elm_creek_smith
US Veteran
https://youtu.be/v92U2F9gbUo This should still be the way we travel, not stuffed like sausage in a tube with some clown in a sweatsuit hogging the armrest and leaning over you to see out the window.
Watch "Pan Am Boeing 377 Stratocruiser Promo Film - 1950" on YouTube
- Thread starter elm_creek_smith
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jrm53
Member
I am not able to run the video but in the late 60's they flew one out of the local air field. They were going to fly fresh Alakan king crabs in here with it. They never made it a going concern but I got to go through it. It I think used the B-17 air frame except for the bullet nose, I was flying a J4 cub back then and this airplane was huge and it had a tailwheel and seemed very slow when taking off and landing. It was very impressive on a small 5000 foot air port. Jeff
THE PILGRIM
Member
Never flew in the civilian model.
Did take a few trips in the AF VC-97, which was a KC-97 converted to a transport.
Don't let that V fool you!
It was pretty plain inside.
When he was SAC Commander, Curtiss Lemay had one assigned to him.
He had a high powered Ham radio rig installed.
When he went long distance, maybe to Guam, the Hams radio guys just went crazy trying to contact him.
They would be rewarded with a unique QSL card.
The 377 was a transport version of the B-29. The earlier tail dragger 307 was a transport version of the B-17.
Did take a few trips in the AF VC-97, which was a KC-97 converted to a transport.
Don't let that V fool you!
It was pretty plain inside.
When he was SAC Commander, Curtiss Lemay had one assigned to him.
He had a high powered Ham radio rig installed.
When he went long distance, maybe to Guam, the Hams radio guys just went crazy trying to contact him.
They would be rewarded with a unique QSL card.
The 377 was a transport version of the B-29. The earlier tail dragger 307 was a transport version of the B-17.
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First flight was in 1947, modeled after the B-29. I bet the Japanese didn't care for them too much.
grizz700
Member
When the film first started it listed one of the contributors of the film to Robert Downey, father of Robert Downey Jr. the movie star.
Kernel Crittenden
US Veteran
There was a hotel outside of Dodgeville, Wisconsin, that had a C-97 parked in front of it for years. Anyone could go inside, it was just open to the public. Had the same engines and wing as as the B-29 Super Fortress. Different body. It was NOT a KC-97, because it had no provisions for air-to-air refueling. Pure cargo.
That thing was a WHALE inside. Double decker. And the cockpit, nav, and engineer's station were mind blowing. All the guages, dials, levers, etc. where still in it. Even it's radar. Got pictures somewhere. Had to be at least 12 years ago, last I saw it, since my kids were small. Don't know if the plane is still there.
That thing was a WHALE inside. Double decker. And the cockpit, nav, and engineer's station were mind blowing. All the guages, dials, levers, etc. where still in it. Even it's radar. Got pictures somewhere. Had to be at least 12 years ago, last I saw it, since my kids were small. Don't know if the plane is still there.
Kernel Crittenden
US Veteran
Memories... although I was too young to have them! In 1950, Mom and I (1 year old) flew round trip to Holland on the Stratocruiser so my Dutch grandmother could see her American grandchild. On the return trip, the British ambassador to the U.S. and his wife were also passengers on the plane and the lady helped my mom with me. Mom reported it was a regal aircraft: this helped since an Atlantic flight on a propeller-driven plane could take 12 hours or so.
Dad's first air crossing of the Atlantic was on a Connie, IIRC, and took 12 hours in 1960. Folks asked him how he could stand taking so long crossing the Atlantic when jets were flying it in 6 hours. He replied it was not bad, that the last time he had crossed was 4 weeks by ship, the seas were rough and U-boats were sinking other ships in the convoy!
Memories...
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
Dad's first air crossing of the Atlantic was on a Connie, IIRC, and took 12 hours in 1960. Folks asked him how he could stand taking so long crossing the Atlantic when jets were flying it in 6 hours. He replied it was not bad, that the last time he had crossed was 4 weeks by ship, the seas were rough and U-boats were sinking other ships in the convoy!
Memories...
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
derek45auto
Member
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Looks like a pregnant B-29
...also
...also
Straight wings and propellers....
It's beautiful how they fly, they use the air rather than cutting through it. The only big prop planes I see are C 130s and even they bounce off of the wind like a rubber ball.
It's beautiful how they fly, they use the air rather than cutting through it. The only big prop planes I see are C 130s and even they bounce off of the wind like a rubber ball.
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
These things always remind me of the opening of "Airplane", with a 707 flying in and out of clouds to the unmistakable drone of Pratt & Whitney radials. 
That film was a heck of a sales job.
That film was a heck of a sales job.
Rock185
US Veteran
An elegant airplane for a more civilized age, to paraphrase Star Wars.
