“From an era when aeroplanes mimicked the space and style of trans-Atlantic liners: ‘On the lower level there was a salon with 20 armchairs and tables, six deluxe double cabins, each with its own bathroom, seating for a further 22 passengers, a kitchen, a bar and a baggage hold. The upper level had seating for 18 passengers, a storage compartment and an office for the three flight engineers”
From Thingsmagazine
#2013/12/03 Update:
Read the new post in the series Flying Boats /2 : Latécoère 521 “Lieutenant De Vasseau Paris”
Pan Am planes (click to enlarge):
Boeing clipper B-314
B-314 “Honeymoon Suite”, Dining Room and Lounge
B-314 flight deck (with navigation and radio room) and wing catwalk (allowing access to the engines during flight)
Pan Am route and bases on the Pacific:
Although aerodynamically less efficient than streamlined landplanes, flying boats could provide scheduled passenger service to any city with a sheltered harbor, which made them the ideal international airliner at a time when runways capable of handling large aircraft were scarce.
B-314 flying low
Here a Latécoère 521 video:
More huge flying boats on Wikipedia, Pan Am Clippers, Seawings and Flying Clippers.
Via: Thingsmagazine
Some images via: Kitchener Lord
Mary says
June 19, 2011 at 4:56 amThank you. I loved the video and photos. It brought back some awesome memories and wishes.
Kimberley says
March 3, 2012 at 4:55 amWhat wonderful photos. I have just finished reading Ken Follett’s novel ” Night Over Water” that takes place on a Pan Am Clipper. It was fun to see it come to life in the video.
Ariel says
August 8, 2012 at 5:43 pmThese are the most precious and exciting stuffs about Boeing clipper which I have ever seen .
I wish there would be some tourist scheme which could return back expereinces and sensations with exactly the same route and the same aircraft of those times to our generation .
Really thank you for the time and the valuable photos reviving the our dreams about the past which can never be achieved .
Ariel
Nigama says
January 6, 2013 at 7:19 amI came, I saw, and I enjoyed thoroughly. What a treat. Thanks.
Kit says
February 26, 2013 at 5:37 amSuperb images. I have really enjoyed looking at these
marvelous flying boats. How I wish that I could fly in
one of these wonderful craft.
Thank you so much for posting these!
fosco lucarelli says
March 3, 2013 at 3:29 pmyou’re welcome Kit
Susan says
May 11, 2013 at 1:10 amHi, Thank you for posting these images. I have been reading Ken Follett’s novel, ‘Night Over Water’. In this book, the legendary Pan Am Clipper takes off for its final flight to neutral America in September 1939. England is at war with Nazi Germany. Your photos have helped me visualize this wonderful aircraft. I had never heard of it. Now I won’t forget it. We have a wonderful museum near here in Hamilton, Ontario, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. It has one of only two Lancaster Bombers that still flies. http://www.warplane.com/
. Thank you says
June 28, 2013 at 6:31 amBeautiful! Ken Follett’s “Night Over Water” inspired this bit of research. The book plus these pictures make the golden age of flying come alive. Thank you!
Amir says
October 13, 2013 at 3:19 pmWonderful ages of aviation , where are those airmen ?
Pier Hemy, Flight Attendant says
October 14, 2013 at 2:38 pmI have been privileged to work as a flight attendant on South African Airways “historic aircraft” – Junkers JU52, McDonnell Douglas DC3 “Dakota” and the DC4 Skymaster.
The Boeing B314 was/is nothing short of MAGNIFICENT….
It gives me a feeling of nostalgia for a time long before I was even born!
Thank you, to whoever put this together!
Mike says
November 25, 2013 at 4:30 amI’ve just finished reading Ken Follett’s Night Over Water, thank you for posting these great pics and video, it’s great to see the living quarters and inside views of the ship. Thank You.
RJ Marshall says
October 29, 2015 at 2:08 pmThanks for these pictures (and “Night Over Water” is on my reading list now, too)!
Though it was before my time, I am fascinated by Pan American Airways. They were pioneers and innovators, and the best of ‘Yankee Ingenuity’, in the 30s and beyond. Pan Am itself would be extraordinary into the 70s, dying a terribly long death in the 80s and early 90s.
Also, my dad worked for Boeing (though in the early 707 era), so Boeing will always have a soft spot in my heart, too. the 314 was an incredible craft.
I have been told by friends and family my whole life that I was born about 50 years too late. I don’t disagree! ;-)
PS, I love the website! I really dig technology, architecture, and such, old, but also the new. So, I’ll be benevolently ‘lurking’, as the kids say :-)