THE BOEING 377 STRATOCRUISER: A LUXURY STORY
The Stratocruiser set a new standard for luxurious air travel with its tastefully decorated extra-wide passenger cabin and gold-appointed dressing rooms. A circular staircase led to a lower-deck beverage lounge, and flight attendants prepared hot meals for 50 to 100 people in a state-of-the-art galley. As a sleeper, the Stratocruiser was equipped with 28 upper-and-lower bunk units.

Pan Am placed the first order for 20 Stratocruisers, worth $24 million, Pan Am was confident in ordering the expensive plane with Boeing due to their success with the B-314. The Stratocruiser began service between San Francisco, Calif., and Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1949 and flew until it was decommissioned in 1961. Boeing built 56 Stratocruisers between 1947 and 1950, and they marked the company's first significant success selling passenger planes to airlines in other countries.

​

The 377 shared the distinctive design of a Boeing C-97, a military variant, with a "double-bubble" fuselage cross-section, resembling an inverted figure-8, with interior space shared between two passenger decks. The lower deck served as a lounge, with seating for 14. The 377 had innovations such as higher cabin pressure and air conditioning; the superchargers on the four Pratt & Whitney R-4360 engines increased power at altitude and allowed constant cabin pressure. A total of 4,000,000 man-hours went into the engineering of the 377.
Boeing 377 Technical Information: 
  • Capacity: Up to 100 passengers on main deck plus 14 in lower deck lounge; typical seating for 63 or 84 passengers or 28 berthed and five seated passengers.
  • Length: 110 ft 4 in
  • Wingspan: 141 ft 3 in
  • Height: 38 ft 3 in
  • Wing area: 1769 ft²
  • Empty weight: 83,500 lbs
  • Max. take-off weight: 148,000 lbs
  • Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360-B6 Wasp Major 28-cylinder radial engines four-bladed propellers, 3,500 hp each
Performance
  • Maximum speed: 375 mph 
  • Cruise speed: 301 mph 
  • Range: 4,200 miles
  • Service ceiling: 32,000 ft
  • Max cruise: 340 mph

Highlights from the Boeing 377 : A Luxury Story 

Picture
Aboard the double decker Boeing 377, passengers could descend the spiral staircase from the main deck to a fabulous lounge. This was the most deluxe feature of the luxurious Stratocruiser. Here passengers could socialize and enjoy an after-dinner drink and perhaps a game of cards. Although other aircraft of the era had these, none were as large and opulent as the lounge aboard the Pan American World Airways Stratocruiser.
Picture
The Pan American World Airways Stratocruiser had a limited number of sleeping berths for overnight journeys. These berths were curtained for privacy and passengers had the option of having breakfast served "in bed" prior to arrival at their destination. Image on display at Pan Am Museum.
Picture
Located at the rear of the Stratocruiser was a large, state of the art galley which featured multiple ovens, eight urns for containing hot beverages, designated compartments for china and linens, and long stainless steel counters for meal assembly. A unique louvered pass-through door was in place to deliver meals to the cabin.
Picture
Elaborate, multi-course meals were prepared and served aloft. Pan American World Airways had partnered with the famed Parisian restaurant, Maxim’s, to oversee in-flight catering. French cuisine and European elegance became standard when dining aboard these flights.