Pan American
Airways Martin M-130 NC14716
(c/n 558)
This is the
aircraft which is usually remember as the true "China Clipper".
Whilst the proving
flights were achieved with the Sikorsky
S-42, it was the three Martins which flew the San
Francisco to Shanghai route most of the
time. The first flight of the Trans-Pacific Mail actually
occurred on 22 November
1935. The schedule was 60 hours. The nostalgic
shot below
shows the same aircraft at Dinner Key,
the PAA base in Miami just after it had been delivered
brand new from the Martin plant in
Baltimore. Note copious spectators on viewing deck.