AMERICAN AIRLINES DC-7B

Historical Note:    Unbeatable museum quality best describes our handcrafted DC-7B American model airplane. After passing through the hands of master craftsmen, the parts are sanded and primed many times. Talented artists then paint on the intricate details with great accuracy. A final coat of clear lacquer protects the DC-7B American model and gives it a glossy finish. The DC-7B American model airplane comes with a handsome mahogany-based chrome pedestal, and to ensure that it is ready for delivery, it undergoes various stages of quality control before being placed in its box. The DC-7B American model airplane is perfect as an addition to a growing collection or as an exquisite gift to a loved one.

Scale:    1:100
W/S:      15.25    inches
Lgth:      13.5    inches

Item Number:    TMC-KDC7AAT                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Price:    $169.95

Historical Note Cont'd:   The DC-7 American, manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company, was the largest and last major piston engined transport. It had its first flight in May 1953, and entered service with American Airlines in November of that year. A total of 105 DC-7s was built. The DC-7 could take 65 passengers across America at more than 350 mph, resulting in a flight time of around 8 hours - long a goal of the airlines to meet the pilot's union rules. The DC-7 quickly brought the passengers that had switched to Trans World Airlines' ambassador service right back to American's Mercury service. Nowadays, many DC-7s found use after the airlines with travel clubs, as fire fighting aircraft and few for air cargo.

The DC-7B, a DC-7 American variant, was a direct development of the DC-7, which ushered in non-stop transcontinental airline service. Compared to the DC-7, this variant was built with an extended flight range. A total of 112 DC-7B aircraft was built which followed showed only minor changes of the DC-7. The DC-7B is often considered the fastest of the Douglas prop liners due to aerodynamic improvements over the DC-7, but they proved to be less reliable and economical than the DC-6 series, and almost all have been retired and scrapped.