Invisible Themepark

Category: Aircraft

Cutaway views of aircraft.

  • Boeing Stratocruiser Cutaway, 1952

    Boeing Stratocruiser Cutaway, 1952

    Click Image For Full 1636 x 781 px Size

    In 1952, the 67.5 ton Boeing Stratocruiser cost a (then) whopping $1.5 million.  With a 3,000 mile range, this craft–first delivered to PanAm–offered up luxury as few commercial passengers had seen before:  a galley, a lower-deck lounge, sleeping berths, a forward stateroom, and more.

    Truly a case of “swords to ploughshares,” the Stratocruiser was “developed from the C-97 Stratofreighter, a military derivative of the B-29 Superfortress used for troop transport,” according to Wikipedia.

    Or as a promo film from that time says, “from bomber to boudoir,” referring to the powder room accommodations for women.

    Making Dinner on the Stratocruiser

     

    Source:  LIFE, August 16, 1948

  • Triple Deck Auto Transport Plane Cutaway, 1952

     

    A lovely 3-color cutaway by Popular Science stalwart, technical illustrator Ray Piotch, of the Blackburn Universal Freighter (“BUF”).

    The BUF had two lower freight decks that could accommodate 6-8 autos, depending on size, and an upper deck for 42 passengers.

    This hulking beast wasn’t known for its speed, though, reaching a maximum of 180 miles an hour.

    See AirpowerWorld for pictures of the real-life BUF.

    Source:  Popular Science, October 1952

  • B-24 Liberator Bomber Cutaway Drawing, 1943

    Naturally, in the popular press of the time, Consolidated Vultee’s B-24 Liberator bomber would be hailed as a magnificent fighting machine, capable of plowing down any obstacle like cutting through butter.

    While the B-24 did have its strong points, crew members had a different angle on the craft. Lately, I have been reading Laura Hillenbrand’s book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption.  The person who is the centerpiece of the book, Louis Zamperini, who was a B-24 bombardier, says that the B-24 was called other names by crew members, such as “The Constipated Lumberer,” “The Flying Coffin,” and “The Flying Brick.”

    Click to Enlarge to 1328 x 506 px:

    B-24 Liberator Bomber Cutaway 1943

     

    Source:  Popular Mechanics November 1943

  • Atomic Airplane Cutaway, 1951

    Even though I like Ray Pioch, his 1951 cutaway drawing of this fanciful atomic airplane really isn’t very good.  It’s got the typical middle-of-magazine two-color scheme, and the perspectives within this so-called atomic airplane are all wrong.

    That said, it was predicted that, by 1980, atomic-powered jets would already be in use.  However, more realistically, it was said that the nuclear power plant would be so heavy (about 50 tons) that it would cost as much in terms of weight as a petroleum-fueled plane (power plant replacing fuel).

    Another problem:  a radioactive engine being dangerous to the flight crew, extensive and heavy shielding would have to be added.

    And another problem:  the nuclear reactor’s slow start-up time.

    Click to Enlarge to 1230 x 755 px:

    Atomic Airplane Cutaway 1951

    Source:  Popular Science October 1951

  • Soviet TU-10 Two-Jet Bomber Cutaway, 1951

    This is the Tupolev TU-10 bomber.  I have not been able to find information on this aircraft.  If anyone has leads, please leave information in the comment section.

    Click to Enlarge Image to 1375 x 745 px:

    Soviet TU 10 Two Jet Bomber 1951

    Source:  Popular Science August 1951

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