Purpleplane
Well-known member
The Boeing 727 served FedEx very well for 35 years. Although there were only 2 basic paint schemes over those years, there were actually several variations of each scheme.
1. Delivery (1978-1979)
The first scheme featured the traditional "Purple Top" scheme. Note that the windows are only blanked out where the Federal Express titles are, and also that registration is below the window line in black.
2. 1979-1981.
This is what I would call "the 737 era". When Federal Express took delivery of it's 5 737-2S2Fs in 1979, there was a slight variation in the paint scheme: all windows were retained, the titles were slightly smaller and placed below the window line, and the registration was placed above the window line in white. N111FE shown above was delivered in April 1979 in this scheme, along with several of the ex-Eastern 727-25Cs that came on board in 1979 and early 1980.
3. 1982-1984
Not long after the 737s were sold off, the original scheme was used again, with the only exception being that the registration now appeared on the #2
engine intake in white:
4. 1984-1990
This is what I would call the "classic" purple top scheme shown again on N111FE...all windows are now blanked out, the registration is still on the #2 engine intake in white, and the U S flag has been added.
5. Changes are coming 1991-1994.
N114FE illustrates the final Purple top scheme..in 1991 a small "FEDEX" was added to the tail with "FED" in purple and the "EX" in orange.
6. A new era 1994-2013
On June 23, 1994 a brand new paint scheme was introduced as well as the official new name FedEx, shortened from Federal Express. As shown on N166FE there is also a small "Federal Express" under the "Ex".
7. "Federal" is removed. (1999-2000)
As shown on N461FE, the "Federal Express" has been replaced with just "Express" in a much larger size, so now it just reads as FedEx Express.
8. the final variation (2008)
As shown on N203FE, the font has been changed to a simpler style...even though the 727s have been retired since 2013, this is still the current standard fleet-wide.
I hope everyone enjoys this and please let me know if there are any errors, will make corrections as needed.
1. Delivery (1978-1979)
The first scheme featured the traditional "Purple Top" scheme. Note that the windows are only blanked out where the Federal Express titles are, and also that registration is below the window line in black.
2. 1979-1981.
This is what I would call "the 737 era". When Federal Express took delivery of it's 5 737-2S2Fs in 1979, there was a slight variation in the paint scheme: all windows were retained, the titles were slightly smaller and placed below the window line, and the registration was placed above the window line in white. N111FE shown above was delivered in April 1979 in this scheme, along with several of the ex-Eastern 727-25Cs that came on board in 1979 and early 1980.
3. 1982-1984
Not long after the 737s were sold off, the original scheme was used again, with the only exception being that the registration now appeared on the #2
engine intake in white:
4. 1984-1990
This is what I would call the "classic" purple top scheme shown again on N111FE...all windows are now blanked out, the registration is still on the #2 engine intake in white, and the U S flag has been added.
5. Changes are coming 1991-1994.
N114FE illustrates the final Purple top scheme..in 1991 a small "FEDEX" was added to the tail with "FED" in purple and the "EX" in orange.
6. A new era 1994-2013
On June 23, 1994 a brand new paint scheme was introduced as well as the official new name FedEx, shortened from Federal Express. As shown on N166FE there is also a small "Federal Express" under the "Ex".
7. "Federal" is removed. (1999-2000)
As shown on N461FE, the "Federal Express" has been replaced with just "Express" in a much larger size, so now it just reads as FedEx Express.
8. the final variation (2008)
As shown on N203FE, the font has been changed to a simpler style...even though the 727s have been retired since 2013, this is still the current standard fleet-wide.
I hope everyone enjoys this and please let me know if there are any errors, will make corrections as needed.
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