1:144 Boeing 307 Stratoliner, Trans World Airlines

Search:

2. Home Page Links

3. Latest Arrivals

4. Collector's Corner

5. Clearance Corner

	Diecast Discounts
	Clearance Kits
	Other Clearance Items
	Scratch & Dent Decals
	Scratch & Dent Diecast Models
	Scratch & Dent Kits

6. Sales Tax and VAT

7. Interesting Links

Encyclopedia of Airline Color Schemes

PlaneSpotters.Net

www.airliners.net

8. Order Processing

Home > Plastic Kits > Manufacturer > Roden Models >

1:144 Boeing 307 Stratoliner, Trans World Airlines

Our Price: $28.75

Product Code: ROD339

Temporarily Out of Stock

Description

The 307 Stratoliner was developed from the B.17C bomber, using the same wings, stabs and fin with a new fuselage that could be pressurized.

The prototype was lost in a crash that occurred when the aircraft went into a spin, and the wings failed during the recovery. Apparently wind tunnel testing revealed insufficient fin area, and an enlarged dorsal fin was the result, this subsequently also being fitted to B.17's.

Nine more airframes were built, three going to Pan American, five to TWA, and one to Howard Hughes. The TWA machines were pressed in to WWII service by the USAAF. Post war they were modified with B17G wings, stabs, and more powerful engines, and returned to TWA as 307B's. TWA operated them until 1951, when all 5 were sold to Aigle Azur (France). The last one remained in service in the far east until 1974.

Today, one is preserved at the Udvar Hazy Museum of Flight at Washington's Dulles airport, restored in full Pan American World Airways markings. Interestingly, this one was restored twice by Boeing, as just before it was to be delivered to the Smithsonian, it suffered a forced landing in Peuget Sound after running out of fuel.

The Hughes airframe still exists, though converted to a houseboat (!!), and moored in Florida. It bears the name "Cosmic Muffin".