Millard Sheets 
Honolulu Arrival in Pan Am China Clipper
⚈ Sold
American (1907-1989)

Watercolor on Paper Dated 1936
14 ½ x 21 ¼ Inches 23 ¾ x 31 ¾ Inches Framed
LR: Millard Sheets  
   

Millard Sheets 
 
American (1907-1989)
 
Honolulu Arrival in Pan Am China Clipper
(Original illustration for Fortune Magazine, April 1936 )
⚈ Sold

Watercolor on Paper Dated 1936
14 ½ x 21 ¼ Inches 23 ¾ x 31 ¾ Inches Framed
LR: Millard Sheets  
   

Flying boats dominated the early international service in passenger air travel. In the 1920's and 30's, few runways existed that could land large aircraft yet for most international routes it was necessary to find several cities along the way where a plane could stop for the night. Aircraft of the period couldn't reach the altitudes of today's passenger aircraft, maxing out airspeed at about 200mph and frequent stops were needed to refuel. The answer was the float plane which could land in any sheltered harbor, a particular benefit for crossing the Pacific Ocean to Asia. It was the Martin Ocean Transport or M130 aircraft, illustrated here by Millard Sheets, that would make it a reality.

Pan American Airlines founder Juan Trippe was keen that his company be the first to launch a trans-Pacific passenger air service. As the unofficial United States flag carrier or national airline, Pan Am was seen as representing America to the world and the company's role in opening up international air trade routes was vital to U.S. national interests.

Trippe sent his requirements for range and payload to the Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore, Maryland who designed and built three M-130 flying boats, each costing $417,000 (about $7.3M in today's dollars). To the public, these ships were the "China Clippers", a name that became a generic term for Pan Am's large flying boats– first the Martin M-130 and the later Sikorsky S-42 and Boeing 314.

Trippe named all Pan Am's international aircraft "Clippers" linking them to the maritime heritage of the 19th century clipper ships who once carried cargo and passengers across the sea. Crews of the "Clippers" wore naval-style ... Read More


Illustrated: Fortune Magazine April 1936, p. 85