DALLAS — Today, in 1982, the prototype Boeing 757 (N757A) took to the skies for the first time from Renton Municipal Airport (RNT), Washington. At the controls and one week ahead of schedule were test pilots John H. Armstrong and Samuel Lewis (“Lew”) Wallick, Jr.

N757A was rolled out on January 13, 1982, and was the first of five prototypes to participate in the certification process.

Hitting Turbulence

However, the maiden flight wasn’t plain sailing. The number two (right-hand engine) began showing low oil pressure and 

was shut down. After checking the appropriate systems, the crew could restart the power plant, and the test flight continued.

Despite the setback, Armstrong and Wallick achieved all of the goals planned for the first flight. This included checking all the high lift devices and taking the jet to a maximum indicated airspeed (IAS) of 250 kt. 

After two hours and 31 minutes, N757A touched down at Paine Field, Everett (PAE). The maiden flight also marked the first flight of Boeing’s new technology two-person cockpit.

The 7N7

The Boeing 757 was initially conceived after Boeing looked at stretching and modifying its popular 727. The American plane-maker was already working on its new 7X7, which would become the 767. 

Airlines were looking at cutting costs, and three-engined aircraft were deemed inefficient. Thus, the 7N7, a twin-engined single-aisle airliner, was born in mid-1977. It became the 757 in February 1978.

Boeing exclusively constructed a new assembly line at its Renton factory to produce the 757. Production ended in 2004 after 1,050 had been built. The manufacturer handed the final example to Shanghai Airlines (FM) on April 27, 2005.

Featured image: The prototype 757 is pictured in flight during its maiden flight.

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