Flight deck of AA "Flagship Vermont" on display at NASM. Last of the piston engine Douglas airliners, the DC-7 came about due to the need by American Airlines to match TWA's L-049 Constellation that outpaced AA's DC-6. The newly designed DC-7 had R-3350 engines similar to the L-049 but with four-bladed propellers. Its fuselage was like the DC-6B but stretched by 40 in. Capable of cruising at 360 mph, the DC-7 had excellent range, covering LA to NYC in 8 hr and the westbound leg in 8 hr 45 min. AA placed an order for 25 DC-7s that met the development cost, later adding nine more aircraft.

Delivered to American April 1987. WO September 11th, 2001.

Delivered new 13th Apr 1987 and while operating flight AA11 KBOS-KLAX was highjacked and flown into the New York World Trade Centre 11th Sep 2001

One of the four airliners hi-jacked for the infamous '9/11' terror attacks on September 11th 2001. Photographed departing Manchester July 6th 1994.

On 11th September 2001 while operating flight AA11 from Boston to Los Angeles this 767 was hijacked and flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.

The nose of "Flagship Vermont" survives in the NASM. This DC-7 was broken up in 1965 when it was only nine years old. It had only been in service for six years, from 1956 until 1962.