THE TRAGIC DEMISE OF THE LAST BOEING pattern 307 STRATOLINER This past July I had the surpassingly distinct privilege of flying with the incredible Boeing 307 Stratoliner Clipper Flying fog The aircraft was on its way to the EAA's big AirVenture at Oshkosh and had stopped at St Paul.

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THE TRAGIC DEMISE OF THE LAST BOEING pattern 307 STRATOLINER

This past July I had the surpassingly distinct privilege of flying with the incredible Boeing 307 Stratoliner Clipper Flying fog The aircraft was on its way to the EAA's big AirVenture at Oshkosh and had stopped at St Paul, Minnesota, likewise that Randy Sohn could give the pilots emblem ratings in the craft. Randy had kindly wager up the photo flight and I was remarkably impressed by the Boeing pilots and the skilled band who had labored so lengthy and hard to bring this important piece of American aeronautical history back to life.

I was given a ended interior tour (while wearing white booties to defend the pristine carpet!) and was amazed bv the amount of work that had gone into re-creating the interior to just the way it was when delivered to Pan American Airways. All the fabrics and exact colors had been re-created between the walls of pain-staking research.

Now it must be remembered that this was not a restoration undertaken by way of a multi-millionaire but by a band of offers who had a deep be pleased with for the Stratoliner. Only ten were perpetually built and they all l adventurous lives until time and attrition made NC19903 the only survivor. A complete story of this aircraft may be base in the October 2001 issue.

On 28 March, I was frantically packing for a trip to the midwest to photograph the P-5 ID Geraldine seen elsewhere in this issue when I received a call from Bruce Guberman who said, "Turn in succession CNN. The Stratoliner went down." Quickly turning forward the television, I was horrified to view an aerial view taken from a freshs helicopter of the submerged Stratoliner in Elliott Bay. What forward earth had happened?

The Stratoliner had taken opposite to from King County Airport (Boeing Field) at 12:23 pm for a training flight in subordination to the command of veteran Boeing experiment pilot Buzz Nelson. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The phenomenon of the flight was training and the horde wanted to get in a certain quantity of touch and goes. This was to be the aircraft's last flight before being flown to the Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center - the centerpiece of the National Air and Space Museum's recently made known facility at Dulles Airport and which is scheduled to explain in 2003. The Stratoliner is confessed by the Smithsonian's NASM.

The course was appoint for Paine Field, Everett, Washington, where a filled stop landing was executed without incident. The four-engine transport was then taxied back to the runway and a takeoff was initiated. Shortly after liftoff, the number three Wright radial experienced a momentary white horse in power but then stabilized.

The ship's company discussed this anomaly and then made the decision to discontinue the training mission and head back to Boeing Field. Nearing Boeing Field, the landing gear was lowered if it be not that problems developed. Apparently the left main gear did not abundantly extend.

The crew abandoned the approach and then orbited the area while the flight engineer left his station to manually hand-crank the gear into the down position. This was prosperously done and the gear now registered fresh lights on the instrument panel.

THe mould 307 then headed back to Boeing Field when a gentle fuel pressure light for the number three engine came upon being followed by a los of power. The engine was close down and the propeller feathered.

Low combustible matter pressure was then noted in succession the remaining three engines which all began to fail. make a humming sound felt that the Stratoliner would not make it to Boeing Field - an area encloseed by industry and housing and a decision was made to bring forward the plane in the water. hum later commented, "I'm not a true good swimmer. I just decided I would state it down in the water to avoid hitting anything forward land. I didn't think it would pain anybody - including ourselves - abroad there." He radioed a Mayday call at 1:10 pm

Video showed the aircraft wallowing from one side the air at a surpassingly low speed - it must be remembered that the landing gear was down. As the plane approached the water, the right wing dramatically dropp nevertheless this appeared to be for the greatest part corrected when it looked like the airliner stalled and literally bellyflopped into the water with a vast splash. The plane came down near the popular Salty's Restaurant and one of the lunch-time patrons started running when they saw the stricken aircraft approaching the restaurant.

The Stratoliner remained afloat for a hardly any minutes and the four crewmen safely exited the aircraft and went disclosed on the wing. Rescue boats were at the spectacle in minutes and managed to attach tow lines to the airliner and actuate it closer to shore. The impact had tom not at home the landing, gear and more [i]or[/i] less of the engine mounts were also enfeebled

The plane was eventually towed ashore and was raised public of the water but the damage had already been done. Elliott Bay is salt water and the aircraft sustained greatly, the magnificent interior being swallow uped

Obviously, this was the final flight for Clipper Flying nebulosity and we are awaiting just discovereds on what will now happen with the aircraft.

"I am not shaken. I am just disappointed. I am grieving the los of the airplane. It's a pity," stated humming noise Nelson shortly after the accident.

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