Beginning overnight delivery operations in 1971 with 22 Falcon 20 biz-jets, Federal Express began a massive expansion when the airline industry was deregulated in 1977, starting with cargo operators. Upsizing to Boeing 727s began with used 100 series aircraft. This one was from Eastern Airlines in July 1980, former N8165G. Sold to UPS in January 1994, it was re-registered N946UP and re-engined with RR Tays. This was one of five 727s UPS used for passenger flights utilizing seats mounted on pallets. Those were flown between 1997 and 2001 with the aircraft returning to flying only freight.

Displaying her Bicentennial "...what so proudly we hail" sticker, this Eastern 727 was shot on the eastern boundary at LGA taxiing to r/w 22. New in 11.67 and to FedEx (N130FE) in 8.80, going on to UPS as N947UP in 1.94. Interestingly, performed a pax flight from MIA in 2.98 but pwfu at Roswell late 2007