Summary

Publicity brochure produced by Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) to announce the introduction of its new Boeing 727 jet airliners. The Boeing 727 was the first all-jet aircraft used by Australian domestic airlines. TAA was established as a federal government owned airline in 1946. In 1986 TAA was renamed Australian Airlines which in turn was merged with Qantas in 1993.

The US-built Boeing 727 and 737 series of medium range jet airliners have been the most commercially successful passenger aircraft ever built. Following on from the success of the four-engine Boeing 707, the 727 featured three Pratt & Whitney JTD8D jet engines grouped in the tail. The first 727 flew on 9 February 1963 with deliveries of the 727-100 beginning in 1964. A stretched fuselage 727-200 model was offered in 1965. Australia was an early customer for the 727 with the Airlines Agreement Act (Two Airlines Agreement) specifing that Ansett-ANA and Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) must use the same aircraft and these must be delivered at the same time. The first two 727 airliners landed at Essendon Airport, Melbourne on 16 October 1964. Ansett's VH-RME and TAA's VH-TJA (named James Cook) began flying paying passengers on 2 November 1964. Along with the Douglas DC-9, the Boeing 727 was the main passenger aircraft used by both airlines until the acquisition of the Boeing 737 in the early 1980s. TAA referred to its 727 aircraft as 'Whispering T-Jets'. The last 727 airliner left the Ansett fleet in April 1997 although some continued to be used on air freight operations.

Title

'TAA PROUDLY PRESENTS THE 727 WHISPERING T-JET....INTRODUCING PURE JET TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA WITH THE QUIETEST JET IN THE WORLD'

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