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1930s Boeing 247D Airliner Photo
Pennsylvania Central Airlines PCA
The First Modern Airliner, Later Drafted for WWIIDESCRIPTIONAn original period photograph of a Boeing 247D twin-engine airliner on the ramp, carrying the keystone emblem of Pennsylvania Central Airlines on its nose. Introduced in 1933, the Boeing 247 is widely credited as the first modern airliner, the first passenger plane to combine all-metal construction, retractable landing gear, and twin engines powerful enough to keep climbing on just one. Pennsylvania Central Airlines was formed on November 1, 1936 from the merger of Pennsylvania Airlines and Central Airlines, and by the following year had sold off its older Boeing 247s in favor of 247Ds bought secondhand from United Air Lines, eventually building up to a full fleet of 15 flying largely in bare polished aluminum with the red-bordered keystone marking seen here, a nod to Pennsylvania\'s \"Keystone State\" nickname. That fleet\'s service came to an abrupt end during World War II, when the U.S. government requisitioned every Boeing 247D PCA owned for military use, leaving the airline flying only its DC-3s for the rest of the war, a small fleet employees nicknamed \"The Seven Planes That Stayed Home.\" Just two of PCA\'s Boeing 247Ds are known to survive today, preserved in museum collections in Seattle and Ottawa. This print captures a sharp front-quarter view with the engine cowling, propeller hub, and keystone emblem all clearly visible. Scanned at 600dpi so every detail holds up close. Measures approximately 4.5 x 2.75 in.Every effort is made for fact checking and provenance including background research through news and historical archives. If any listing is incorrect in any way and you\'re unsatisfied with the item, please connect with me and I\'ll make it right. Orders placed before Noon CDT will ship same day Ground Advantage with tracking so you know exactly when it will arrive. Returns accepted on all items exceeding $25 in cost. Rigid, professional packaging on all shipments sealed and protected in acid free protectors. Shipping is free and already built into the price, so the BIN price is exactly what you pay, no surprise shipping costs at checkout.CONDITIONClean, sharp period silver print with good contrast and fine detail across the aircraft and propeller. Mounted on a white card stock border with rounded corners typical of the era, corners and edges intact with no tears or losses. Light, even toning in the sky consistent with age. Reverse is otherwise blank apart from a period ink caption reading \"BOEING 247.\" Very Fine for the type.
