This is a later-example Boeing 727, 1,333rd out of 1,832 produced, delivered new to American Airlines on 13 April 1978. The -200 denotes a stretched fuselage for extra capacity, and the -A denotes "Advanced" which includes aerodynamic, engine, and capacity improvements. The 727-200A was the workhorse of many US airlines well through the 1990s, until the fuel spikes and the post-9/11 air travel downturn made them uneconomical. This aircraft served American until the retirement of American's entire 727 fleet in 2001, and made its final flight to Seattle Boeing Field on 20 January 2003 to join the Museum of Flight collection.

American Airlines replaced the 727 fleet with the Boeing 737-800 from 1999 on; the 737-800 offers the same passenger capacity, while flying farther, using 40% less fuel, requiring one less pilot, and being overall much cheaper to operate. The 727's only advantage was speed, which has become less critical in today's more crowded airspaces.

The Museum of Flight also owns a second Boeing 727: the very first one built, N7001U, which flew for United Airlines from 1964 to 1991 and has been under restoration in Everett.