RESTORED HISTORY: the "Flying Hotel" of the 1950s: Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, From Bomber to Airliner The Boeing 377 Stratocruiser represents the absolute zenith of piston-engine luxury air travel in the 1950s. Born from the technological advancements of World War II, this double-decker airliner was the civilian derivative of the C-97 Stratofreighter, sharing the wings, engines, and tail surfaces of the legendary B-50 Superfortress (an evolution of the B-29). It was a machine that promised a gold

Sunday Video The Boeing 377 Stratocruiser was a large long-range airliner developed from the C-97 Stratofreighter military transport, itself a derivative of the B-29 Superfortress. The Stratocruiser's first flight was on July 8, 1947. Its design was advanced for its day; its innovative features included two passenger decks and a pressurized cabin, a relatively new feature on transport aircraft. It could carry up to 100 passengers on the main deck plus 14 in the lower deck lounge; typical seating