Becoming a Boeing 727 pilot is like joining a fraternity that's on the dean's probation list;  you're going to have a lot of fun, meet some interesting characters, and you know that you are part of something special--in this case, a shrinking community of pilots who are flying an ever-smaller inventory of classic "hands-on" airliners.   

This aircraft had a heck of a production run; Boeing delivered 1,831 727s from 1964 to 1984.

Many of these sturdy aircraft have since been converted to freighters.  But a few wear pinstripes, too; Donald Trump's corporate bird is a 727.  The  727 can can handle short runways, it's self-contained with its own air stairs, it's famously safe, it's big... and it's fast.  

If you're not scrimping on fuel costs, you can easily cruise at Mach .82 or faster.