Eastern Air Lines  Boeing 727-025     N8128N     (c/n   18279)

                                    

                                       Eastern were the launch customer for the Boeing 727, an aircraft which was to become the workhorse
                                       of the airline industry for the next two decades.   They had worked with United and Boeing in defining
                                       just what it was that the airlines needed for their short and medium haul routes.  The 727s were quickly
                                       placed into the popular "Air Shuttle" services on the U.S. east coast.  Eastern's first schedule with the 727
                                       occurred on 1 February 1964 with a flight from Philadelphia - Washington - Miami.  United commenced
                                       services with the new airline six days later.  N8128N was sold to Federal Express as a freighter in 1989,
                                       becoming N508FE.  Seen below is a rare shot from the Mike Sparkman collection of an EAL 727 in the
                                       earlier original livery.  N8111N served the airline faithfully from April 1964 until it was sold off for spares
                                       in June 1982.

                                           Boeing 720-025  N8111N        (c/n  18262)