Cargo Legend: Exploring the Aerosucre 727-227(F) (HK-5216)

Welcome, my aviation friends, to an exciting journey into the history and legacy of Colombian flagged Aerosucre Boeing 727-227(F), registered currently as HK-5216. An airliner known for it’s long service to the many peoples of the western hemisphere during it’s continuing lifetime. In this short video, we'll delve into the rich history of this aircraft, its significance to the aviation industry, and the lasting impact it left behind.
Our story begins in the early 1950’s, when the aviation world witnessed the birth of a true legend: the Boeing 727. Manufactured by the Boeing Corporation, this aircraft was designed to be a revolutionary passenger jet that promised an easier ability to serve smaller cities and airports. This particular aircraft had it’s first flight on January 12, 1980, with delivery to Braniff Interntional Airways, later that same month.
The Boeing 727 featured cutting-edge technologies such as using a clean wing, that allowed high lift devices on those wings to extend across the entirety of those wings, allowing for shorter takeoffs and landings in smaller airports. On the inside, there was three abreast seating in the main cabin allowing for an exit limit of 189 Passengers, with a normal one class layout of 155 passengers, setting it apart from its contemporaries. Along with these capabilities, the Boeing 727 carried three Pratt and Whitney JT8D low bypass turbofans that produced 15,000 lbf or 67 kN each, allowing this aircraft to cruise at up to 518 kn or 960 km/h. With a full fuel load on board the aircraft could fly over 1,900 nmi or 3,500 km
Our airplane had a brief tenure with it’s first operator, Braniff International, lasting three years. The first registration this aircraft had, while flying for Braniff was N473BN, and was painted in the early 19080’s era Ultra Burgundy paint scheme. Like I said, previously, this would only last to 1983, when the aircraft was acquired by US Air. With US Air, the aircraft received a new registration of N782AL, the “AL” a acknowledgement of US Air’s former identity as Alleghany Air, and was repainted with a bare metal fuselage with an orange red and brown cheatline along the windows. Five years, later US Air changed their livery to a red and blue cheatline on a bare metal fuselage and the registration changed again to N768US. Then turned to 1993, and this airliner got its fourth operator, American Tran Air, it’s fourth livery, of a white fuselage and gold and blue cheatlines, and a fourth registration number of N768AT.
In 2003, the aircraft received a conversion to a cargo aircraft, and was acquired by Astar Air Cargo, who operated the aircraft in a DHL white and burgundy livery for a couple of years, before in 2005, when the livery was changed to the current yellow and burgundy livery, Of course, with this new operator, came a new registration, this time becoming N781DH. This cargo carrier would fly in out of North America for the next six years under the DHL banner before heading to South America. The new operator in 2009, became the Venezuelan flagged Venescar Internacional corporation. Oddly in this cae the livery continued with the DHL yellow and burgundy, while the registration changed to YV236T, this aircraft sixth different registration in it’s career.
The hits would keep coming though for this aircraft, as in another six years, being 2015, the airliner would be acquired by a North American Company called PCG acquisition, and placed into storage in it’s DHL livery while awaiting a new operator. During this storage period, the aircraft was re-registered as N227DD. Later that same year, the aircraft headed back down to South America to the nation of Uruguay, where it would again, receive a new registration, of CX-CLB, with it’s new company, Air Class, and a new livery consisting of Yellow streaks down the fuselage and vertical stabilizer and new titles on the front of the white fuselage. Two years of service in Uruguay ended in 2017, when Aerosucre, in Colombia, acquired the aircraft. Initially, they continued to fly this aircraft in Air Class colors, with the titles changed to Aerosucre. The registration was changed for again, for the current HK-5126. Between 2017 and today in 2023, the aircraft has gone through two more livery changes, as seen in the photos above, and despite the perceived safety record of this cargo line, this aircraft has continued flying safely since it’s 2017 acquisition.
This plane embarked on several historic journeys, connecting distant lands and bringing people together in ways previously unimaginable.
Crossing from coast to coast in North America with Passengers every day, to carrying cargo across both continents safely for the last two decades. This aircraft has been a standout example of the Boeing 727 type.
Although the era of the Boeing 727 almost fully passed, cargo liners like Aerosucre still make use of them where they are needed.