-3/75
					LT PSA 3/30/76-5/30/77
					LT Yemen Airways 7/77-12/31/79
					Varig PP-VLW 3/80-9/91
					Itepemirim Transported Aeros PP-ITM 9-91-4/99
					Air Gemini S9-BAH 4/99, WFU Luanda 2/04 for spares
111	N973PS	727-51	18797	90	Northwest Airlines N461US
					PSA 05/15/1977 - 03/01/1983
					LT MX 9/1/80-10/28/82, XA-MEN
					Northwest 3/83-12/91
					WFU, Wentworth Tech (near Boston)
112	N974PS	727-51	18798	93	Northwest Airlines N462US
					PSA 03/24/1977 - 10/04/1982
					LT CO 6/1/79-3/31/81
					Northwest 10/4/82-12/91
					Air Terrex OK-TGX 9/92-10/95
					Balkh Airlines YA-GAA 1/97-11/03
					Kam Air 11/03-, last known existence 2006 Afghanistan
114	N976PS	727-51	18799	102	Northwest Airlines N463US
					PSA 05/15/1977 - 11/30/1982
					LT CO 5/28/79-3/15/81
					Northwest 11/30/82-5/17/91
					BU Sherman-Grayson, TX 5/91
115	N977PS	727-51	18800	116	Northwest Airlines N464US
					PSA 06/10/1977 - 12/13/1982
					LT MX 8/1/80-10/30/82 XA-MEP
					Avensa YV-79C 12/82-10/90
					TAESA XA-TAE, XA-ASS, WFU 11/99 MEX
116	N978PS	727-51	18801	120	Northwest Airlines N465US
					PSA 04/19/1977 - 10/29/1982
					Northwest 10/29/82-10/91
					Kabo Air, 5N-MAM, 8/92-7/95
					Transafrik, S9-TBA
					BU Luanda, 1996
124	N124	727-81	18821	124	ANA JA8303 03/18/1965 - 05/31/1971
					PSA 05/31/1971 - 12/14/1975
					LT AS 6/22/72-12/14/75
					AS LT MX 11/30/72-1/10/74 XA-SEB
					Alaska N124AS, 'City of Valdez', 12/14/75-
					CR Ketchhikan, AS 4/5/76
201	N528PS	727-214	19683	488	PSA 12/19/1967 - 05/25/1972
					Air Charter F-BPJU 5/26/72-6/7/92
					LT Tunis Air 6/26/72-9/72
					BU 6/7/92 Paris, France
202	N529PS	727-214	19684	503	PSA 01/12/1968 - 11/23/1972
					Air Charter F-BPJV 11/22/72-11/25/92
					Air France 11/25/92
					Tulsa Tech 12/22/92 N218TT, ground trainer
203	N530PS	727-214	19685	556	PSA 04/02/1968 - 11/01/1985
					Interior gutted in fire at LAX, 11/21/73
					LT EA 9/22/80-11/85
					Eastern N530EA 11/85-6/7/89
					Trump Shuttle N908TS 6/89-4/92
					USAir Shuttle 4/92-4/94
					BU 4/94
204	N531PS	727-214	19686	570	PSA 05/03/1968 - 11/01/1985
					LT EA 10/7/80-11/85
					Eastern N531EA 11/85-6/7/89
					Trump/USAir Shuttle N909TS 6/7/89-5/94
					BU Miami, FL 5/1/94
205	N532PS	727-214	19687	573	PSA 05/10/1968 - 11/01/1985
					LT EA 10/16/80-11/85
					Eastern N531EA, 11/85-6/7/89
					Trump/USAir Shuttle, 6/7/89-3/23/93
					New ACS 5H-ARS 2/32/93-12/96, SLT Puntavia 2-9/95
					City Express 9Q-CRS 12/96-1/97
					Congo Airlines/Hewa Bora Airways 1/97-
206	N533PS	727-214	19688	589	PSA 06/11/1968 - 09/25/1978
					CR San Diego, CA 9/25/78
207	N534PS	727-214	19689	610	PSA 07/20/1968 - 11/01/1985
					LT EA 10/7/80-11/85
					Eastern N534EA 11/85-6/7/89
					Trump/USAir Shuttle N911TS 6/89-1/94
					WFU 4/1/94 and BU
208	N535PS	727-214	20161	714	PSA 04/17/1969 - 10/22/1981
					LT ANA 8/31/69-1/23/70
					Piedmont N858N 10/22/81-8/5/89
					USAir N719US 8/5/89-1/90
					BU 7/15/91 Dallas Aerospace (Dallas)
209	N536PS	727-214	20162	715	PSA NTU
					Frontier N7279F 4/21/69-7/71
					Braniff N409BN 7/71-3/84 (B1, B2)
					LT Pride Air 6-11/85, Arrow 12/85-1/86
					LT Braniff 2/86-9/92 (B2, B3), Key 4-6/93
					Allegro 6/93-12/94, XA-SJM; 6/99-11/00 C-GOKF
					Kelowna Flight C-GOKF 10/96-
210	N537PS	727-214	20163	723	PSA 05/17/1969 - 06/12/1981
					Piedmont N855N 6/12/81-8/5/89
					USAir N719US 8/5/89-12/91
					BU 7/15/91 Dallas Aerospace (Dallas)
211	N538PS	727-214	20164	724	PSA 05/23/1969 - 09/01/1981
					Damaged by fire at LAX, 11/21/73
					Piedmont N856N 9/81-8/5/89
					USAir N720US 8/5/89-12/91
					BU 7/15/91 Dallas Aerospace (Dallas)
212	N539PS	727-214	20165	725	PSA 05/28/1969 - 08/20/1981
					Piedmont 8/20/81-8/5/89
					USAir N721US 8/5/89-2/91
					BU 7/15/91 Dallas Aerospace (Dallas)
214	N540PS	727-214	20166	727	PSA 06/04/1969 - 05/17/1982
					Piedmont N860N 5/17/82-8/5/89
					USAir N722US 8/5/89-12/91
					BU 7/15/91 Dallas Aerospace (Dallas)
215	N541PS	727-214	20167	728	PSA 06/06/1969 - 06/11/1982
					Piedmont N861N 6/11/82-8/5/89
					USAir N723US 8/5/89-12/91
					BU 7/15/91 Dallas Aerospace (Dallas)
216	N542PS	727-214	20168	740	PSA 07/17/1969 - 07/02/1982
					Piedmont N895N 7/2/82-8/5/89
					USAir N728US 8/5/89-12/91
					BU 7/15/91 Dallas Aerospace (Dallas)
217	N545PS	727-214	20169	743	PSA, ST ONA and LSD 6/81-7/30/82 07/31/1969 - 06/01/1981
					Air National 12/82-1/84
					Chancellor LT Air One 3/84-12/84
					LT Skybus 1/3/86-5/87, SLT World 4/30/86-5/87
					LT PA 8/1/87-12/4/91 N376PA
					Aero Sur LV-WDS 12/22/93, BU EZE 8/00
218	N546PS	727-214	20366	828	PSA 11/24/1970 - 01/03/1982
					Piedmont N859N 1/3/82-8/5/89
					USAir N729US 8/5/89-12/91
					BU 12/15/91 Dallas Aerospace (Dallas)
219	N544PS	727-214	20367	832	PSA 05/27/1971 - 07/23/1982
					Piedmont N896N 7/23/82-8/5/89
					USAir N730US 8/5/89-7/91
					BU 7/91 Dallas Aerospace (Dallas)
220	N550PS	727-214A	20678	931	PSA 03/30/1973 - 11/01/1984
					LT CO 6/4/79-3/23/81
					Pan American N373PA 11/84-12/91
					Liberty Air V4-CGC, Aerosur LV-WFU NTU
					Harco Air 5N-PAX 11/04, WFU MIA and SCR
221	N551PS	727-214A	20679	942	PSA 05/11/1973 - 12/27/1984
					Pan American N374PA 12/84-12/91
					Harco Air 5N-PAL 10/94, WFU MIA and SCR
222	N552PS	727-2J7A	20706	949	PSA 06/14/1973 - 06/15/1975
					Sterling OY-SBA 7/75-5/76
					Mexicana N552NA 6/76-10/93
					Laker Airways N552NA 12/93-3/99
					Aerol. Internacionales XA-TRB 4/00-9/00
					WFU OPF, LIM, OPF 8/13/02, BU
223	N553PS	727-2J7A	20707	953	PSA 06/21/1973 - 06/20/1975
					Sterling OY-SBB 7/75-4/76
					Mexicana N553NA 6/76-10/93
					Laker Airways N553NA 12/93
					WFU FLL 4/00, OPF 9/2/01, partially BU
224	N554PS	727-214A	20875	1020	PSA 03/15/1974 - 11/20/1984
					Pan American N375PA 11/84-12/91
					Ultrair 1/93-8/93
					Capital Cargo Intl N227JL 6/95
					STD LAX 4/99, in svc 2000
					WFU TUS 8/31/01, JAX 3/04
225	N549PS	727-254	20252	783	Mohawk NTU
					PSA 1/6/70-9/81(bought for ANA lease) 01/06/1970
					LT ANA 1/19/70-1/76
					Eastern 9/81-6/7/89, RR N549EA
					Trump/USAir Shuttle N915TS 6/7/89
					BU 12/98, fus at LAX 12/01
226	N384PS	727-254	20437	798	Mohawk NTU
					PSA 3/17/70-8/81 (bought for ANA lease) 03/17/1970
					LT ANA 3/17/70-3/19/75
					Eastern 8/81-6/7/89, RR N584EA
					Trump/USAir Shuttle N916TS 6/7/89
					WFU Mojave 12/19/99, BU
227	N536PS	727-254	20438	799	Mohawk NTU
					PSA 4/9/70-10/16/81 (bought for ANA lease) 04/09/1970
					LT ANA 4/9/70-4/13/75
					Eastern 10/16/81-6/7/89, RR N536EA
					Trump/USAir Shuttle N912TS, 6/7/89
					WFU Mojave 4/8/00, BU 10/10/01
228	N547PS	727-254	20250	781	Mohawk NTU
					PSA 12/21/69-6/30/81 (bought for ANA lease) 12/21/1969
					LT ANA 12/22/69-12/12/72
					Eastern 6/30/81-6/7/89, RR N547EA
					Trump/USAir Shuttle N913TS, 6/7/89
					WFU Mojave 4/8/00, BU
229	N548PS	727-254	20251	782	Mohawk NTU
					PSA 12/29/69-6/30/81 (bought for ANA lease) 12/29/1969
					LT ANA 1/4/70-1/10/76
					Eastern 6/30/81-6/7/89, RR N548EA
					Trump/USAir Shuttle N914TS, 6/7/89
					WFU Mojave 10/21/99, BU
230	N555PS	727-214A	21512	1343	PSA 05/16/1978 - 10/30/1985
					Donald Duck's 50th birthday aircraft (1984)
					LT Piedmont 10/30/84, Sold 10/30/85
					USAir N750US 8/5/89-12/95
					ATA N750US 12/95-10/96
					Kitty Hawk Air Cargo 10/96-10/07, STD 9/01-10/03
					RIO Linhas Aéreas PR-IOA 11/25/09
231	N556PS	727-214A	21513	1365	PSA 07/18/1978 - 10/01/1985
					LT Piedmont 10/30/84, Sold 10/85
					USAir N751US 8/5/89-12/95
					ATA N751US 12/95-10/96
					Kitty Hawk Air Cargo 10/96-10/07, STD 10/02-10/03
					RIO Linhas Aéreas PR-RLJ 4/10/09
232	N791L	727-2Q8A	21608	1426	PSA 12/20/1978 - 10/06/1983
					Alaska, 'Seahawk One' N297AS 10/83-12/93
					ATA N776AT 12/93
					WFU VCV 9/3/01, ROW 5/15/02, SCR 2006
233	N557PS	727-214A	21691	1480	PSA 05/15/1979 - 04/19/1984
					Piedmont N557PS 4/84-8/5/89
					USAir N752US 8/5/89-2/22/96
					ATA N785AT 2/96, WFU ROW 5/9/02-9/05
					DHL/Astar 9/05-4/2/09, STD 7/23/09 IGM
234	N558PS	727-214A	21692	1482	PSA 05/21/1979 - 04/23/1984
					Piedmont N558PS 4/23/84-8/5/89
					USAir N753US 8/5/89-2/22/96
					ATA N786AT 2/96, WFU ROW 4/18/02-12/17/04
					DHL/Astar 12/04-4/2/09, STD 5/9/09 IGM
235	N559PS	727-214A	21958	1533	PSA 10/10/1979 - 02/15/1984
					Piedmont N559PS 2/15/84-8/5/89
					USAir N754US 8/5/89-2/22/96
					ATA N788AT 2/96, WFU ROW 3/1/02-1/5/05
					DHL/Astar 3/05-4/2/09, STD 5/9/09 IGM

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