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Boeing 307
The Boeing Model 307 Stratoliner was the first commercial transport aircraft with a pressurized cabin. This feature allowed the plane to cruise at an altitude of 20,000 ft (6,000 m), well above weather disturbances. The pressure differential was 2.5 psi (17 kPa), so at 14,700 ft (4,480 m) the cabin altitude was 8,000 ft (2,440 m). The Model 307 had capacity for a crew of five and 33 passengers. The cabin was nearly 12 ft (3.6 m) across. It was the first plane to include a flight engineer as a crew member.
Contents
Operational history
A total of 10 Stratoliners were built. The first flight was on December 31, 1938. Boeing 307 prototype NX 19901 crashed on March 18, 1939 during a test flight. By 1940 it was flying routes between Los Angeles and New York, as well as to locations in Latin America. Multi-millionaire Howard Hughes purchased a model for his personal use, and had it transformed into a luxurious "flying penthouse". This plane was later sold to oil tycoon Glenn McCarthy in 1949.[1]
Haiti and the United States have used the 307 in military operations.
Variants
- 307
- Wright Cyclone GR-1820-G102 engines with single speed supercharger. 5 crew
- 307B
- Wright Cyclone GR-1820-G105A engines with two speed supercharger for better high altitude performance. 7 crew
- C-75
- Five Trans World 307Bs impressed into service with the USAAF as military transports and converted to 307B-1 standard with B-17G wings, a larger tailplane, four Wright Cyclone GR-1820-G606 engines and cabin pressurisation removed.
Operators
Civilian operators
- Aigle Azur bought in 1951 ex-TWA aircraft with new engines and wings replaced with B-17G ones.
- Air Laos received ex-Aigle Azur aircraft.
- Pan Am received 3 aircraft.
- TWA received 5 aircraft.
- Howard Hughes bought 1 aircraft.
Military operators
- United States Army Air Force operated Boeing 307s designated as C-75
Survivors
The only surviving Boeing Model 307 (NC19903), operated by Pan Am, is preserved in flying condition at the Smithsonian Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. On March 28, 2002 this particular aircraft was subject to a dramatic crash in which it ditched into Elliott Bay in Seattle, Wash., on what was to be its last flight before heading to the Smithsonian.[2] Despite the incident, it was again restored, flew to the Smithsonian and is now on display[3].
The fuselage of Howard Hughes' personal 307 survives, although it has been converted into a boat.[1]
Specifications (Boeing 307)
Data from Jane's AWA 1942 (apart from wing area and loading)
General characteristics
- Crew: 5, including two pilots and flight engineer
- Capacity: 33 passengers in daytime, 25 by night
- Length: 74 ft 4 in (22.6 m)
- Wingspan: 107 ft 0 in (32.63 m)
- Height: 20 ft 9.5 in (6.33 m)
- Wing area: 1,486 ft² (138.0 m²)
- Empty weight: 30,000 lb (13,608 kg)
- Loaded weight: 45,000 lb (20,420 kg)
- Powerplant: 4× Wright GR-1820-G102 radials , 1,100 hp (820 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 241 mph at 6,000 ft (387 km/h at 1,830 m)
- Cruise speed: 215 mph at 10,000 ft (344 km/h at 3,050 m)
- Range: 1,750 mi (2,820 km)
- Service ceiling: 23,300 ft (7,110 m)
- Wing loading: 28 lb/ft² (138 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.098 hp/lb (160 W/kg)
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
- Douglas DC-4
- C-46 Commando-original, pressurized, CW-20 version
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
References
- Bridgman, L. (1942).Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1942. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co.
External links
- History of the Boeing 307 Stratoliner http://www.boeing.com/history/boeing/stratoliner.html
Template:Boeing airliners Template:Boeing model numbers
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
cs:Boeing 307 da:Boeing 307 de:Boeing B-307 es:Boeing 307 fr:Boeing 307 it:Boeing 307 Stratoliner ja:ボーイング307 no:Boeing 307 pt:Boeing 307 fi:Boeing 307
| This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Boeing 307". |
