The Boeing 307 Stratoliner: What was it like on flying Experience?

When the Boeing Model 307 “Stratoliner” took off on December 31, 1938, it was the first commercial airliner with a pressurized cabin, making history. This breakthrough, which was innovative at the time, allowed the aircraft to cruise at an altitude of 20,000 feet (6,100 m), allowing them to escape severe weather conditions. However, how was life on board?

The Boeing 307 Stratoliner

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A groundbreaking achievement

Boeing emphasizes that the aircraft is the first four-engined aircraft in regular domestic service and has the historic distinction of being the first pressurized aircraft in history. It is important to remember that, despite being the first pressurized aircraft to fly (in April 1938), the Belgian Renard R-35 was never put into production.

On July 4, 1940, the Boeing Model 307 Stratoliner was first flown by Pan American World Airways (Pan Am), ushering in a historic period for American aviation. The airline flew three Wright Hurricane-powered aircraft that it purchased directly from Boeing.

In addition to Pan Am, and military operators in the likes of Haiti and the United States, other carriers in five different countries flew the type. The following operators reportedly performed flights with the Boeing Model 307 Stratoliner:

• Cambodia: Royal Air Cambodge, Cambodia Air Commercial.
• Ecuador: Aerovias Ecuatorianas CA.
• France: Aigle Azur, Air Nautic, Compagnie Internationale de Transports Civil Aériens, and Union Aéromaritime de Transport (UAT).
• Laos: Royal Air Lao.
• USA: Quaker City Airways and Trans World Airlines.

Greater onboard comfort levels

Furthermore, Howard Hughes, a multi-millionaire business mogul with a passion for flying, was famous for turning his personal Stratoliner into a “flying penthouse”. A large living area, hallway, bar, two bathrooms and a master bedroom were all in his plane. An oil billionaire eventually bought it from the pilot and it was converted into a houseboat in Florida.

The cabin wasn’t as ostentatious as Hughes’s unit, but the typical 307 still had plenty of room for maneuver. Yes, 33 passengers and five crew members could fit in the maximum room because of the rounded fuselage. Additionally, the width of the cabin allowed for a comfortable sleeper bed of about 12 feet (3.6 m), which was ideal for tired passengers on long journeys.

A flight engineer was part of the Stratoliner’s crew, which used the latest technology in its operations. To maintain pressure, power settings and other subsystems, this specialist was needed. As a result, the pilot was freed to concentrate more on flying the aircraft. Moreover, a pressurized cabin would have improved the passenger’s travel experience.

Useful units

Operating out of New York and California, the 307 was also used on flights to South America while in the US. All five of these initial units were taken over by the Army Transport Command as the C-75 model when World War II began and production of these units ended. But to reduce weight during military missions, the well-known pressure in the cabin was removed.

Currently, only one preserved Boeing 307 aircraft remains. Steven F. of the Smithsonian in Chantilly, Virginia. Accessible at the Udvar-Hazy Center, it is registered NC19903. In 2002, it crashed shortly after it was returned to flying condition, and the Aviation Safety Network reported that it was ejected due to running out of fuel in Elliot Bay, near Seattle.

All in all, passengers were able to travel easily through the skies thanks to comfortable accommodation and a clear passage through inclement weather. Although pressurized airplanes are now commonplace, this Boeing innovation would have thrilled tourists eight decades ago.

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