HISTORY GUEST
the collections can be visited upon appointment or pulled for research purposes . The archives are nearing a deal to be affiliated with the Smithsonian , where the archives eventually would be preserved should a museum not come to fruition .
Two particular new artifacts are generating a lot of interest . The complete preserved Douglas DC-8 cockpit from Braniff descendant Panagra Airlines , which flew the first jet service between the United States and South America back in May 1960 , is awaiting transport to Dallas from Hot Springs , Arkansas .
The other is a partial mockup of the First-Class cabin of Braniff ’ s first and , for seven years , only Boeing 747 . The famous N601BN was the 100th 747 and the highest-used 747 in the world for years . What began as a small COVID project of restoring sidewalls for photographic backdrops grew into a cabin with Ultra-era leather seats , windows with monitors projecting a moving sky , and a working lavatory . Cass built this object in his home but will soon take it to a new location at the Dallas Independent School District ’ s Career Institute North .
This is not just a historic archive but a living , breathing one with practical current uses . Employee records and legal documents continue to be frequently requested . The foundation administers Braniff ’ s original Employee / Retiree Airline Pass Benefits Program , which offers current and former employees discounted travel on partner airlines and travel companies .
Cass is currently forensically piecing together the documents for a book on what really
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21 Braniff flight attendants Terri Hatch , Kathy Logan Smith , Kathryn Lance and Penny Puetz don their Braniff uniforms and present a fashion show at each Braniff style show event . // CHRIS SLOAN
22 Terri Hatch demonstrates the operation of the Boeing 747 cabin door during the Braniff 747 concept cabin reveal event in March 2024 . Braniff constructed a fully operating 747 cabin during COVID with grants from the Eugene McDermott Foundation and humanities of Texas . // CHRIS SLOAN
23 The magnificent Braniff ultra space First Class interior featuring Argentine leather seats . Braniff ’ s 747 concept cabin is a unique exercise in the merging of mechanics with elegance . // CHRIS SLOAN
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76 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE JULY 2024 www . airwaysmag . com