Boeing 377

The Boeing 377 Stratocruiser was the airliner version of the 367 Boeing Stratofreighter, which in turn was the transport version of B-50 Superfortress. It first flew on July 8, 1947.

Despite serious design flaws and a marginal service record ^*, the Stratocruiser was one of the great post-war propeller airliners. Extremely complex and expensive, only 56 were built. It continued in mainline service until 1960, by when it had been made obsolete by the coming of the 707 and other first generation jetliners. The 377 was the flagship of the Pan Am fleet until the arrival of the 707. Its spiral staircase, which led to a lower-deck lounge, inspired the one on the 747. It was the only airliner with a double-decker seating arrangement until the 747, however some airlines had lower-level lounges on their L-1011 Tristar aircraft.

Operated by

American Overseas Airlines - United States
British Overseas Airways Corporation - United Kingdom
Israeli Air Force - Israel
Linea Internacional Aereo - Ecuador
Northwest Airlines - United States
Pan American World Airways - United States
Rutas Aéreas Nacionales SA - Venezuela
Transocean Air Lines - United States
United Airlines - United States

(Order by Scandinavian Airlines System canceled. Planes went to BOAC.)

Specifications

General characteristics

Wing span: 43.05 m (141 ft 3 in)
Length: 33.63 m (110 ft 4 in)
Height: 11.66 m (38 ft 3 in)
Wing area: 164.3 m² (1769 ft²).
Powerplants: Four 3500 hp (2610 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-4360-B6 Wasp Major 28-cylinder radials; four bladed propellers.
Accommodation: Up to 100 passengers on main deck plus 14 in lower deck lounge; typical seating for 63 or 84 passengers or 28 berthed and five seated passengers.
Production: 56 Model 377 Stratocruisers (plus 888 military Model 367/K/C-97).

Performance

Max speed: 326 knots (603 km/h)
Max cruise: 295 knots (547 km/h)
Normal cruise: 261 knots (483 km/h)
Service ceiling: 32,000 ft (9,800 m)
Max range: 3650 nautical miles (6760 km)
Empty weight: 37,876 kg (83,500 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 67,133 kg (148,000 lb).

Safety record

This aircraft type suffered 13 hull-loss accidents between 1951 and 1970 with a total of 140 fatalities. The worst single accident occurred on April 29, 1952 when "the separation of the no.2 engine and propeller from the aircraft" caused Pan American World Airways Flight 202 to crash in the jungle near Carolina, Brazil killing all forty-one passengers and nine crew.

Aero Spacelines/Guppys

In the 1960s, Aero Spacelines modified several Stratocruisers to make oversized transports dubbed "Guppys". The first of these was the Pregnant Guppy, followed by the Super Guppy, and finally the Mini Guppy. They are described separately.

Reference

Wilson, Stewart

External links

Boeing 377 - Stratocruiser A very comprehensive enthusiast page on the type
The Aviation History On-Line Museum - Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
California Classic - The Boeing Model 377 Stratocruiser

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