Boeing 767

Summary

Description

The Boeing 767 program was launched on July 14, 1978, under the designation 7X7, aiming to produce a wide-body airliner. This initiative arose from the need to replace older 707s and other early narrow-body aircraft with a more efficient twin-aisle design but with a smaller fuselage than existing wide-bodies. To share development costs, Boeing entered risk-sharing agreements with Aeritalia and the Civil Transport Development Corporation (CTDC) of Japan. The initial concept as a short take-off and landing airliner was revised to a mid-size, transcontinental-range aircraft, eventually settling on a twinjet layout to leverage the improved reliability and economics of new-generation engines. The design phase emphasized fuel efficiency, incorporating advanced technologies such as high-bypass-ratio turbofans, digital flight deck systems, and an aerodynamically efficient supercritical wing. The 767 made its first flight on September 26, 1981, and after a 10-month flight test program, it received certification in July 1982, leading to the initial 767-200 variant entering service on September 8, 1982.

The Boeing 767 is a low-wing cantilever monoplane designed with a conventional tail unit featuring a single fin and rudder. Its wings are swept at 31.5 degrees, optimized for a cruising speed of Mach 0.8. Each wing incorporates a supercritical airfoil cross-section, equipped with six-panel leading edge slats, single- and double-slotted flaps, inboard and outboard ailerons, and six spoilers. The airframe construction employs carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer composite material wing surfaces, Kevlar fairings and access panels, and improved aluminum alloys, which collectively reduce overall weight compared to earlier aircraft designs. To manage weight distribution on the ground, the 767 utilizes a retractable tricycle landing gear with four wheels on each main gear and two on the nose gear.

The Boeing 767 is not typically configured for offensive armament in its standard passenger or freighter versions. However, military derivatives such as the KC-767 and KC-46 aerial tankers can be equipped with a fly-by-wire refueling boom and optional auxiliary fuel tanks to transfer fuel to other aircraft, effectively serving as a force multiplier. Furthermore, the 767-300F freighter can haul up to 116,000 lb (52.7 t) of cargo over 3,225 nmi (6,025 km; 3,711 mi), providing substantial logistical support capabilities.

In its initial years, the 767 found primary use on domestic routes, particularly transcontinental services within the United States, operated by carriers such as United Airlines, American Airlines and TWA. Air Canada, China Airlines, El Al, and Pacific Western also adopted the aircraft in 1983 for their respective routes. During the mid-1980s, the 767, along with the Airbus A300 and A310, was instrumental in the expansion of twinjet flights across the North Atlantic, facilitated by ETOPS regulations. The FAA's approval of 120-minute ETOPS flights for the 767 in 1985 marked a significant milestone, enabling the aircraft to operate transatlantic routes with greater efficiency. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the 767 had become a popular choice for transatlantic flights, often surpassing the frequency of other aircraft types on these routes and contributing to the growth of point-to-point flights, which bypassed major airline hubs. This shift allowed operators to offer direct flights to secondary population centers, increasing convenience for passengers. A notable operational weakness emerged in 1990 when British Airways temporarily grounded its 767 fleet due to cracks in the engine pylons, attributed to the heavier Rolls-Royce RB211 engines; a redesign of parts and structural reassessment addressed the issue and prevented further cracks.

Main Variants:

• 767-200: The original model of the 767, primarily utilized by U.S. carriers for domestic routes, was also the first aircraft used on transatlantic ETOPS flights.

• 767-200ER: This extended-range version of the 767-200, featuring increased fuel capacity and higher MTOW, was designed for long-haul routes and entered service in 1984.

• 767-300: The first stretched version of the 767, it features a longer fuselage than the -200 model, increasing passenger capacity while retaining most of the original design elements.

• 767-300ER: An extended-range version of the 767-300, it combines increased capacity with greater fuel tankage and a higher MTOW, making it the most successful 767 variant.

• 767-300F: This is the production freighter version of the 767-300ER, designed to hold up to 24 standard pallets on its main deck and with a total cargo volume of 15,469 cubic feet.

Technical specifications

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	United States	61 (+113)
	Japan	10 (+2)
	Italy	4
	Colombia	1
	Israel	0 (+8)

Numbers in parentheses, e.g. '(+5)', indicate units ordered but not yet delivered.

All operators

United Arab Emirates • Colombia • Djibouti • Israel • Italy • Japan • United States

Photo of 767