STRATOCRUISERS OF B.O.A.C.

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28930, 25 June 1959, Page 7

STRATOCRUISERS OF B.O.A.C.

Retirement After 10 Years’ Service

After nearly 10 years of service with the British Overseas Airways Corporation, during which they carried some 680,000 passengers and flew a total of 247,550 hours, the Boeing Stratocruisers have reached the end of their scheduled service career with the corporation. During their working life with 8.0.A.C., mainly on the North Atlantic route, the Stratocruisers made 53,974 landings, crossed the Atlantic 12,804 times, and used more than 115 itiillion gallons of fuel. The first Stratocruiser made its maiden flight at Seattle in 1947. In October, 1949, the first 8.0.A.C. aircraft was delivered. By June 1950, the Stratocruisers had taken over all operations on the NewYork and Montreal routes and in March, 1951, they began to operate the famous Monarch luxury transAtlantic services. In 1956 they took over the whole of 8.0.A.C.’s North Atlantic operations. In 1957, Stratocruisers began operations to Kano, Accra and Lagos, on 8.0.A.C.’s West African routes. '

In the last few months many of the Stratocruisers have been returned to Seattle, America, where they were built. By July only two will remain with 8.0.A.C. and these are due for disposal soon afterwards. Although 8.0.A.C.’s Atlantic services are now operated by de Havilland Comet IV’s Bristol Brittanias and Douglas DC-7C’s, the name of Boeing will still be associated with 80.A.C. —for the first of the . corporation's fleet of Boeing 707 jet airliners, powered by Rolls-Royce Conway engines, is due to be delivered at the end of this year.