| N767BA | |
| Aircraft Type: | Boeing 767-200 |
| Manufacturers: | Boeing |
| Civil Registration: | N767BA[1] |
| Construction Date: | 4 August 1981 |
| First Flight: | 26 September 1981 |
| In Service: | 1981–2003 |
| Last Flight: | 20 September 2003 |
| Fate: | Scrapped |
N767BA was a Boeing 767 aircraft that was built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes as the prototype of the 767. The aircraft type was launched as the 7X7 program on 14 July 1978 and rolled of the assembly line on 4 August 1981, later achieving its maiden flight on 26 September. The type was later certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 30 July 1982 with United Airlines being the 767's launch customer. Boeing kept the prototype aircraft for testing throughout its life time. Starting in 1984, Boeing converted the aircraft to an Airborne Surveillance Testbed for a United States Army program.[2]
In 1972, Boeing had intentions to replace their quad-engined Boeing 707 with an aircraft size smaller than the three giants: Boeing 747, McDonnell Douglas DC-10, and Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. Boeing partnered with Italian corporation Aeritalia and the Civil Transport Development Corporation (CTDC) to share the development costs. This was Boeing's first major international joint venture. In return for their early participation, Aeritalia and CTDC received supply contracts. The initial 7X7, N767BA, was originally planned as a short take-off and landing airliner for short-distance flights, but it was later redefined as a mid-size, transcontinental-range airliner due to lack of customer interest in the original concept.[3] Aircraft development began on 6 July 1979.[4]
N767BA incorporated several new technologies for its time, including an advanced two-crew Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) flight deck, which featured six color Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) displays. The aircraft also introduced improved avionics systems, more fuel-efficient engines, and a new wing design with greater sweepback, specifically optimized for high-altitude performance and efficiency.[5] This was Boeing's first twin-engined wide-body aircraft.
On 4 August 1981, the Boeing 767-200 prototype, which was equipped with two Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4D engines, registered as N767BA, rolled of the assembly line at Boeing Everett Factory, an airplane factory that was originally constructed for the massive Boeing 747 prototype.[6] N767BA's serial number was 22233.
Between 1984 and 1987, Boeing converted the aircraft to an Airborne Surveillance Testbed for a United States Army program. The program was about serving a platform for testing and developing new surveillance, communication, and networking technologies. The aircraft provides a unique airborne laboratory for testing advanced systems and capabilities that can be used for military, government, and commercial applications. The first flight, after the conversion, was on 21 August 1987. From 1987 to 2003, N767BA was operated by the United States Army. It was delivered in 1988.[7]
On 20 September 2003, N767BA performed its final flight towards Victorville Airport for storage. On 16 April 2007, the aircraft's civil registration was cancelled and the aircraft was soon dismantled in 2008.