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| The Boeing 307 Stratoliner |
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| The Cosmic Muffin |
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The Boeing 307
Stratoliner built in the late 1930s was the first commercial
airliner preassurized to fly above the weather (20,000 feet).
Only 10 were produced and these flew with few operators–among
them Howard Hughes's Trans World Airlines. Hughes acquired his
personal Boeing 307 Stratoliner in 1939. In 1948 Raymond
Loewy was commissioned to convert the interior of Hughes's
aircraft into an executive office. In March 1949, Hughes sold
his "office on wings" to Houston oil man Glenn McCarthy,
the inspiration for the character Jett Rink in the 1956 movie
"Giant." McCarthy in turn sold the Stratoliner, which he called
"The Shamrock", in 1962 to Florida Jet Research in Fort Lauderdale.
In 1964 Hurricane Cleo clobbered Fort Lauderdale and the Stratoliner,
then called "The Flying Penthouse" sustained severe tail and
landing gear damage. Fort Lauderdale realtor and pilot Kenneth
W. London attempted to restore the aircraft after purchasing
it in 1969. Regrettably, the aircraft was too damaged to become
airworthy again, so London converted it into a motoring yacht.
In June 1974 the completed floating aircraft, nicknamed "The
Londonaire" graced the waterways of South Florida. In 1981,
David Drimmer purchased 'The Londonaire" to be used as his own
personal "houseboat." Jimmy Buffett featured it in his 1992 novel, "Where
Is Joe Merchant?" as the "Cosmic Muffin." Drimmer
renamed his unique vehicle in a tribute to its newly acquired
literary status. The current owner is also an Avanti owner and his Avanti appears
with the Cosmic Muffin in Issue 129
of Avanti Magazine. |
