Delivered new to Northwest Airlines in July 1949. To Lockheed Aircraft Corp. October 1959, and To Aero Spacelines, Inc. in 1963. When I took this slide N74603 was in the process of being restored to flying condition at Mojave. It was reregistered on 23 November 1973 with Bob's Airpark in Tucson, Arizona as the new owner. It was subsequently flown to Tucson, but never flew again, being scrapped there circa 1978. FAA registration was cancelled in November 1982.

At the time the world's last surviving civilian Strat, this one was delivered to Northwest as 'Stratocruiser Chicago' on July 10, 1949. Stored by Aero Spacelines, but they did not use it in their Guppy conversion programme. Seen here still in basic NW colours, not long before being broken up - such a shame