The 757 was designed as a replacement for the highly successful 727, which was nearing the end of its production life. The 757 was originally designated as 727-300, featuring a t-tail, but following customer feedback it emerged as a low-tail, underwing engined twin. It also shared systems and cockpit layout with its big brother, the 767, which was optimised as a 707/DC-8 replacement, and allowed for a common crew rating. Initial customers were British Airways, Eastern Airlines, and Monarch Airlines, all with Rolls-Royce RB211 power, while Delta, Singapore, and Northwest launched the Pratt & Whitney PW2037 variants.
The type became an immediate success, with great operational flexibility, and the development of more powerful RB211 and PW2040 engines allowed the maximum take-off weight to rise from 99MT to 117MT, which paved the way for Transatlantic operations. Total production reached reached 1050, the last airframe being delivered to Shanghai Airlines in April 2005.
The type has been an ever-present at Glasgow up until the virus struck, and is now only likely to be an occasional visit, so let's remember this wonderful and versatile machine.
The type's first visit to the UK was at the 1982 Farnborough Air Show, where Eastern's 5th aircraft, N505EA was displayed
B1904E 09Sep82 N505EA B757 by Fergus Abraham, on FlickrBritish Airways' G-BIKC arriving on a Heathrow Shuttle on 20th March 1983 shows the colour scheme on the initial deliveries, these being powered by RB211-535C engines. 'KC served for 19 years before being sold, along with the rest of the -535C fleet, to DHL for European freight operations.
A01-22E G-BIKC B757-236 BA GLA 20Mar83 by Fergus Abraham, on FlickrG-BIKO seen here on 23rd February 1985 was delivered with the stylish new Landor colours, just 9 days previously.
AG0407E 23Feb85 G-BIKO GLA by Fergus Abraham, on FlickrAnother airline which made good use of the type at Glasgow was Air 2000, the airline of Owners Abroad Group. Their 3rd example G-OOOC is seen parked on stand 24 on 16th March 88, visiting to celebrate opening a GLA base. This was only delivered 6 days previously, and GLA was their 2nd base after Manchester. Air 2000 aircraft were all powered by the RB211-535E engines, which allowed the weight increase for Transatlantic operations, which became a reality at GLA 2 years later.
L4-scan0012 16-03-88 G-OOOC GLA by Fergus Abraham, on FlickrSummer 1990 saw the type appearing with North American carriers for the first time, with Canada 3000, American Trans Air, and Odyssey (later Nationair) operating across the pond.
Y08scan0022 180590 C-FXOF GLA by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr
Y14scan0029 250690 N750AT GLA by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr
Y12scan0004 240990 C-FNBC GLA by Fergus Abraham, on FlickrAnother airline that was synonymous the 757 was Britannia, and the type was introduced to the GLA base in 1991 with G-BTEJ, leased from Icelandair, the association with GLA only ending in 2020 with the last Tui 757 leaving the base.
Y15scan0011 300691 G-BTEJ GLA by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr
