Pan Am Douglas DC-7B Clipper Evening Star with an ESSO Avgas truck with a crew refueling the aircraft at an USA Airport, ca mid 1950's
Pan Am Douglas DC-7B Clipper Evening Star with an ESSO Avgas truck with a crew refueling the aircraft at an USA Airport, ca mid 1950's. This airplane was used by Pan Am from 1955 through 1964, however; it was renamed Caribbean. It perhaps won't be very long before this airliner is back up into the sky above the dark clouds in the sunlight. The ESSO Avgas trailer is of an art deco streamliner design. The Avgas back in those day was usually available at either 115 or 125 octane to meet the requirements of the high compression radial engines. Each of the Wright R-3350 Duplex Cyclone radial engines used on the aircraft produced 3,250 hp for take-off power at sea level, and slightly less at higher airports. There were even more powerful versions of this engine that produced up to 3,800 hp.
Flying during this time period was much more comfortable and enjoyable, and in reality the trip time was not a bit slower than today, and perhaps a bit faster. What I meant by that is that the aircraft flew slower than today of course, but your arrival time at the airport was very near boarding time and you didn't need to inspected to board the aircraft. When you consider the total travel time (location to destination) as the trip time you would be very surprised with the time. Plus today newer and larger airports in numerous cases are further away from your destination, than in the old days. As for comfort the plane had a seat pitch that was very comfortable, even in the standard section, and first class was really first class. You had pretty and friendly hostesses to attend to your needs. The aircraft that superseded this one was the DC-7C, the final Douglas prop-liner with 3,400 hp engines and it had a top speed of 408 mph.
Don't know the name of the photographer that captured this image on film. The digital image was on the Internet. The photo has been enhanced and cropped to improve its appearance.
Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
Pan Am Douglas DC-7B Clipper Evening Star with an ESSO Avgas truck with a crew refueling the aircraft at an USA Airport, ca mid 1950's
Pan Am Douglas DC-7B Clipper Evening Star with an ESSO Avgas truck with a crew refueling the aircraft at an USA Airport, ca mid 1950's. This airplane was used by Pan Am from 1955 through 1964, however; it was renamed Caribbean. It perhaps won't be very long before this airliner is back up into the sky above the dark clouds in the sunlight. The ESSO Avgas trailer is of an art deco streamliner design. The Avgas back in those day was usually available at either 115 or 125 octane to meet the requirements of the high compression radial engines. Each of the Wright R-3350 Duplex Cyclone radial engines used on the aircraft produced 3,250 hp for take-off power at sea level, and slightly less at higher airports. There were even more powerful versions of this engine that produced up to 3,800 hp.
Flying during this time period was much more comfortable and enjoyable, and in reality the trip time was not a bit slower than today, and perhaps a bit faster. What I meant by that is that the aircraft flew slower than today of course, but your arrival time at the airport was very near boarding time and you didn't need to inspected to board the aircraft. When you consider the total travel time (location to destination) as the trip time you would be very surprised with the time. Plus today newer and larger airports in numerous cases are further away from your destination, than in the old days. As for comfort the plane had a seat pitch that was very comfortable, even in the standard section, and first class was really first class. You had pretty and friendly hostesses to attend to your needs. The aircraft that superseded this one was the DC-7C, the final Douglas prop-liner with 3,400 hp engines and it had a top speed of 408 mph.
Don't know the name of the photographer that captured this image on film. The digital image was on the Internet. The photo has been enhanced and cropped to improve its appearance.
Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for the purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.