The Boeing Model 307 'Stratoliner made' history when it performed its first flight on December 31st, 1938, as it became the world's first commercially-produced passenger aircraft to hold a pressurized cabin. This feat allowed airlines to avoid harsh weather conditions by cruising at altitudes as high as 20,000 feet (6,100 meters), which was a revolutionary feat for the time. But what was it like onboard?

A groundbreaking achievement

In addition to its historic status as the world's first pressurized airliner, Boeing also highlights the plane as the first four-engine airliner in scheduled domestic service. It is worth noting that, while the Belgian Renard R-35 made its first flight before the Boeing 307 (in April 1938), this pressurized airliner never reached production.

Iconic 20th-century US carrier Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) introduced the Boeing Model 307 Stratoliner on its operations on Independence Day, 1940, marking a landmark moment in United States aviation. The airline operated three units of the Wright Cyclone-powered plane, received directly from Boeing.

Love aviation history? Discover more of our stories here!

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

Additionally, the legendary Howard Hughes, who was a multimillionaire business magnate, with a love for aviation, purchased a Stratoliner for his own use and transformed it into a 'flying penthouse'. Inside his aircraft, there was a master bedroom, two bathrooms, a galley, a bar, and a large living room. Eventually, the pilot sold it to an oil tycoon, and it soon became a houseboat in Florida.

Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today!

Even though the interior wasn't as extravagant as Hughes' unit, there was still plenty of room to maneuver on standard 307s. Indeed, the circular fuselage allowed for maximum space for its five crew members and 33 passengers. Furthermore, the cabin had a width of nearly 12 feet (3.6 meters) and could fit in comfortable sleeper berths, which were perfect for tired passengers on overnight flights.

With the new wave of technology being used on its services, the Stratoliner had a flight engineer as a member of the crew. This professional was needed to maintain power settings, pressurization, and other subsystems. Therefore, the pilot was able to focus more on handling the flight of the aircraft. The pressurized cabin will also have made for a nicer onboard experience for passengers.

Useful units

In the US, the 307 was usually used on services between New York and California, alongside flights to Latin America. However, the onset of the Second World War forced the end of production for these original units, and five of them were taken on by the Army Transport Command as C-75 models. However, the cabin's famous pressurization was removed to save weight on military campaigns.

Today, only one example of the Boeing 307 remains intact as a preserved aircraft. Bearing the registration NC19903, it can be found at the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. According to the Aviation Safety Network, it was involved in an accident in 2002 shortly after being restored to flying condition, and ditched after running out of fuel in Elliot Bay, near Seattle.

Altogether, by flying in cozy cabins and avoiding bad weather, passengers were able to cruise through the skies smoothly. Pressurized aircraft are now the norm, but travelers would have loved this Boeing breakthrough eight decades ago.

What are your thoughts on the 307 Stratoliner? Do you have any fond memories of traveling on this historic aircraft? Let us know what you think in the comment section!

Sources: Aviation Safety Network, Boeing, National Air And Space Museum, The Aviation History Online Museum, This Day In Aviation,

• 

  Boeing

  Stock Code:

  BA

  Date Founded:

  1916-07-15

  CEO:

  Dave Calhoun

  Headquarters Location:

  Chicago, USA

  Key Product Lines:

  Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, Boeing 787

  Business Type:

  Planemaker