Summary

  • Boeing 727 and Hawker Siddeley Trident were iconic early jet-powered trijets with innovative features and capabilities.
  • The 727 excelled in range, passenger capacity, and service ceiling, becoming more widespread and enduring than the Trident.
  • While visually similar, the Boeing 727 had more success and enduring impact in commercial aviation compared to the Hawker Siddeley Trident.

In the dynamic landscape of early jet-powered commercial aviation, two notable trijets emerged as pioneering figures: the Hawker Siddeley Trident and the Boeing 727. These aircraft stand out as iconic representatives of early jet-powered flight, playing pivotal roles in shaping the trajectory of air travel.

The 727 quickly became a global favorite for its versatility and innovative features like nose wheel brakes and a retractable stairway. Similarly, the Trident boasted pioneering technology such as automatic approach and landing capabilities.

Icelandair Boeing 727-100

While the aircraft appear alike visually and boast very similar, impressive performance capabilities, the Boeing 727 has a longer range, higher passenger-carrying capabilities, and a higher service ceiling. Ultimately, the 727 was the more successful, widespread, and enduring aircraft.

The rival trijet marvels

Boeing 727

The Boeing 727 entered service in 1964 as Boeing’s first and only trijet airliner. The aircraft was Boeing’s response to growing demands for jet aircraft suitable for commercial flights to smaller airports. The 727 was the company’s bestseller until the early 1990s. After entering service in 1964, the 727 swiftly captured the aviation community’s attention and became widely popular. Over time, Boeing developed a range of 727 variants to fulfill diverse roles and keep the type relevant. Major operators of the 727 included:

  • United Airlines
  • Alaska Airlines
  • avianca
  • Japan Airlines
  • Mexicana de Aviación.

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During its 22-year production, Boeing built 1,832 units of the 727.

The 727 had unique features that assisted in providing service to and from small airports with runways under 5,000 feet. One such attribute was nose wheel brakes, which could enable quicker stops when landing on short runways. Another notable inclusion on the 727 was the retractable stairway under the rear fuselage. Airlines could deploy this at smaller airports with less infrastructure for passenger boarding/deboarding.

Ecuatoriana Boeing 727

Perhaps the most significant feature of the 727 was that it was the first commercial jetliner to contain an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). The APU provided power at small airports that might not have ground power. Although previously used for military aircraft, the 727 set the precedent for APU inclusion in commercial aircraft.

Despite its innovative features and overall success, the 727 faced several issues. One such challenge was airport noise regulations, which required hush kits to reduce noise pollution caused by the aircraft’s powerful turbofan engines. More importantly, the 727 was confronted with major safety concerns following several deadly crashes. Although an FAA investigation accredited the accidents to pilot error, the 727 continued to experience hundreds of incidents.

While the aircraft is still flown today, it is used for private, cargo, and military purposes. Its production concluded in 1984 after producing a total of 1,832 aircraft.

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Hawker Siddeley Trident

As Boeing engineers worked out the 727’s design, something similar occurred across the Atlantic. British European Airways (BEA) was tasked with modernizing its fleet in the face of competition. The airline sought a jet-powered successor to its venerable Vickers turboprop aircraft. In response, the de Havilland DH121, later rebranded as the HS-121 Trident under Hawker Siddeley, was developed to meet BEA’s requirements. The Trident was intended to be the world’s first jetliner, and featured innovative design and technology.

Hawker Siddeley Trident (British Airways)

The Trident’s sleek body and thin wings provided a new level of performance and economy for air travel. Most notably, the aircraft’s advanced avionics made it the first airliner with automatic approach and landing capabilities, as documented by The British Airliner Collection.

The first Trident entered service in April 1964, two months after Boeing’s 727s began carrying passengers. BEA swiftly expanded its fleet, boasting 21 Tridents within two years. Despite advancements to extend aircraft range and upgrade features, the Trident faced challenges in penetrating certain markets. The aircraft was never as widely used or versatile as the 727. Additionally, some British Airways Tridents began showing signs of major structural damage, such as fatigue cracks in the wings.

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Like the Boeing tri-jet, the Trident was confronted with noise regulations and required hush kits by 1986. However, British Airways, the Trident’s primary operator, chose to phase the aircraft out rather than incur the refit costs. Although the Trident continued to operate, its removal from British Airways’ fleet marked the aircraft’s final decline. The Trident’s last active market was in China, and the aircraft flew its last flight in 1995.

What’s the difference?

To the average observer, the Trident and 727 might appear too similar to tell apart. The planes are similar in size and boast the same external features. Both aircraft have three engines and low, swept wings. Emergency exits can be found above the wings on both the 727 and Trident.

Both planes have a high T-tail design, with their third engine mounted within the tail structure. Each aircraft also features “eyebrow windows” in the cockpit above the main forward-facing flight deck windows.

However, a close observer might notice that the Boeing’s vertical stabilizer seems to extend higher above the third engine than the Trident’s and is swept back. In contrast, the Trident’s vertical stabilizer is more upright and less elongated.

Aircraft Model

Boeing 727-100

Hawker Siddeley Trident 1C

Wingspan

108 ft.

98 ft.

Length

133 ft. 2 in.

114 ft. 9 in.

Height

34 ft.

27 ft.

Passenger load

149–189

103

Maximum Speed

632 mph

605 mph

Maximum Range

3,110 miles

2,700 miles

Service Ceiling

36,100 ft.

35,000 ft.

Because data on the original aircraft variants is limited and varies across sources (particularly for the short-lived “Gripper” Trident 1C), the most commonly cited statistics from multiple sources have been used for the purposes of this article.

Dimensions: Which is bigger?

While the aircraft share comparable dimensions, there are notable visual and performance differences. Additionally, statistics vary depending on the aircraft’s variant. For the fairest comparison, we will examine the first variants of each aircraft, the 727-100 and the Trident 1C.

According to The de Havilland Aircraft Museum and ch-aviation, the 727’s length (133 ft.) surpasses that of the Trident by just under 20 feet. The Boeing aircraft is also slightly taller (7 ft.) than its competitor. The 727’s 108-foot wingspan is ten feet longer than that of the Hawker Siddeley trijet.

While the number of seats on the aircraft differed depending on each airline’s configuration, the 727 has an overall higher passenger capacity than the Trident. In particular, the Trident 1C could only carry 108 passengers.

Performance Data: Which goes faster?

The 727 and the Trident each boast impressive abilities in terms of performance. As both were designed for similar purposes, the performance statistics show little difference in many areas.

Additionally, later variants of the Trident were modified to greatly improve speed. According to The British Airliner Collection, the Trident soon became renowned for its swiftness.

The 727’s powerful Pratt & Whitney engines give the plane a maximum speed of over 600 mph (549 knots), although its cruising speed is around 540 mph. While sources differ in their reports of the Trident 1C’s maximum speed, all agree that it was between 582 and 605 mph. The 727 has a longer range, its 3,110-mile capability exceeding the Trident’s by over 400 miles. The Trident’s ceiling is also slightly lower than the 727’s.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 727

Although both aircraft contributed to the advancement of air travel, the 727’s commercial success overshadowed the Trident’s more limited market presence. However, the Trident’s technological advancements ensured that the aircraft’s impact on aviation would not be forgotten. Regardless of which aircraft was bigger, faster, or more successful, both trijets greatly influenced commercial aviation and ushered in a new era of air travel.

Did you fly on the Boeing 727 or the Hawker Siddeley Trident? Share your experiences by commenting below.

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