Only a few weeks ago your Uncle told you about Megaplanes' wonderfully restored Boeing 307 Stratoliner, the world's first fully pressurised airliner. Sadly, the 307 was ditched during a test flight over the Puget Sound on 28 March after suffering what appears to be multiple engine failure. Luckily the crew pulled off a faultless water landing in Elliot Bay and walked along the wing to the safety of a US Coast Guard boat while the hapless Strat slowly settled in shallow water close to Alki Beach. It seems Megaplanes must now decide on what to do with the damaged aircraft which was due to join the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum collection next year. Do they pull it out for static display, restore it to flying condition, or simply leave it by the beach and convert it to a houseboat? - which is what happened to Howard Hughes' former 307 in Florida - the only other Strat in existence!
Source: Flight International
