Boeings today are probably the most commonly used and popular aircraft in the world. They fly everywhere; practically every airline has them. The range of models is amazingly wide, not to mention various modifications. It's hard to imagine that it hasn't always been the case: all great things start in a small way. The famous Boeing aircraft construction company also started small; its first passenger airliner took off at the beginning of the last century...
Comfort and three engines
According to the official history, the first aircraft built by the company was Boeing 40, created in the distant 1920s. It was a wooden single-engine biplane with liquid-fuel Liberty 12 engine. At the front of the plane was mail compartment, with the cockpit at the back: Boeing Model 40's primary function was to carry mail.
The aircraft turned out to be quite successful and the company received numerous orders from various airlines flying between American cities. 25 such planes were built altogether. However, the fastest growing segment of the market was passenger traffic, and airlines needed more powerful craft with passenger compartments. So William Boeing decided to challenge Henry Ford's company on the multi-engine passenger airliners' market.
In 1928 Boeing 80 was designed: a three-engine 12 seat aircraft. The idea was to create a more comfortable airplane than the competition's, and that's how the first Boeing three-engine classic mixed-design biplane appeared. The new aircraft was equipped with three piston Pratt & Whitney engines: one in the engine compartment at the bow and two others in nacelles attached to wing supports.
The hull was rectangular in section, with metal framework and linen covering. The engine section was at the front, followed by closed two-seater cockpit. At the end of the passenger cabin there was a bathroom. From the engineering point of view Boeing 80 was more archaic than Ford 4-AT and Ford 5-AT, but it was much more comfortable. It was the first American airliner with three passenger seats in a row. The interior was really luxurious: each leather seat had an individual light, the cabin was air-conditioned, the bathroom had cold and hot water. The noise and vibration, however, were just as bad as in "tri-motors". Heat insulation also left something to be desired: though the cabin was heated passengers were freezing during the winter, while in the summer they had to open windows to deal with the heat.
Serving America
Boeing 80's maiden flight took place on July 27, 1928. And just two weeks later the airplane was handed over to Boeing Air Transport company for regular operation - a record time for airliners of that class.
The plane was used on the main company's line between San Francisco and Chicago. The flight took 28 hours, the ticket cost $260. There were several stopovers: in Sacramento (California), Reno and Elko (Nevada), Salt Lake City (Utah), Cheyenne (Wyoming), Lincoln, Omaha and Des Moines (Nebraska). The flights were daily except Mondays. In San Francisco passengers could connect with other flights to Pacific coast cities.
Demand for the service grew and the company built a bigger version of the plane - Boeing 80A which could carry 18 passengers (the first flight took place on September 12, 1929). This model had better aerodynamics, was easier to built and even more comfortable - it was nicknamed Pullman of the Air. After a while Boeing 80A got more vertical empennage: two additional rudder fins were installed on stabilisers. The upgraded plane was designated Model 80A-1. A single Boeing 80B-1 was built with open cockpit (pilots didn't like the closed one). When in 1931 United Airlines holding was established, these aircraft started flying under its flag. In 1934 they were sold to various tour operators and private customers. In 1930 a comfortable corporate version - Boeing 226 - was specially built for Standard Oil of California (in essence a modification of Boeing 80A).
One second-hand Boeing 80A bought Reeve Airways company. When the war between America and Japan began, the airplane was used to deliver supplies to military bases in Aleutian Islands. To facilitate operations, a large cargo hatch was cut at the port side.
Sky girls
Another interesting fact in Boeing 80's history is that the first air hostesses appeared on board of this aircraft. At first Boeing Air Transport intended to use men to serve the passengers, following the example set by European companies and Stout Airlines in America. But women always get what they want, and this case was no exception. Present day's air hostesses owe their thanks to nurse Ellen Church who's managed to convince the management of Boeing Air Transport to employ women of her profession.
At the time when a flight in a passenger airliner could be adequately described by the phrase "one drives, everybody else is sick", having a medic on board seemed a good idea. The airline's management decided to give it a try and in 1930 employed eight nurses to accompany the flights. Ellen Church was the first to go in the sky, starting on May 15, 1930. The work wasn't easy - the Sky Girls, as they were called, were supposed not just provide medical assistance as need be but also serve coffee and do many other things which even men would find hard.
According to the job description (written of course by men), air hostesses had to warmly welcome the passengers, check their tickets, weigh the passengers and their luggage, load and unload the bags in the luggage compartment. Before the flight the hostesses had to clean the cockpit and the cabin, check that the passenger seats were safely fastened to the floor and if necessary... swat flies. Sky girls weren't idle during the flight either: they handed out chewing gum, blankets, slippers, polished the passengers' shoes, made sure they didn't throw cigarette butts out of the windows or accidentally open the exit door mistaking it for the bathroom.
The sky "Cinderellas" were also supposed to clean the bathroom, and during stopovers they had to do really hard work - carry bucketfuls of fuel to fill up the aircraft's tank. When the plane arrived to destination hostesses helped the ground crew to roll it into the hangar. Each girl worked 100 hours a month for a salary of $125 - very decent wage at that time, especially for women.
Even with that job description, Boeing Air Transport originally employed the air hostesses only for a three month trial period, rather reluctantly. However it all worked out extremely good. The girls were made permanent employees and the company decided that in future it will mostly use women air hostesses. Other airlines followed suit and now passengers throughout the world are served mainly by female hostesses, with male stewards being almost an exception.
That's how Boeing corporation started its glorious history. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then... The first multi-engine William Boeing's airliner hasn't been flying for many years, but one Boeing 80A still exists. It was restored and now is an exhibit in Museum of Flight in Seattle.
Dmitry Gnatenko
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