Flight 50
Documentary (1977)
Production:
Pan American World Airways
Also from this series:
Pan Am's other series
Pan Am's short film about the 50th anniversary of the company with a record-setting flight Flight 50 round the world over the North and South Poles, celebrated on October 28-30 1977.
Douglas World Cruiser Chicago
No.2 Chicago was one of the 2 DWCs (over 4) who achieved first aerial circumnavigation of the world in 1924.
Registration 25-1230, c/n 146. Configuration with floats.
Same aircraft seen in other films IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Military Fixed-Wing).
Lockheed Vega 5C
Registration NR105W c/n 122 built in 1929.Nicknamed Winnie Mae. This specially modified 5C Vega set the record in 1931 for a flight around the world, taking 8 days in the hands of Wiley H. Post and Harold Gatty. Post repeated the feat solo, taking only 7 days in July 1933. In March 1935, Post flew this Vega high enough from Burbank to Cleveland to be operating in the jetstream.
Same aircraft seen in other films IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
Lockheed C-69 Constellation
Reference to the Pan Am's first round-the-world scheduled flight in June 1947. The aircraft presented is actually a military variant Lockheed C-69 Constellation of the USAF.
Boeing 747SP-21
One of the 11 aircraft of the type ordered by PAN AM, plus 1 other from Braniff. Operated from 1976 to 1986. Only 45 aircraft produced.
Boeing 747SP-21
Registration N531PA, c/n 21023/268. First flight in August 1975 with Boeing colours, registered N247SP. Delivered to PAN AM in May 1976 as N531PA, named Clipper Freedom. Sold to United Airlines in February 1986, registered N141UA. Stored in February 1995 at Harry Reid International,Las Vegas (KLAS/LAS). Broken up in 1995 at Andamooka, Australia (YAMK/ADO).
Liberty Bell Express Flight 200
Completed Round-the-World Equatorial Flight commemorating U.S Bicentennial in May 1976. New-York, Delhi, Tokyo, New-York (May 1-3, 1976).
The airplane broke the commercial round-the-world records set in 1965 by a Flying Tiger Line Boeing 707 with a new record of 46 hours, 50 seconds.
Registration N533PA, c/n 21025/273. First flight in November 1975 with Boeing colours, registered N40135. Delivered to PAN AM in March 1976 as N533PA, named Clipper Freedom then renamed Clipper Liberty Bell in May 1976 for the commemorative Flight 200. In 1977, renamed Clipper New Horizons for the commemorative Flight 50 (see below), then renamed 4 times in the following years: Clipper Young America, Clipper San Francisco, Clipper New Horizons and Clipper Young America again, until sale to United Airlines in February 1986, registered N143UA. Sold to Aviation Sales in August 1995. Broken up in 1997.
Pan Am's 50th Birthday Flight 50
Completed Round-the-World Polar Flight commemorating Pan Am's 50th anniversary in October 1977. San Francisco, North Pole, London, Cape-Town, South Pole, Auckland, New-York (October 28-30, 1977).
The flight made it in 54 hours, 7 minutes, and 12 seconds, creating seven new world records certified by the FAI. See discussion tab (0)
Registration N533PA Clipper New Horizons, same aircraft described above.
Boeing 747SP-21 (cake model)
Welcome reception for the 172 passengers of Flight 50 in San Francisco International Airport terminal. See discussion tab (1)
Boeing 747SP-21
Departure from San Francisco International Airport. See discussion tab (1)
Specific 50th anniversary logo on the fuselage.
Take-off. Note the Douglas DC-8 to the right. Unidentified airline.
San Francisco International (SFO) - London Heathrow (LHR) Flight 50
Boeing 747SP-21
Interior views during the flight.
Dinner served over the Canadian province of British Columbia.
As darkness closes in, a 'Gucci' fashion show is presented to the passengers.
Passage over the North Pole celebrated with Champagne.
Time for a short night before landing at London Heathrow. See discussion tab (2)
London Heathrow (LHR) - Cape Town International D.F.Malan (CPT) Flight 50
Boeing 747SP-21
Unidentified registration of a generic Boeing 747SP-21.
Inside N533PA Clipper New Horizons on route to Cape Town. See discussion tab (3)
Cape Town International D.F.Malan (CPT) - Aukland Airport (AKL) Flight 50
Boeing 747SP-21
Generic view of a Boeing 747SP-21.
Inside N533PA Clipper New Horizons on route to Auckland. See discussion tab (4)
Flight over the Antarctic.
Captain Walter H. Mullikin announces passage over the South Pole.
Celebration.
Aukland Airport (AKL) - San Francisco International (SFO) Flight 50
Boeing 747SP-21
Inside N533PA on the last route of the journey.
Interview of Harry Byrd, Richard Byrd's grandson. Byrd achieved the 1st Antarctic expedition by air in 1929.
Another generic view of a Boeing 747SP-21.
Landing at San Francisco International Airport.
Back To: