Boeing 377 Stratocruiser

The Boeing 377 Stratocruiser was the civilian version of the C-97 Stratofreighter, which in turn was derived from the B-50 Superfortress. It first flew on July 8, 1947.

Despite serious design flaws and a marginal service record, the Stratocruiser was one of the great post-war propeller airliners. Extremely complex and expensive, only 56 were built. It continued in mainline service until 1960, when it had been made obsolete by the coming of the Boeing 707 and other first generation jetliners.

The 377 was the flagship of the Pan Am and BOAC fleets from delivery in 1949 until the arrival of the 707 and de Havilland Comet respectively. Its spiral staircase, which led to a lower-deck lounge, inspired the one on the 747. It was one of the few airliners with a double-decker seating arrangement (another was the French Breguet Deux-Ponts) until the 747, however some airlines had lower-level lounges on their L-1011 Tristar aircraft.

General characteristics
* Capacity: Up to 100 passengers on main deck plus 14 in lower deck lounge; typical seating for 63 or 84 passengers or 28 berthed and five seated passengers.
* Length: 110 ft 4 in (33.63 m)
* Wingspan: 141 ft 3 in (43.05 m)
* Height: 38 ft 3 in (11.66 m)
* Wing area: 1769 ft² (164.3 m²)
* Empty weight: 83,500 lb (37,876 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 148,000 lb (67,133 kg)
* Powerplant: 4× Pratt & Whitney R-4360-B6 Wasp Major 28-cylinder radial engines four-bladed propellers, 3,500 hp (2,610 kW) each

Performance
* Maximum speed: 375 mph (603 km/h)
* Cruise speed: 301 mph (483 km/h)
* Range: 3650 nm (6760 km)
* Service ceiling 32,000 ft (9,800 m)
* Max cruise: 340 mph (547 km/h)