"Rainier Encounter"
by Jack Fellows
A lone hiker gets an unexpected view of a Boeing Model 247 as it drones its way through a pass in front of the south face of majestic Mt. Rainier in Washington state.
The advent of the modern airliner began 8 February, 1933, when Boeing delivered the first Model 247 to United Airlines. This all metal airliner, the first of its kind, could whisk its passengers in comfort at an astounding rate of three miles per minute. The plane’s performance confirmed the wisdom of what had been to that date a daring gamble on the part of Boeing’s management. Three key men—President Phillip G. Johnson, Vice President Claire Egtvedt, and Chief Engineer C. N. Monteith — chose to develop the transport potential of their successful Boeing B-9 twin-engine bomber rather than stick to the orthodox trimotor and biplane design of the day.
The United Airlines predecessors (Boeing Air Transport, Pacific
Air Transport, National Air Transport, and Varney Air Lines) decided to
update its entire fleet by ordering sixty of the 247s, thereby gaining a
tremendous advantage over competitors, for the new airplane had made all
other transports obsolete overnight.
The all-metal, low-wing 247 combined a retractable landing gear, two supercharged air-cooled engines, and, in later models, controllable pitch propellers and auto pilot, as well as totally new standards in passenger comfort. The ten passengers, five on each side of the aisle, as well as a flight attendant and three crew members enjoyed excellent soundproofing, a low vibration level, plush seats, and, for the first time, cabin air conditioning. The one detractor in the design was the wing's main spar which passed right through the cabin, so some passengers had to step over a large hump in the middle of the aisle to reach their seats.
On 22 May, 1933, the new 247 entered cross country service, making the journey from San Francisco to New York in 19 1/2 hours, compared to the previous 27-hour air travel time, eight hours faster than their predecessors, such as the Ford Trimotor and Curtiss Condor.
Curiously, the inability of other airlines to obtain the 247 worked to the disadvantage of both Boeing and United because Trans World Airlines unable to get delivery of a number of 247 promised approached Douglas Aircraft for a competitive aircraft, and the result was the famous DC series, which made the 247, in turn, obsolete.
A total of 76 aircraft ( model 247 and updated 247D) were built: 70 of these went to United Airlines, four were sold to Lufthansa, and two to the Republic of China. Many of the United aircraft were later purchased by Western Airlines.
During the Second World War, The 247 operated by
United were converted into C-73 transport aircraft: these remained in the
United States Air Force's inventory until the early 1960's.
Still Flying...
Only four Boeing 247 remain today. One of them, painted in the classic
United Airlines scheme, is based at Paine Field in Snohomish County,
Washington, has been restored to flyable condition. It has appeared at
numerous air shows across the U.S. The National Air and Space Museum
in Washington, D.C. also has a 247 on display, as does Canada's National
Museum of Science and Technology in Rockcliffe, and the Science Museum in
Wroughton, England.
