Introduced in spring 1933, Boeing’s model 247D was a technical marvel, incorporating an autopilot, de-icing boots, semi-retractable landing gear, air conditioning and soundproofing. United Airlines (part of the same holding company as Boeing at the time) took most of the early production for itself, forcing airlines to ask other manufacturers for alternatives – which led Douglas to create an aircraft that would become the DC-3.
The 247 held 10 passengers, plus two Pilots and a steward – not enough capacity for growing demand, nor for earning consistent profit on passenger loads – so once the Douglas’ DC series launched the type was almost immediately obsolete.
The U.S. government appropriated dozens of 247s for use in the war effort, and Northwest operated several under contract to the U.S. government over its Northern Division between Minnesota and Alaska. However, NWA never used the type on its own route network.
Post-war, there were dozens of 247s available as surplus (United had cast off the type for DC-3s and didn’t want them back from the government). In Idaho, newly formed Zimmerly Airlines acquired four Boeing 247Ds in the mid-1940s for flight training and charter work, then for its scheduled route through that state, and these passed to Empire Airlines as the “paper merger” between the companies was operationalized in March 1947. Much like at United, the 247s soon showed their shortcomings at Empire as traffic started to grow, and were disposed of in March 1948 one-for-one for freshly converted surplus C-47s (military DC-3s).
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