Stratoliner Memorabila Collection

[Sapphire]

What a thread! I am currently searching for material on the B-377 Stratocruiser, and am deeply impressed by your Stratoliner memorabilia displayed here. Looking forward to your reference site.

 

[Absinthe_1900]

Here is a real oldie if you like the B-377 Stratocruiser, a late 40s, very early 50s plastic model kit from my collection.

 

[carouselvic]

Stetson's Stratocruiser Hat

ser# 71490551
filled for 10-26-1945
reg# 04311386
Registration Date 7-22-1947

 

[Sapphire]

@ Absinthe_1900: Nice to see that those survived that long!

@ Zemke Fan:

And an affordable reproduction pair of wings:

from my buddy Joe Weingarten: Weingarten Gallery

Thanks for this link. A pity that he doesn't offer any PanAM wings. We are currently collecting bits and pieces to recreate a set of Pan American uniforms, but the original badges are outrageously expensive..

 

[Zemke Fan]

Some more stuff...

Postcards:

 

[Zemke Fan]

Ticket folder and tickets...

Tickets are @ 200%

 

[Zemke Fan]

Paint jobs

From an AIR International Article (1994) -- "The Stratoliner Story"

 

[feltfan]

... of find another one!

BTW, What are the dimensions of the poster?

Heh. It's about 42" x 32" in the frame (which doesn't add much).

The problem with framed art is that it's hard to get back
the cost of a frame. But more to the point, I love that poster.
Even more relevant, my partner likes it, and not many other
hat-related items I have.

It's not too hard to find postcard and other versions of that
image. There's even a postcard that shows a larger view
of the scene, with a second man and second stewardess.
Someone posted it on the Lounge at some point.

 

[Zemke Fan]

My partner (Helen)...

Heh. It's about 42" x 32" in the frame (which doesn't add much).

... would throw a ship-fit if I tried to bring THAT into the house!

 

[Diamondback]

ZF, do you have one of the datacards Boeing handed out at the re-rollout? If not and if you're interested, I'll see if I still have a spare.

 

[Lefty]

 

[Aristaeus]

Vintage aircraft are my favorite, and this one is no exception.

\

 

[Forgotten Man]

Amazing! I love it, the 307 was such a beautiful plane! Now, I’m not quite clear on this here, I remember hearing about the “Last” 307 and the splash down it had, now did that end it’s flying days?

 

[Zemke Fan]

Yeah, Rob, it was a great plane...

The one that splashed into Puget Sound is the one that's now in Virginia at the NASM Annex...

Aristeaus! Welcome to the Lounge. Which flight sim are those screen shots from??

 

[Aristaeus]

Thanks for the welcome Zemke Fan.
The screenshots are from FS2004 and the aircraft is a third party build. She flies real well and with a little work on the flightdeck she will be a firstclass flyer.

 

[Zemke Fan]

World Premiere Photos: TWA Stratoliner, 1940

I have just acquired several negatives from an early (possibly first) commercial flight of TWA's Boeing Stratoliner 307.

You are seeing these images taken at Chicago Municipal (Midway) Airport for the first time in almost 70 years...

Loading luggage:

Passengers (Note: NO bare heads!)

Observation Deck:

Under the Wing:

The ***iest Commercial Plane Ever:

Enjoy!

 

[kpreed]

Thank You for sharing these! Great photos of a great airplane.:eusa_clap

 

[scotrace]

I have seen the collection from whence these hail and it is a stunner. Thanks for posting these, Zemke Fan!

 

[Flitcraft]

Wow!

:eusa_clap

 

[Fletch]

Great finds...thanks for sharing!

Now - some detective work is in order.

The first (tho perhaps not official first) TWA 307 flight was July 8, 1940, and was New York-Los Angeles. Likely stopped in Chicago - but...

Look at the passengers and spectators. Are they dressed for Chicago in July? Not a straw hat or a flash of white anywhere. I even see overcoats.

The old maxim applies: Trust your sources, but use your bean.