Boeing 247
Boeing · United States · first flew 1933 · airliner
The Boeing 247 is often considered the world's first truly modern commercial airliner, introducing all-metal stressed-skin construction, retractable undercarriage, a controllable-pitch propeller, and autopilot in a single design. Its appearance in 1933 immediately rendered all existing airliners obsolete.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 1930s twin-engine all-metal monoplane airliner — the first modern airliner
- Fixed spatted undercarriage on early production; retractable on 247D
- Wing spars pass through the passenger cabin creating a floor step
The narrow all-metal fuselage, mid-set tapered monoplane wing, and spatted or retractable undercarriage in a sleek Art Deco package distinguish the 247; the wing spar hump across the cabin floor is a telling interior detail.
Specifications
- The Boeing 247 has a length of 15.7 m (52 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 22.6 m (74 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 322 km/h (200 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown on 8 February 1933, the 247 entered United Air Lines service the same year. Its superiority was so clear that TWA, denied access, commissioned the Douglas DC series — which ultimately surpassed the 247 in capacity and range. Only 75 were built. One flew around the world in the 1934 MacRobertson Air Race.
Variants
The Boeing 247D was the refined version with NACA cowlings, variable-pitch propellers, and flush cockpit glazing. A small number of 247Es were built for export.
Where you'll see it
Operated primarily by United Air Lines; also by other US carriers and in small numbers in Europe and China. Several survive in museums including the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Related aircraft
- Boeing 247D
- Boeing XF6B-1
- Boeing P-26 Peashooter
- Boeing P-26A Peashooter
- Airspeed Courier
- Avia 51
- Curtiss T-32 Condor II
- Douglas DC-1
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