This Day in Aviation History
July 8th, 1947
First flight of the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser.
 
The Boeing 377 Stratocruiser was a large long-range airliner developed from the C-97 Stratofreighter military transport, a derivative of the B-29 Superfortress. The Stratocruiser’s first flight was on July 8, 1947. Its design was advanced for its day, its innovative features included two passenger decks and a pressurized cabin, a relatively new feature to transport aircraft. It could carry up to 100 passengers on the main deck plus 14 in the lower deck lounge; typical seating was for 63 or 84 passengers or 28 berthed and five seated passengers.
 
The Stratocruiser was larger than the Douglas DC-6 and Lockheed Constellation and cost more to buy and operate. Its reliability was poor, chiefly due to problems with the four 28-cylinder Pratt & Whitney Wasp Major radial engines and their four-blade propellers. Only 55 Model 377s were built for airlines, along with the single prototype…..
 
Source:
Wikipedia, Boeing 377 Stratocruiser: http://gstv.us/1CZtJdN
 
YouTube, BOEING 377 STRATOCRUISER AIRCRAFT — TOMORROWS AIRPLANE TODAY: http://gstv.us/2tBP560
 
YouTube, Pan Am Boeing 377 Stratocruiser Promo Film – 1950: http://gstv.us/1CZtJuk
 
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Photo from: http://gstv.us/29uWKa6
 
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