Boeing 247D
Boeing · United States · first flew 1933 · airliner
The Boeing 247D was the world's first modern commercial airliner, introducing all-metal construction, retractable undercarriage, variable-pitch propellers, and a streamlined monoplane form to scheduled airline service simultaneously.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.72 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- twin Wasp-engined low-wing airliner with retractable undercarriage
- wing spars passing through the passenger cabin creating a step in the aisle
- NACA cowled radial engines with variable-pitch Hamilton Standard propellers
Distinguished from the DC-2 and DC-3 by its smaller fuselage cross-section, the prominent wing spar hump visible through cabin windows, and the earlier 247's circular nacelles; the 247D is cleaner than the original 247 with its improved cowlings.
Specifications
- The Boeing 247D has a length of 15.72 m (52 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 22.56 m (74 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 304 km/h (189 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The 247 entered service with United Air Lines in 1933 and immediately made every other airliner obsolete. Its revolutionary design philosophy led directly to the Douglas DC-2 and DC-3, which surpassed it; only 75 were built. The 247D variant added controllable-pitch propellers and a revised cowling, improving performance.
Variants
The 247 and 247A preceded the definitive 247D; a single 247Y was modified for long-range flight. One 247D competed in the 1934 MacRobertson Air Race from England to Australia, finishing third.
Where you'll see it
United Air Lines operated the majority of 247Ds on transcontinental routes; small numbers were sold to airlines and private operators, and several were used by the USAAF during the Second World War as C-73 transports.
Related aircraft
- Boeing 247
- 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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