N7214U

This airframe, registered as N7214U, is a Boeing 720-022 built by Boeing in 1961 with manufacturer serial number 18046. The aircraft has been associated with ownership by United Air Lines, an airline based in the United States, and carries a US registry. The airframe’s configuration and equipment reflect a single airframe history tied to mainline passenger operations with periodic maintenance consistent with its age and four-engine turbofan layout. Operated by United Air Lines in the United States summarizes its primary operator and home-base relationship.

The cabin of this Boeing 720-022 is configured to accommodate 149 seats, indicating a high-density mainline passenger layout suited to scheduled domestic and transcontinental segments within its 3,680 nm range. At a typical cruise speed of 540 kts and a service ceiling of 40,000 ft, the aircraft is optimized for medium- to long-range trunk routes operated from United Air Lines’ U.S. network. Avionics and interior fit would have been maintained to airline standards for the era and subsequently through airline maintenance programs; ongoing upkeep focuses on four Pratt & Whitney JT3C-7 turbofan engines and airframe systems typical of fixed-wing multi-engine classic jets. Routine maintenance considerations emphasize legacy engine support and structural inspections commensurate with a 1961-built airframe.

As a member of the Boeing 720 family, the Boeing 720-022 occupies a narrow-body, four-engine jet niche designed for medium-range high-frequency routes, combining relatively high cruise speeds with transcontinental capability. In the historical market, such airframes competed with other early jetliners for mainline airline trunk work; buyer and charter demand in later decades has been constrained by age, fuel efficiency, and parts availability. Maintenance and resale considerations for this specific airframe center on legacy JT3C-7 support, airworthiness compliance for an aging 1961 serial 18046, and the economics of operating a four-engine classic airliner within contemporary fleet requirements.