As in the Electra and the Boeing 247, the Model 12's main wing spar passed through the passenger cabin; small steps were placed on either side of the spar to ease passenger movement [REF].
The new transport had its first flight on June 27, 1936,[REF][REF] three days before the competition deadline, at 12:12 PM local time, a time deliberately chosen for the Model 12's number [REF].