Not sure, but the new Smithsonian has lots of room, I'd like to see a Stratocruiser join the exhibit. They have a DC-7C coming, and I believe a Connie. I would hope they get a 737-100, and a DC-8. Of course I would kill for a 747-SP.
I wonder why Boeing didn't get more market share with the 247 and Stratoliner? It seems like until the 707, Boeing was always the underdog when competing for comercial airliners. Weren't the Stratoliners mostly used for transporting generals and other VIP's across the Atlantic during WWII?
Not sure, but the new Smithsonian has lots of room, I'd like to see a Stratocruiser join the exhibit. They have a DC-7C coming, and I believe a Connie. I would hope they get a 737-100, and a DC-8. Of course I would kill for a 747-SP.
The 247 was a revolutionary plane when introduced, but Boeing made the error of committing the initial deliveries to United, which was a sister company. This effectively froze all the other airlines out of the new technology. So Jack Frye of TWA went to Donald Douglas and asked him to build something that could compete with the 247. Thus was born the DC-1 and its follow on DC-2 and DC-3 versions.
Boeing's "United preference" caused the competition to build an alternative that turned out to be a "better mousetrap". There is a lesson to be learned here!