Drawing – Paul Matt – Boeing 307 For Cheap

In 1935, Boeing designed a four-engine airliner based on its B-17 heavy bomber (Boeing Model 299), then in development, calling it the Model 307. It combined the wings, tail, rudder, landing gear, and engines from their production B-17C with a new, circular cross-section fuselage that allowed pressurization.

The Boeing Model 307 Stratoliner was a commercial transport aircraft that entered service in 1938. It was the first aircraft to offer a pressurized cabin, which let it cruise at an altitude of 20,000 ft (6,000 m) — above most weather disturbances.

The Model 307 carried a crew of five and 33 passengers. The cabin was nearly 12 ft (3.6 m) across. It was the first land-based aircraft to include a flight engineer as a crew member. It was also flown as the Boeing C-75 Stratoliner by the United States Army Air Forces, who used it as a long-range cargo aircraft.

The first order, for two 307s (Stratoliners), was placed in 1937 by Pan American Airways. Pan Am soon increased this to six. A second order for five from Transcontinental & Western Air (TWA) prompted Boeing to begin production on an initial batch of the airliner.

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