Boeing 757

Boeing · United States · first flew 1982 · airliner

The Boeing 757 is a twin-turbofan narrowbody developed alongside the 767, sharing a common cockpit and prized for its powerful engines and long, stilted stance.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, swept
E — Engines	2 × turbofan, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Long slender single-aisle fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Long slender single-aisle fuselage
Tall, long-legged main landing gear
Two large underwing turbofans, strong climber

Identify it by the long, slender single-aisle fuselage on notably tall, long-legged landing gear, a tapered pointed nose, and two large underwing turbofans that give it a famously steep climb.

Specifications

The Boeing 757 has a length of 47.3 m (155 ft).
It has a wingspan of 38.1 m (125 ft).
Its maximum speed is 913 km/h (567 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1982 and entering service in 1983, the 757 replaced the 727 on busy short- and medium-haul routes. Around 1,050 were built before production ended in 2004, and it shares a common type rating with the widebody 767.

Variants

The baseline 757-200 was joined by the stretched 757-300, dedicated 757-200PF and -200SF freighters, and the C-32 government VIP transport. Engine choice was between the Rolls-Royce RB211-535 and Pratt & Whitney PW2000.

Where you'll see it

British Airways was a launch customer, flying 757-200s from Heathrow and Gatwick between 1983 and 2010, while Monarch, Britannia (later Thomson) and Air 2000 operated large fleets. Many now serve as freighters, and no complete UK museum example is recorded.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.