Pan American Clippers - Softcover

Exhaustive research and gifted writing allow Trautman to take you on a fascinating journey through this unique era of aircraft and aviation.... From the vintage Art Deco advertising, recollections of former passengers and inclusions of items such as the daily log of an engineer, the many facets of this 15 year reign of the skies is laid out before you in an inviting and absorbing format. For anyone with a passion for aviation, it is a delightful assemblage of data and a welcome addition to their library. But with his skillful arrangement and beautiful presentation, Trautman has created a book that anyone will enjoy reading. It will take a place of honour on your coffee table as you pour over the pages time and again. Chances are you'll be wishing that you could have experienced travel on the Pam American clippers first hand back in the '30s and '40s. Trautman offers you a vicarious alternative that you can enjoy in the comfort of your favourite chair.-- (01/01/2009)

For a world coming out of economic depression in the 1930s, the Pan American Airways Clipper "flying boats" symbolized elegance and luxury, adventure and romance. Illustrated with rare period photographs, vintage travel posters, magazine ads and colourful company brochures, this fascinating book covers every aspect of the fabulous era of Pan American's graceful clippers. Like their maritime namesakes, the Clippers used the oceans to form a vast global network of travel routes. Pan Am founder Juan Trippe was a visionary who saw the importance of international travel to a changing world. His Clippers would play a key role in the evolution of transoceanic flight, setting time and distance records over the Atlantic and Pacific, providing airmail delivery between continents and eventually serving the Allies as troop and cargo transports during World War II. Pan Am Clippers permanently changed the world's concept of time and space by dramatically reducing travel time and opening up international air travel to the general public. This fascinating, informative and richly illustrated book brings back another time and way of life.