What happened to Howard Hughes's Boeing 307

Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules

robwkamm said:
ive seen that boat before . never realized it was Hughes. are any 307s still airworthy out there? good looking plane.
Click to expand...

There was one that crashed into a lake after running out of fuel in around 2002(?) but it was restored and put in the Smithsonian Air Museum. I think that was the only airworthy one left.
 
r2800doublewasp said:
There was one that crashed into a lake after running out of fuel in around 2002(?) but it was restored and put in the Smithsonian Air Museum. I think that was the only airworthy one left.
Click to expand...

Boeing meticulously restored the last intact Model 307, going so far as having the interior fabric specially woven. The plane flew at least a few times as I''ve seen quite a few pictures of it in flight and there was an article in Air Classics Magazine about the restoration with a lot of post restoration shots. Shortly after I read the article I heard about it ditching in Puget Sound and thought it was all over, but they pulled it out, got it flying again and took it to Dulles International where it's on display at the Smithsonian museum there.
Picture 1 A post restoration flight
Pictures 3 4 The ditching
Picture 4 A picture I took a year ago at at the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center At Dulles International

 
Last edited:
Lucky13 said:
Did they only make 10(!) of the 307 Stratocruiser?
Click to expand...

Only ten

The first one crashed during a demonstration flight.
The second one went to Howard Hughes.
Five went to TWA
Three Went to Pan Am

Only the Boat and the one at Dulles International remain.

Thats 20%....., well maybe 15% as I think counting the boat as 1/2 is generous. That's a pretty high survival rate for aircraft of that era.

It was a beautiful aircraft. The first airliner with cabin pressurization.

 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Similar threads

What Just Happened!? 😳😲
Replies
10
Views
554
Lucky13
A
How to Swiftly get from Tokyo to Las Vegas
Replies
4
Views
616
wheelsup_cavu
What are you doing today?
27 28 29
Replies
569
Views
21K
GrauGeist
A
What happened to http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/ ?
Replies
5
Views
727
Alex Smart
A
Good photo archives to purchase photos from?
Replies
4
Views
351
BarnOwlLover
Menu
Log in
Register