The Boeing 757 is an American narrow-body airliner designed and built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes.The then-named 7N7, a twinjet successor for the trijet 727, received its first orders in August 1978.The prototype completed its maiden flight on February 19, 1982, and it was FAA certified on December 21, 1982.Eastern Air Lines placed the initial 757-200 variant in commercial service on January 1, 1983.A package freighter (PF) variant entered service in September 1987 and a combi model in September 1988.The stretched 757-300 was launched in September 1996 and began service in March 1999. After 1,050 had been built for 54 customers, production ended in October 2004, while Boeing offered the largest 737 Next Generation variants as a successor to the -200.
The jetliner is powered by 36,600–43,500 lbf (163–193 kN) Rolls-Royce RB211 or Pratt & Whitney PW2000 underwing turbofan engines for a 255,000–273,000 lb (116–124 t) maximum takeoff weight (MTOW).The 757 has a 2,000 sq ft (185 m) supercritical wing for reduced aerodynamic drag and a conventional tail.It keeps the 707 fuselage width and six–abreast seating and its two-crew glass cockpit has a common type rating with the concurrently designed 767 (a wide-body aircraft).It was produced in two fuselage lengths: the 155 ft (47.3 m) long 757-200 (the most popular with 913 built) typically seats 200 passengers in two classes over 3,915 nautical miles [nmi] (7,250 km; 4,505 mi); while the 178 ft (54.4 m) long 757-300 typically seats 243 over 3,400 nmi (6,295 km; 3,900 mi).The 757-200F can haul a 72,210 lb (32,755 kg) payload over 2,935 nmi (5,435 km; 3,378 mi).Passenger 757-200s have been modified for cargo use as the Special Freighter (SF) and the Precision Converted Freighter (PCF).