N75853 UNITED AIRLINES BOEING B-757-324(WL) Editorial Photo

Boeing 757Stretched variant: -300Production of the 757 peaked at an annual rate of 100 aircraft in the early 1990s,[during which time upgraded models came under consideration.[13] For over a decade, the narrow-body twinjet had been its manufacturer's only single-aisle airliner without a stretched variant, and while rumors of a long-range 757-200X and stretched 757-300X persisted, no formal announcements had been made. European charter carriers were particularly interested in a higher-capacity version which could take better advantage of the 757's range.[ Besides meeting the needs of charter customers, a larger model would enable Boeing to match the passenger lift capabilities of the 767-200 with lower operating costs,[68] and counter longer-range versions of the 185-seat Airbus A321,] a new stretched variant of the A320 narrow-body airliner.In September 1996, following a launch order for 12 aircraft from charter carrier Condor, Boeing announced the stretched 757-300 at the Farnborough Airshow. The new model was a 23.4-foot (7.13 m) stretch of the 757-200, resulting in room for 50 more passengers and nearly 50 percent more cargo.[ The type's design phase was intended to be the shortest in its manufacturer's history, with 27 months from launch to certification. Due to development and cost concerns, radical upgrades such as a Next Generation 737-style advanced cockpit were not implemented. Instead, the stretched derivative received upgraded engines, enhanced avionics, and a redesigned interior. The first 757-300 rolled out on May 31, 1998, and completed its maiden flight on August 2, 1998.[ Following regulatory certification in January 1999, the type entered service with Condor on March 19, 1999.[