KC-97 at Unalakleet (Air Alaska)

[M.P.]

I believe that operator 'STRATOLINES'? amazed Boeing when it was discovered that they were operating a commercial model 377 not a C-97 as one of their aircraft long after it was assumed that the last 377 had gone to airplane heaven.

Amazes me too! I thought only the Israeli AF had genuine 377s after the one at Tucson was erroneously scrapped. Any clue to the identity ?

Reminds me on the topic “Whats the latest on the C-97's” here approximately one year ago. There was a discussion about remaining model 377’s. But this topic is gone for any reason. Read this:
http://stratocruiser.org/plans.html

[The Inspector]

All the folks you see in Boeing (and probably every other manufacturers) P.R. photos are Boeing employees and their kids so no license fees or modelling agency issues arise. They put out a call for employee volunteers, screen applicants for proper appearance for the customers 'look' requirements, those selected are told how to dress and 'be here Saturday Morning at 9 A.M.' Usually Lunch and coffee/pop are provided.
A very lovely young lady named Norma Jean Baker turns up in lots of DOUGLAS DC-6 ads because she was an employee of DOUGLAS at the time.

[shrike]

All the folks you see in Boeing (and probably every other manufacturers) P.R. photos are Boeing employees and their kids so no license fees or modelling agency issues arise. They put out a call for employee volunteers, screen applicants for proper appearance for the customers 'look' requirements, those selected are told how to dress and 'be here Saturday Morning at 9 A.M.' Usually Lunch and coffee/pop are provided.
A very lovely young lady named Norma Jean Baker turns up in lots of DOUGLAS DC-6 ads because she was an employee of DOUGLAS at the time.

TWA did the same thing for internal training films. It was always a hoot to see impeccably coiffed cabin crew types 'working' the ramp. Always amazing too, how all of their tugs seemed to have radios...that worked!

[The Inspector]

Some further info-the STRAT hulk @ UNK is KC-97G 53-0223 msn 17005 operated by STRATOLIFT (not stratolines as I said earlier) as N4580Q. Caught fire while unloading fuel oil in UNK May 18, 1989. Villages get their fuel and gasoline delivered by air since there are no roads to most of them.

The last fatal crash of a 367 model was KC-97G-25-BO 52-2656 msn 16687, upgraded to to L status, sold and on civilian market as N197KC then as HI-481 operated by BELIZE INTERNATIONAL as HI-481 that crashed into a restaurant in fog after departing Mexico City in below minimums weather on July 30, 1987

[b747cf]

Here is HI-481 at Miami International.
It was flown by Agro Air.


Mark Fidler