Boeing 727-100 American AstroBoeing 727 100 American Airlines Astro airplane model. The 727 short to medium range trijet is the world's second most successful jet airliner built. Initial design studies began in 1956, although for a time it appeared that a new short medium range airliner would not be built at all due to Boeing's financial position before sales of the 707 had taken off. Boeing persisted however and serious development of the 727 beginning in June 1959. Scale 1 100.