Here are three postcards dating from the mid-1930s that show the Pan-American Airways Terminal and Flying Clipper Ships in Miami, Florida. On the first postcard, a Clipper is said to be arriving from Jamaica. On the second postcard, passengers are boarding the Caribbean Clipper. On the third postcard, a Clipper is shown in the water and is said to be off to West Indies and South America.
The Caribbean Clipper was a Sikorsky S-40. The plane on the last card was a more advanced Sikorsky S-42. The early clippers were flying boats. They were called “clippers” to link them with the maritime heritage of the ocean liners. At the time runways capable of handling large aircraft were scarce, and the flying boats could provide scheduled passenger service to any city with a sheltered harbor.
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Having just been through a couple of airports, I love the idea of parking right in front of the airport - and not having to take off my shoes, put all my stuff in bins, wait in long lines and be stuffed into a seat with no legroom. Aah, the old days.
ReplyDeleteWonderful postcards. It's hard to believe that pan American airways is no more. I have some great memories of pan am flights.
ReplyDeleteNancy
Quite a coincidence that you have featured Miami and Pan Am; check out Barbara Rogers post and you'll see why. Good to see the Clipper flying boats.
ReplyDeleteWonderful cards. I just love the shapes, style and colours used - they seem to sum up an age perfectly. I once nearly caught a sea plane in the Virgin Islands, but the one I was due to catch was cancelled and I flew from a "normal" airport instead.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful! I had no idea that planes could also be called clippers!
ReplyDeleteI'm a HUGE fan of the new show "Pan Am". Have you seen it?
Interesting idea. I never knew they had airports on the water with planes like that.
ReplyDeleteWhat great postcards, with memories of the past. I think that it would be fun to fly in one of those and land on the water. Thanks for showing them to us,
ReplyDeleteKathy M.
I agree with Alan: I always admire the colours of these old postcards. I have a yen to go in a flying boat; the whole concept is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy these colorful post cards so much, of a long ago past. My first flight ever was on Pan Am to London and then we flew on to Germany. Nice collection indeed!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting old postcards- I remember Pan American from my childhood.
ReplyDeleteThose postcards certainly evoke the romance and adventure of travel. In the last postcard, the plane really looks like a boat (except for the wings, of course) -- the nose resembles a fishing boat.
ReplyDeleteLooks A Lot More Relaxed Than Modern Flying!
ReplyDeleteVery nice postcards from times gone by. No more Pan Am. No more postcard flights either. I think
ReplyDeleteI often wonder if any Clippers survived. If there are any in air museums. The San Francisco area has a really rich history with the planes. I have quite a few old shots of the city with the Clipper in the foreground. Really nice cards.
ReplyDeleteThe Miami airport looks so contemporary in 1930. The planes are real "airships"! Beautiful postcards.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the most romantic and beautiful airplane design. The concept of combining a plane with a boat was ruined by Howard Hughes and his flawed H-4 Hercules - the "Spruce Goose".
ReplyDeleteBeautiful vintage postcards with gorgeous colors and from my neck of the woods! Love em!
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