"Flying Pencil" • High Thrust-to-Weight Hot & High Runway Specialist Transatlantic Narrowbody Pioneer

Boeing 757 Family

The Boeing 757 is a cult-favorite narrowbody powerhouse celebrated for its extraordinary climb rates, short-field agility, and long-range transoceanic capability. Engineered alongside the wide-body 767 with shared flight deck commonality, the 757 carved out a niche as the ultimate hot-and-high performer.

Boeing 757 Family Technical Matrix

Specification 757-200 757-200F (Freighter) 757-300 (Stretch) C-32A (VIP / SAM)
Typical Passenger Capacity 178–200 (Max 239) Cargo (15 Pallets) 243–280 (Max 295) 45 VIP Staff
Overall Length 47.34 m / 155 ft 3 in 47.34 m / 155 ft 3 in 54.44 m / 178 ft 7 in 47.34 m / 155 ft 3 in
Wingspan 38.05 m / 124 ft 10 in 38.05 m / 124 ft 10 in 38.05 m / 124 ft 10 in 38.05 m / 124 ft 10 in
Tail Height 13.75 m / 45 ft 1 in 13.75 m / 45 ft 1 in 13.66 m / 44 ft 10 in 13.75 m / 45 ft 1 in
Max Takeoff Weight (MTOW) 115,900 kg / 255,500 lbs 115,900 kg / 255,500 lbs 123,600 kg / 272,500 lbs 115,900 kg / 255,500 lbs
Max Range (Full Payload) 3,915 nm / 7,250 km 3,150 nm / 5,834 km 3,400 nm / 6,300 km 5,500 nm / 10,186 km
Engines (2x) RB211-535E4 / PW2037 RB211-535E4 / PW2037 RB211-535E4B / PW2043 Pratt & Whitney PW2040
Cruise Speed Mach 0.80 (850 km/h) Mach 0.80 (850 km/h) Mach 0.80 (850 km/h) Mach 0.80 (850 km/h)

Program History & Milestone Timeline

March 23, 1979
Boeing Officially Launches the 757

Eastern Air Lines and British Airways placed orders for 40 aircraft, initiating Boeing's tandem development of the narrowbody 757 and wide-body 767.

February 19, 1982
Maiden Flight from Renton

The prototype 757-200 took off from Renton Municipal Airport, demonstrating extraordinary rate-of-climb power with Rolls-Royce RB211-535 engines.

January 1, 1983
Eastern Air Lines Revenue Debut

Eastern Air Lines inaugurated scheduled passenger service between Atlanta and Tampa, providing quiet, fuel-efficient flights.

August 2, 1998
First Flight of the Stretched 757-300

Boeing flew the 178-foot 757-300, delivering ultra-low seat-mile costs for German leisure airline Condor Flugdienst.

April 26, 2005
Final 757 Delivery (1,050 Total)

Boeing completed production of the 757 family with the 1,050th aircraft delivered to Shanghai Airlines. The type remains in intense global service with Delta, United, and FedEx.

Explore the Boeing Commercial Airliner Fleet

Explore Commercial Airliner Manufacturers

Explore Civilian Flight Sectors