SEATTLE — The world’s oldest flyable Boeing airliner will make its last flight April 26, according to officials with the Museum of Flight.
The classic twin-engine Boeing 247D from the 1930s — one of four remaining in the world, and the only one flyable — has been in the museum’s collection since 1966.
Based at the Museum’s Restoration Center on Paine Field in Everett, Wash., it was featured at airshows and other events around the country from 1994 until 2004. At noon on Tuesday April 26, the 83- year-old airliner will fly to the museum’s Boeing Field campus and be retired for permanent display.
The crew for this special flight will be two Boeing test pilots with experience at the controls of the 247, Mike Carriker and Chad Lundy. Carriker was the chief test pilot for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, so on this trip, the world’s oldest Boeing airliner will be flown by the chief pilot of Boeing’s newest airliner.
The date and time of the flight may change due to weather conditions, museum officials advise.
The Boeing 247D Airliner
The museum’s 247D was made in 1933, and the type is recognized as the first “modern” airliner, offering travelers unmatched speed and comfort with a sturdy, all-metal design.
Somewhat a victim of its own success, the design was soon adopted and improved by Douglas Aircraft with the DC-2 and DC-3, which quickly rendered the 247 obsolete.
The museum’s plane had a colorful career with air carriers in the U.S. and Latin America. Restoration of the plane began in 1979, with its first post-restoration flight in 1994. The plane has the livery it flew while serving United Air Lines in the mid-1930s.
The 247 will take center stage in front of the museum throughout the summer, then it will be positioned in the Aviation Pavilion next to its arch rival of the air — the Douglas DC-2.
I understand that it would be a great loss if a rare historic airplane would crash and be lost forever, but it is sad when a beautiful airplane stops flying. In the Netherlands we have a beautiful DC-2 in the colours of the famous “Uiver” from the London Melbourne race in 1934. It’s been a few years ago that it really has flown, which makes me feel sad.
Yes, I agree with the hundreds of others, that static display is not the best desired conservation.
Now, any one wanting to see it, must travel to Seattle. I suggest they donate it to museums, that share the living history of the airplane, by keeping flyable: Like the chino Planes of Fame, or other flying museums around the country. They appreciate the adoring public, that can see, and hear the airplane fly, and best, go for rides in it, for the ultimate experience.
It improbably being retired because the airplane is too old to keep flying without major rework of the airframe. The same fate occurred with the last Avro Vulcan: it’s flight hours exceeded 10% over fatigue limits and there was no maintenance facility able, or with the expertise, to do the major repair work needed.
That airplane was built to fly, not sit in a shed!! MOF isn’t necessarily the best place for historic aircraft!
I don’t understand why it is being “retired for permanent display”. A great attraction of vintage aircraft is that they actually fly.
The sad faxct is that MoF does not fly their airplanes.
The 247 is indeed considered the first “modern” airliner but it is not the oldest flying Boeing airliner. The 1928. Boeing 40C Operated by Pemberton and Sons is. Built as a mail contract carrier with a cabin allowing four passengers. It is the oldest flying Boeing and a very impressive machine to see in action.
It would be wonderful if it could be at Osckosh this summer with over 100,000 attending and 10,000 aircraft attending.
the big question is, why is it being retired.
I think the oldest flying Boeing airliner is actually the Boeing 40 owned by Addison Pemberton, based at Spokane, Washington’s Felts Field. Regularly flown all over the northwest! Too bad so many of these cool old flyable aircraft are being relegated to static display…