In the mid-l970s, the projected economic and environmental outlook for the airlines was bleak. Many existing airplanes would soon cease to be cost effective due to rising fuel costs and would be unable to comply with proposed regulations governing community noise. The requirements could only be satisfied with a new airplane that exploited the latest improvements in airfoil design, propulsion, materials, and avionics. The Boeing Company, with its proven capabilities, was well postured to meet this challenge and took the initiative to provide the airlines with a superior product at the right time.
The Boeing 757-200 program was announced in August of 1978, following a 30-month period of preliminary design studies. A full production go-ahead was given in March 1979, and certification was obtained in December 1982. The 757-200 is a twin engine, standard body, short-to-medium range airplane employing state-of-the art technology. It is the newest member of the Boeing family of new technology airplanes. As a stablemate of the 767, it is designed for energy conservation, reduced noise levels, and operational flexibility.
This paper provides an overview of the 757-200 configuration development and highlights some of the design characteristics. Improvements relative to the 727-200 are illustrated. The substantial contribution made by the weight control/improvement program is discussed. In order to provide the most weight efficient design, an aggressive, highly visible, weight control/improvement plan was developed and implemented in the early stages of the design. The outstanding success of the Weight Improvement Program permitted the specification weight to be reduced dramatically during the development phase of the airplane. It also provided improvements in airplane manufacturing costs. The level of success was due, in large part, to the high degree of management support and commitment and the team spirit and participation that prevailed throughout the program. The results made a major contribution to surpassing the original airplane design objectives.
This paper also includes a discussion of the procedures used to develop the airplane center of gravity limits. Rigorous attention to balance and loading during airplane development resulted in the airplane exhibiting excellent loading characteristics for a wide range of interior configurations. Example loading characteristics are presented.

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