C R Smith Museum: December 2015

Our Wright 3350 Engine – by Don S. (Friday morning volunteer)

This is the powerful 3,400 horsepower Curtis –Wright R3350/TC18 engine which was donated by the Golden Wings, an association of professional Flight Engineers in about 01991 and powered our Douglas DC-7 aircraft.

It was the last type of reciprocating engines purchased by American Airlines and the most challenging one for flight engineers because it was so complex.

Marsh Stern, Golden Wings President at the time, raised $35,000 through donations from active and retired Flight Engineers. Acquisition and restoration was managed by Golden Wings member, Don Williams and parts procurement, by AAer Jim Connaughton, a Phoenix based line mechanic.

Because none of American’s original DC-7 engines survived, the organization purchased a similar engine from a later SABENA DC-7C and Williams modified it to the DC-7 standards.

You will note that ours sits on a mirror and some would not recognize it as a TC18 engine as there was always a puddle of oil under the engine while at rest.

When introduced in 1953, American’s four engine DC-7s were the first to fly non-stop service coast to coast in both directions.

Their careers were cut short by the advent of jets and the last of AA’s DC-7s became freighter.