Aeroplane Monthly 1977-08
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M.Hardy - Stratoliner
The third Stratoliner built was NC19903, Clipper Flying Cloud, for Pan American, to whom it was delivered in February 1940. Now the property of the Smithsonian, this aircraft is displayed at the Pima County Air Museum.
NX19903 early in its life, before the application of PAA insignia. It was later registered NC19903. Note the modified fin and rudder.
The ill-fated Model 307 prototype, NX19901, which first flew on December 31, 1938.
In contrast to the polished natural metal finish of peacetime, N19908 Apache, a Model 307B of TWA, displays its wartime olive drab plumage in service with USAAF Transport Command as a C-75.
In service with the French independent operator Aigle Azur, F-BELV was originally N19905 Comanche with TWA.
NC19910 became HC 004 in service with Aerovias Ecuatoriannas CA of Ecuador. It is seen at Miami International in 1954.
N9307R, owned by Flight Investment Co when this picture was taken, still bears the Haitian military serial 2003 prominently on its fin. It was later given back its old registration, N19903.
The ill-fated Model 307 prototype, NX19901, which first flew on December 31, 1938.
F-BELY, which had also served with Aigle Azur, is here seen after sale to Airnautic GECA.
The second Stratoliner, NX19902, in factory-fresh condition. This aircraft also served with Pan Am, as Clipper Rainbow.
The second TWA Model 307B, NX19906, is seen landing at La Guardia, New York, marked as NC1940, a contrived registration applied to publicise the “1940 Airliner” during a pre-service route tour.
N75385 was the final identity of NC19910 Clipper Comet, originally built for Pan Am. It was written off in a crash on October 5, 1958.
2003 was the serial given to ex-Pan Am S-307 N19903 when it joined the Corps d'Aviation de l'Armee d'Haiti in 1954. It became the personal aircraft of "Papa Doc" Duvalier.
The wreckage of NX19901 at Adler, Washington, after its fatal crash on March 18, 1939, when all 13 people in the aircraft lost their lives.