Unless you own one of the few private Boeing 727s or fly for one of the few remaining companies still operating the venerable tri-holer, the Zero-G Boeing 727 is the only possible way to still fly in one today.
Boeing 727 Was Once A Staple in Domestic and International Air Travel
During initial production runs, which continued up to 1984, Boeing manufactured over 1,800 of these highly reliable jets. Not surprisingly, the 727 became a staple of domestic and international air travel. Incredible versatility allowed the airplane to serve in various roles, including cargo flights and VIP travel.
The 727 played a pivotal role in the evolution of commercial air travel, driving future aircraft designs and paving the way for more modern passenger jets. It is still an iconic symbol of 20th-century aviation and the ingenuity of the iconic aircraft manufacturer, Boeing.
Boeing 727 Was Engineered To Operate in and Out of Shorter Runways
The Boeing 727, an early tri-engine commercial jet, was introduced in the 1960s, rapidly becoming one of the most popular commercial airliners of its time. First taking flight in 1963 and officially entering service in 1964, the B-727 was engineered to operate in and out of shorter runways, making it ideal for smaller regional airports.
Boeing’s innovative design boasted a T-tail and rear mounted engines on the empennage, allowing for less engine noise and better aerodynamics. It was the first commercial aircraft to offer a full-length cabin, comfortably seating up to 189 passengers.
Zero-G Pilots Induce Zero Gravity
While there are very few 727s still flying today, Gozerog.com, offers a rare and unique chance to experience what astronauts feel in space, namely floating free, without the constraints of earthly gravity.
Here is a special opportunity for virtually anyone to fly aboard a modified Boeing 727 aircraft (reg. N794AJ). Pilots induce zero gravity, enabling passengers to float suspended in the air, flip inverted, and zoom forward and aft, just as astronauts do on the space station. This in-flight science experiment of sorts is not a simulation but actual sustained zero-G flight.
A Gravity Defying Experience
This unique flying is frequently used to train and acclimate new as well as seasoned astronauts. The platform is also leveraged by researchers and scientists in search of useful and important minus gravity, and zero gravity data.
The best part is that the average person, even someone who has never flown on an airplane can participate and join in on this gravity defying experience. It is a genuine once-in-a-lifetime thrill. Aviation video blogger SoCal Sirens & Aviation filmed his flight from back in 2020. You can see the video below:
How Zero-G Creates the Sensation of Being Weightless
Zero-G flight, sometimes called microgravity flight, approximates a weightless environment, allowing those onboard to feel the sensation of floating in space. It is typically achieved through parabolic flight maneuvers, where an aircraft is rapidly climbed, then descended or “nosed over” into a steep arcing dive.
During the descent phase, passengers are exposed to a brief period—about 20-30 seconds—of microgravity as the aircraft and all onboard fall at the same rate, creating what feels like being weightless.
Astronaut Training and Research
The science behind this concept is based upon Newton’s laws of motion, specifically the principle of free fall. During zero-G, the effects of gravity are in essence suspended, allowing for unique experiments and occupant experiences that can unravel many of the mysteries of fluid dynamics, material science, and human physiology.
This kind of specialized flying is critical for astronaut training and space research, providing a functional process for studying phenomena unique to the vacuum of space.
Boeing 727 Still Used To Train
Well-known brands and organizations have endorsed and routinely use the services of Zero-G. Names like Blue Origin, NASA and even US Space Force, and others have all placed a seal of approval on the project. In addition, The Zero Gravity Project is fully approved by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) as a trusted and safe zero gravity flight provider.
The project has to its credit nearly 1000 successful flights and has hosted well over 22,000 guests. With more than 20 years of safe operations, civilians taking flight can feel confident in knowing that they are in good hands.
A Jet Designed In the Apollo Era Still Supporting Moon Preparation Today
With the work-horse Boeing 727 being such a rare aircraft these days, experiencing zero-G in this way offers up an intriguing taste of aviation history.
The Boeing 727 was conceived, designed and built in a time when Saturn-5 rockets where being engineered in support of the Apollo moon missions. It was a time when John F. Kennedy assured Americans that we would send a man to the moon and return him safely to earth before the end of the decade (1960s).
Zero-G Boeing 727 Overbuilt For This Mission
American confidence was high in those days; failure was not an option and exceptional craftsmanship was never in doubt. This is indeed the era that produced the trusted B-727, an airplane built with nothing more than slide rules, old-style rivet guns and true American grit and ingenuity.
It was a plane built to endure, sometimes being called a ‘tank with wings.’ This is perhaps why it was chosen as the ideal jet aircraft for the zero-G missions. It gets the job done and handles the structural stresses of high-G maneuvers perfectly.
How Can You Fly On a Zero-G Boeing 727?
Flights typically originate from either the Kennedy Space center in Coco Beach Florida or Ft. Lauderdale Florida depending on the time of year and other factors. Visit the website to see all the available package options. Private and research flights originate from several other cities as well.
Flying On a Boeing 727 In 2024 Isn’t Cheap
The price of flying with the zero-G Boeing 727 flight crew is not cheap, starting at nearly $10,000 dollars, it is the memories and photos that will last a lifetime, making it worth the exorbitant expense.
Zero G Adds The Astronaut Experience
As a final note, the program recently announced a new flight adventure called the Zer0-G Astronaut Experience at the Kennedy Space Center. This is a fully interactive and immersive aviation event that supports the public’s fast-growing interest in space tourism.
Guests enrolling in the Astronaut Experience are presented with a truly unforgettable 2-day flight adventure. It is considered “next level” in that it is allows guests to float with an actual NASA astronaut. The program includes full access to the Space center’s visitor center and an exclusive, astronaut-led tour.
The Gozerog.com website is easy to navigate and makes booking one of these out-of-this-world flights easy and convenient. Happy landings to all of the would-be space tourists out there!
