(snippet copy - see link for article)
Boeing 307 Stratoliner
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 was so struck by the uniqueness of this vessel that he 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 last 307 Stratoliner, the Clipper Flying Cloud, has been fully restored and is on exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. See original at www.theavanti.com/LoewyHughes.html.
Avanti Magazine
Raymond Loewy designed and built the interior of the Boeing 307 Stratoliner aircraft for Howard Hughes in 1948. Actress Rita Hatworth provided some of the key decor elements. The current owner is also an Avanti owner and his Avanti appears with the Cosmic Muffin in Issue 129 of Avanti Magazine. Back issues can be ordered from Mike Barany at 602-712-7670 (days), 623-825-7144 (evenings) or e-mail at escuda@inficad.com.
