Boeing 314 Flying Boat

this plane. :cool:
http://www.asb.tv/blog/2011/02/boeing-314-flying-boat/

Vintage Luxury: Boeing 314 Flying Boat in Detail

Often regarded as the pinnacle of flying luxury, the Boeing 314 Clipper could whisk passengers off to such far off places as Hawaii and China in only a matter of a few days. The huge aircraft carried people around the globe during the 1930′s and early 1940′s and with an astonishing range of 3,500 miles it made reliable intercontinental air travel a reality.
Originally built in 1936, the B-314 could carry 74 passengers and 10 crew, although on overnight flights it accommodated 40 passengers in 7 luxurious sleeping compartments. In the center of the plane was a 14 seat dining room and in the tail a private “honeymoon” suite.
Click any image in this post for a larger look at the Clipper. The Passenger Compartment: The interior of the passenger cabin was the height of luxury for the time, and would surely impress today. In the lounge, travelers had room to spread out and play backgammon or put together puzzles. When it was meal time the lounge converted into a formal dining room, complete with fine china and five star service. When the evening arrived, all compartments converted into bunks with dark curtains and high quality sheets… perfect for dreaming of warm Pacific beaches. Cutaway View The Flight Deck: The 314 featured a larger flight deck than most modern aircraft, providing a large place for the crew to work and relax on the long overseas journeys. The radio operator had the latest high tech equipment at his disposal, while the navigator had a large table to spread out charts. Due to the large size of the 314′s wings, the 4 Cyclone engines were accessible during flight via a door and catwalk visible in the two pictures below. The aircraft featured innovative fully feathering propellers which allowed crew to shut down an engine and stop it in flight. They could then monitor, lubricate and perform repairs to the hard working engine without the risk of landing on the rough open ocean. Boeing 314 Technical Details

• Length: 106′
• Wingspan: 152′ (3/4 that of a Boeing 747!)
• Max Gross Takeoff Weight: 82,500 lb B-314, 84,000 lb B-314A
• Engines: Four Wright GR-2600 Twin Cyclone, 14 cylinder radial engines (1,500 hp B-314, 1,600 hp B-314A)
• Propellers: Hamilton-Standard 3-blade, full-feathering constant speed (variable pitch), 14′ diameter
• Fuel capacity: 4,246 gallons B-314, 5,446 B-314A
• Crew: 10
• Passengers: 74 in seated configuration, 40 when sleeping
• Maximum Speed: 199 mph
• Cruising Speed: 183 mph
• Service Ceiling: 13,400 ft B-314, 19,600 ft B-314A
• Range: 3,500 miles B-314, 5,200 miles B-314A