Eastern Airlines DC-7B — her latest challenge

Eastern Airlines DC-7B — her latest challenge:

Eastern Airlines DC-7B — her latest challenge

The HFF Eastern Airlines DC-7B on the apron at the Carolinas Aviation Museum on 18 Dec 2011 — photo by Joseph May

Reader Dave “Mac” recently emailed links on this faithfully restored airliner with four reciprocating engines in vintage Eastern Airlines livery — yes, with the Eastern Airlines Falcon logo.

Ralph Petterson wrote this article from September 2008 on the aircraft and the work done by the Historical Flight Foundation (link also provided by Dave “Mac”).

There is also this more recent article from August 2010, also by Ralph Petterson.

She has been flown on revenue flights for the last year or so, as far as Oshkosh. On her latest flight, in November, she was departing Charlotte-Douglas International Airport when, a few minutes into the flight, the number three engine let go. The flight crew expertly returned to the airport and taxied to the Carolinas Aviation Museum where she awaits maintenance and repair. I saw her there on 18 December.

The Historical Flight Foundation is developing a repair plan and is accepting donations, as you may imagine. This is a worthy cause borne by an honorable group.

There is a post or two about this aircraft with more photos to be seen in them — place DC-7B in the search window and select ENTER to get a list of them.