Last operational Boeing 720 retires to Trenton museum

By Jack Carver

The last operational Boeing 720 in the world finished its illustrious career when it landed at CFB Trenton on Wednesday.

Built in 1960, “Pinocchio” has been around the world, operating first as a passenger plane and then as an engine testbed for Pratt & Whitney Canada.

Originally, Pratt and Whitney was planning on scrapping Pinocchio when it’s time had run out, but they sent out a letter of request two years ago to see what museums wanted the old bird. Nine museums were vying for the prize, most of them however, only wanted parts or pieces of the plane, whereas the Trenton air museum wanted the full thing.

“It’s a very special airplane,” said Chris Colton, executive director of the airforce museum in Trenton. “It was important that the aircraft stay in Canada. It became apparent that if Trenton didn’t get it or didn’t have the room for it, it would be sold for scrap.”

The only major Canadian museum interested in the plane was the aerospace museum in Ottawa. But the plane couldn’t land there because the runway was too small. In the end the plane was officially donated to Ottawa, but indefinitely loaned to the museum in Trenton, since it can land there.

Captain Barkley Bates flew Pinocchio a few times before it was retired.

“I only flew it a couple times as they had started phasing it out when I came in. Basically, it handles really well. It’s a good solid plane, especially being 50 years old.”

The nickname Pinocchio comes from the unusual looking nose on the aircraft. The nose holds the test engine, reinforced with steel to keep it safe. The plane can hold two engines at once for testing purposes and eight different families of engines have been in Pinocchio’s nose. It was also equipped to test turboprops and turbofans.

The plane was originally delivered to American Airlines in 1961. In 1974 it was purchased by Middle East Airlines and flew out of Beirut in Lebanon. It was moved all around the world since it couldn’t return to Beirut because of the conflict there. It was retired from Middle East Airlines in 1984 and purchased by Pratt & Whitney the same year. It was converted to an engine testbed and flew until it was retired in 2010.

Known internally as FTB1 (Flying test bed 1), the plane tested engines that are now fitted on every Pratt & Whitney plane, military and civilian, since the late 80’s. It also tested software, performance parameters and validation controls to name a few.

The Boeing 720 was the “sports car” of the original model, the 707. The 720 is a special breed of the 707. Bigger engines and bigger brakes complement the short and slightly frame so it can land in more austere airfields.

The plane averaged 90 missions a year and has gone on over 2000 flights. In the end, it clocked around 4.1 million km, which amounts to 101 times around the world.

The 720’s legacy continues in two 747SP planes at St. Hubert, Quebec that will continue testing engines on a more modern frame.