Recently I wrote about how the Arizona Cardinals picked up a Boeing 777, which used to fly for Delta. As I mentioned at the time, the Cardinals are the second NFL team to operate their own plane, as the New England Patriots have had a Boeing 767 for several years now. There’s now an interesting new video about that plane.
In this post:
New England Patriots show off private plane
I guess the Patriots were feeling a bit jealous about the media attention that the Cardinals were getting for their plane, so they just put out a fascinating 10 minute video about the team’s Boeing 767, which avgeeks will no doubt enjoy.
The Patriots have a video series called “Do Your Job,” giving a behind the scenes look at various things that make the team run. The latest episode is all about the Patriots’ “AirKraft” (named after the Kraft family, which owns the team):
Basics of the New England Patriots’ Boeing 767-300
Here’s a summary of the basics of the Patriots’ aircraft, some of which is mentioned in the video, and some of which isn’t:
- The Patriots first picked up two Boeing 767-300s in 2017, and they reportedly cost $10 million total (there are some bargains to be had when buying used aircraft)
- In 2020, the Patriots dumped their “spare” Boeing 767 (registration code N225NE), as it’s now operated by Eastern
- The Patriots’ remaining Boeing 767-300 has the registration code N36NE, and it’s a 31 year old plane that was produced in 1991
- The plane flew with American Airlines until 2016, and then in 2017 it started transporting the New England Patriots
- The plane is actually operated by Eastern Airlines on behalf of the Patriots, so Eastern Airlines provides the crews, maintenance, etc.
- The plane is in a premium configuration, with most seats being the equivalent to what you’d find in domestic first class; after all, the standard capacity of a Boeing 767-300 isn’t really needed here, and football players are typically larger than your average passenger
- The reason for picking up a private plane is that the logistics of charters with airlines can often be complicated, so picking up a cheap plane on the secondhand market can be a good option
- In the last season, the Patriots team flew 44 hours and 17,000 miles for away game transportation
- In addition to the primary mission of transporting team members, the plane has also operated all kinds of other missions, from picking up over a million masks in China early in the pandemic, to transporting healthcare workers to last year’s Super Bowl in Tampa
Bottom line
Back in 2017, the New England Patriots became the first NFL team to pick up a private plane to transport teams. Airline NFL charters can be complicated, so this gave the team a lot more comfort and control for traveling to away games.
The Patriots just put out a video showcasing the plane’s operations, and it’s really cool to see how it’s all done. The Patriots partner with Eastern Airlines for operating this plane, meaning that Eastern provides the crews, maintenance, etc.
What do you make of the New England Patriots’ Boeing 767?
With as many super bowl wins as they have vs all the bills Superbowl wins who really cares about 1 season wildcard loss ! Especially With a crappy throw together rag tag team of loosers. if the world wasnt so worried about catching the flu I can honestly say thats all covid is now I've had it 4 times the flu kills every year too and its identical even with me wearing a mask and...
With as many super bowl wins as they have vs all the bills Superbowl wins who really cares about 1 season wildcard loss ! Especially With a crappy throw together rag tag team of loosers. if the world wasnt so worried about catching the flu I can honestly say thats all covid is now I've had it 4 times the flu kills every year too and its identical even with me wearing a mask and getting 3 shots cause nobody can wash their hands Use common sense and cover their dammed mouth or use sanitizer ! they might be able to get some players worthy of being in the NFL cause other than mabe the qb and the kicker kraft got robbed ! ive seen high school players play better and if they were given a chance they wouldn't be wild card material they would be 1st or 2nd seed . Kraft doesn't need to offer any of these team freebies to the team he has ! They take it all for granted they should be applying themselves a bit more for everything they are being handed in life I was definitely a better wide out than any one of these guys they now have and got totally ignored cause i couldnt play in college i had to pay for my own tuition cause i got stuck working neither of my parents had any money i wanted to eat I worked ! in school kids i grew up with that i used to beat on a daily basis got the scolarships while I got an enlistment in the marine corps ran everything 1st class saw some of the worst defense and even worse passes handed right to the receivers just so they could catch it and drop it intentionally right in mac Jones face ! If you can touch it you have zero excuses you must catch it ! I used to make catches off my fingertips on a regular basis ! I'm 50 now and know I'd have done better than they did against the bills ! You got 77 defense just standing there watching his qb get hit instead of defending ! They get the bills qb cornered instead of sacking him they watch him lob it right into the end zone like idiots ! If i was Kraft id use this jet only when they do what they are told not as they wish ! I'd offer perks and benefits only to winners and those guys went out there to intentionally loose ! all so they could collect a check and go home early ! Play with their new toys and live it up in their mansions! Greedy self serving punks !
After 2 decades of supremacy these past two seasons have been trying at times. Saturday nights loss clearly shows how much work will need to be done to get back to this level of winning . I for one look forward to seeing what changes will be made to right the Patriots ship. Thank you Bob Kraft and Bill Beliccek for all of the amazing memories of these past two decades of excellence. I believe...
After 2 decades of supremacy these past two seasons have been trying at times. Saturday nights loss clearly shows how much work will need to be done to get back to this level of winning . I for one look forward to seeing what changes will be made to right the Patriots ship. Thank you Bob Kraft and Bill Beliccek for all of the amazing memories of these past two decades of excellence. I believe that the Patriots will be back up in winning form in short order. Patience along with persistence will lead the way. Go Pat’s
What happened to Trump’s 777 that he bought from dead Paul Allen? I last saw it parked at LaGuardia . . .
Trump has a 757, not a 777
It would be great if the Patriots would lower their tickets rather than constantly wasting millions of dollars from the millionaire club.
All of the owners could help.
The NF L is only alive because of the fans.
The plane is nice but the buffalo bills beat the shit out of the Patriots which is more important
Wrong
Super Bowl in 2018
Not a good acquisition which was made pre pandemic considering the money that had to be put into refurbishment. They would have been better off purchasing a plane today with a lowball offer that would be good to go in terms of seating. Like a 777 that already has 50+ seats at that are at least first class suites , lie flat business class seats and premium economy seats for the practice squad. Good to go.
Seriously? You compare a past acquisition based on future events?
If they can predict the future, they wouldn't be buying just airplanes.
Kraft could have bought AA+DL+UA if he bought crypto few years ago, shorted everything before Covid, and pick the unicorns right after Covid crash. Forget about one 777, he could have made Air Kraft the largest airline in the world (pending DOJ approval).
Clearly they diverted the time spent making sure the defense does it's job, to the plane!
They left out the Kraft “massage” table area. Can’t have any more video evidence of Kraft’s ‘alleged’ Asian massages.
@ Mary S
And yet the Pats still hold the record with the most super bowl wins. How many times has Buffalo gone and lost every single time? 4 now?
It's funny how some sport fans think that hiding behind their old glory will overturn the result of the day. And give some credit to the Steelers.
Kind a like flying Frontier and bragging that your parents are worth $2 million.
@Eskimo
The Steelers are in business. Potentially big bens last game. Juju smith schuster back from injury. Yeah no one in the league is intimidated by the bills mafia a bunch of beer pong drinking millennials.
@D3kingg
I'm not going as far as analyzing teams. I'm just saying when Pats brag about super bowl wins and not giving Steelers some credit, vice versa. They jointly hold that record (for now).
As for big Ben, I'm not sure why he hasn't announced his retirement yet. Maybe he is expecting another ring somewhere else just like Brady and Manning.
Now if the Pats didn't go cheap on Brady. 2020 would have been interesting.
I think the Patriots Organization did a great job with the seating and exterior work. I’d love to have that seat and legroom on my next domestic flight.
The Patriots have a video series called “Do Your Job,”
ahahaahahahahaha
17-47 ... Buffalo wins!
Go Bills!!!!
And yet the Pats still hold the record with the most super bowl wins. How many times has Buffalo gone and lost every single time? 4 now?
Mary, yes the Bills have played one more game this year..At least the Patriots have won a Super Bowl
Did the patriots go to 4 Super Bowls in a row and go 0-4 ????
Only those with low expectations would be pleased. I know most of these flights will be under 4 hours, however, you’d think one of the top football teams would put in nicer seats. I’d be embarrassed to be the guy in this video. Maybe someone is punishing him by making him pretend they did a good job when a random PE product looks better.
Just a note here. This plane hasn't traveled to a Superbowl since I was their flight mechanic back in 2019.
Well, it flew to Tampa in 2021 with healthcare workers, but it hasn’t flown to a Super Bowl with the Pats players on board :)
2018
I was replying to Mike’s comment about not going to a SB since he was a mech in 2019.
The Patriots have flown the team plane to a SB with their players on board in 2018 (MSP) and 2019 (ATL).
Both aircraft show the Patriots organization as the registered owners. How do you know one of the airplanes was “dumped” in 2020? Both aircraft are operated/staffed/handled by Eastern, but both are still owned by Robert Kraft’s LLC. (SOURCE: FAA registry)
“ The reason for picking up a private plane is that the logistics of charters with airlines can often be complicated, so picking up a cheap plane on the secondhand market can be a good option”
Nonsense. If it was such a great deal, more than 2 teams would do it. The Pats & Cards didn’t unlock some secret code.
The reason for both teams was PR / owner ego.
Just remember Kraft has the only stadium fully funded by himself. No taxpayer money. I like his ego.
Speaking of ego, I’m really surprised Jerry Jones and his Cowboys don’t have one.
So, the layout goes from 2-2-2, to 2-3-3, back to 2-2-2. Even going to a 2-2-2, they should have plenty of seats. Nothing really special about this jet.
LOL, this video reminded me how I spend the last decade trying to avoiding the 2-2-2 on the 767. One of the tightest F seats ever.
Kraft could at least have the decency to make it 2-1-2 for this publicity stunt.
Perfect timing, cost & use of it, specially with airspace complications and availability not ONLY for their exclusive use. Love it
I heard that Eastern lost the contract to operate this plane and it will be transferred to Omni Air International to operate it. Eastern also used it for DOD charters.
Strange timing, They won't be needing it for a while.
Probably was a long flight home last night after the shellacking...
“the 767 jumbo jet” — LOL