Pan Am - Aufstieg und Absturz einer Luftfahrt-Ikone

Pan Am - Aufstieg und Absturz einer Luftfahrt-Ikone poster.

Documentary (2022)
French title: Pan Am - Essor et chute d’une compagnie mythique

Starring:
Ed Trippe (Juan Trippe's son)
Edeltraut Miller (Former hostess of Pan Am)
Linda Freire (Former hostess of Pan Am)
Thor Johnson (Former Pan Am's CEO)
Robert Daley (Juan Trippe's biograph)
Bob Van Der Linder (Historian)

The tragic fate of Pan American World Airways, a legendary American company that burned its wings by flying too high.

Curtiss JN-4 Jenny

Juan Terry Trippe, future Pan American Airways founder, at Yale University in the early 20s.

Curtiss JN-4 Jenny

Unidentified Aircraft

Could it be a Curtiss CR?

Fairchild FC-2

Registration 1654 (later NC1654), c/n 15. This was the hastily borrowed Fairchild FC-2 of West Indian Aerial Express with which Pan American Airways flew its first service on 19 October 1927 to compete for the Key West to Havana air mail route in competition with Florida Airways. The aircraft was destroyed in July 1929.
Both West Indian and Florida Airways were soon acquired by Pan American Airways which went on to become a household name in aviation circles in Latin and South America.

Reg.1654 Fairchild FC-2 La Nina of West Indian Aerial Express.

Unidentified Aircraft

Not exactly matching with Fokker F.VII or Fokker F.10.

Unidentified Aircraft

Juan Trippe's personal aircraft.

Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis

Same aircraft in other movies at Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).

Reg.NX211 Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis.

Loening C-2 Air Yacht

First flight in 1928. 36 aircraft built.

Loening C-2 Air Yacht.

Fokker F.VIIb/3m

Fokker F.VIIb/3m of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Ford 5-AT Trimotor

Ford 5-AT Trimotor of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Ford 5-AT Trimotor

J.T.Frippe and C.Lindberg in front of one of the 11 Ford Trimotors operated by PAA System.

Ford 5-AT Trimotor of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Ford 4-AT-E Trimotor

Registration NC8407, c/n 69 built in 1929. Currently owned by The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) based at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. Painted with Eastern Air Transport livery.
Same aircraft in other movies at Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).

Reg.NC8407 Ford 4-AT-E Trimotor with Eastern Air Transport livery.

Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland I & Junkers G 31

Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland I and Junkers G 31 of Deutsche Luft Hansa.

Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland I

Registration D-1297, c/n 37. Delivered in 1928. Sold to Iberia as M-CAEE.

Reg.D-1297 Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland I Wasserkuppe of Deutsche Luft Hansa.

Dornier Do J II f Bos

Registration D-AKER, c/n 237, previously D-2399. Delivered to Deutsche Luft Hansa in 1934. Operated South-Atlantic fight between Gambia and Brasil with need of refueling in the middle of the ocean. A vessel was equipped with a "towed sail" onto which the aircraft taxied. From there it was winched aboard by a crane, refueled, and then launched by catapult back into the air.
Same aircraft in other movies at Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).

Reg. D-AKER Dornier Do J II f Bos Taifun of Deutsche Luft Hansa.

Sikorsky S-38

Sikorsky S-38 of PAA-Pan American Airways.

Sikorsky S-38B

State-owned enterprise CNAC shared 45% with PAA-Pan American Airways System. 2 Sikorsky S-38B from PAA's fleet (NC16V, NC17V) were operated under the colour of CNAC few month before their crash in November 1933 and April 1934.
This aircraft is one of them. Same aircraft in other movies at IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft.

Sikorsky S-38B of CNAC-China National Aviation Corporation.

Sikorsky S-40

Inauguration of American Clipper by first lady Lou Henry Hoover in October 12, 1931 at the Naval Support Facility Anacostia, Washington, D.C.
Registration NC80V, c/n 2000. Operated by Pan American Airways until April 1942. Damaged beyond repair in April 1943.
Same aircraft seen in other movies - IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft.

Reg.NC80V Sikorsky S-40 of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Sikorsky S-40

Sikorsky S-40 of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Sikorsky S-42

Sikorsky S-42 of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Sikorsky S-42A

Sikorsky S-42A of Pan American Airways System.

Foreground: Registration NC15376, c/n 4206. Delivered to Pan American Airways in 1936. Sank at San Juan in October 1941.
Same aircraft in other movies at Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).

Reg.NC15376 Sikorsky S-42A Dominican Clipper of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Sikorsky S-42B

Registration NC16734, c/n 4207. Delivered to Pan American Airways in 1936, named Pan American Clipper II. Renamed Samoan Clipper in 1938. Destroyed at Pago Pago, Samoa in January 1938.

Reg.NC16734 Sikorsky S-42B Pan American Clipper II of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Martin M-130

Only 3 built. First flight in December 1934. Introduction on scheduled commercial service in November 1935.

Martin M-130 of PAA-Pan American Airways.

Martin M-130

Registration NC14716, c/n 558. Inaugurated the first scheduled trans-Pacific commercial flight on 22 November 1935. Crashed on approach at Port of Spain, Trindad & Tobago in January 1945.
Same aircraft in other movies at Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).

Reg. NC14716 Martin M-130 China Clipper of PAA-Pan American Airways.

Martin M-130

Registration NC14715, c/n 557. First flight in 1934. Crashed into a mountain near Ukiah (North San Francisco) in January 1943.
Same aircraft in other movies at Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).

Reg. NC14715 Martin M-130 Philippine Clipper of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

At Wake Island, Pacific Ocean.

Reg. NC14715 Martin M-130 Philippine Clipper of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Boeing 314 Clipper

Boeing 314 Clipper of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Registration NC18601, c/n 1988. Built in 1939. Landed in the Pacific Ocean after the loss of 2 of the 4 engines in flight in November 1945. The plane was damaged during the Navy's attempted tow and salvage. The aircraft was then sunk by US Navy gunfire.

Reg.NC18601 Boeing 314 Clipper Honolulu Clipper of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Interior description of a 'Flying Boat'.

Boeing 314 Clipper of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Boeing 314 Clipper

Registration NC18603, c/n 1990. First flight in 1939. Named Yankee Clipper. Inaugurated the first trans-Atlantic flight on 20th May 1939, Port-Washington, New-York, Horta, Lisbon, Marseilles. Crashed while attempting to land at Lisboa-Cabo Ruivo Seaplane Base in February 1943.

Reg.NC18603 Boeing 314 Clipper Yankee Clipper of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Boeing 314 Clipper

Registration NC18602, c/n 1989. First flight in 1939. Named California Clipper. Flew from Auckland to New York in 1941–1942. Renamed Pacific Clipper. Sold to World Airways after World War II and was scrapped in 1950.

Reg.NC18602 Boeing 314 Clipper California Clipper of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Boeing 314 Clipper

Several indeterminate views.

Boeing 314 Clipper of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Dangerous situation.

Boeing 314 Clipper of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

At LaGuardia Airport - Maritime Air Terminal .

Boeing 314 Clipper of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina

Pearl Harbour attack. Same aircraft in other movies at Frequently Seen Aircraft (Military Fixed-Wing).

Consolidated PBY-5 of the US Navy.

Boeing B-17C Flying Fortress

Pearl Harbour attack. S/N 40-2074. Same aircraft in other movies at Frequently Seen Aircraft (Military Fixed-Wing).

Reg.40-2074 Boeing B-17C-AAF Flying Fortress of the USAAF.

Boeing B-314

Five Boeing 314 Clipper were pressed into military service with the U.S. Navy, transfered as Boeing B-314 .

Boeing B-314 of US Navy/PAA.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress of the USAAF.

Boeing 307 Strato-Clipper

Registration NC19902, c/n 1995. First flight in 1939 as NX19902. Entered service with PAA-Pan American Airways System as NC19902 named Clipper Rainbow. Registered ZS-BWU, then HC-SJC-003 with Aerovias Ecuatorianas. Sold to Aigle Azur, based in French Indonesio registered F-BHHR. Transferred to Air Laos registered XW-TAC.

Reg.NC19902 Boeing 307 Strato-Clipper Clipper Rainbow of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Boeing 307 Strato-Clipper

Registration NC19910, c/n 2002. First flight in 1940. Entered service with PAA-Pan American Airways System named Clipper Comet. Sold to Aerovias Ecuatorianas registered HC 004. Went back to US as N75385.

Reg.NC19902 Boeing 307 Strato-Clipper Clipper Rainbow of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Boeing 307 Strato-Clipper

Registration NC19903, c/n 2003 built in 1940, registered NX19903. Entered service with PAA-Pan American Airways System as NC19903 named Clipper Flying Cloud (PAA's Boeing 307 were designated as Strato-Clipper instead of usual Stratoliner). Sold to Corps d'Aviation d'Garde d'Haiti (Haitian Air Force) in 1954, registered 2003. Transferred as civilian use to Compagnie Haïtienne de Transports Aériens (CoHaTA), re-registered ZS-BWV. Tipped for presidential plane but when new Haitian president François "Papa Doc" Duvalier came into power in 1957, he chose not to use it, and instead had the aircraft sold the same year. This aircraft returned to the U.S. and after briefly being registered as N9307R and N19903, is now restored and at the Smithsonian Museum as NC19903. Smithonian National Air and Space Museum.
Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).

Reg.NC19903 Boeing 307 Strato-Clipper Clipper Flying Cloud of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Smithonian National Air and Space Museum.
1 - Boeing 307 Strato-Clipper reg.NC19903 of PAA-Pan American Airways System.
2 - Unidentified aircraft.
3 - Mooney M-18C Mite reg.N3199K Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
4 - Arlington Sisu 1A reg.N1100Z Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
5 - Nelson BB-1 Dragonfly Reg.N34923 Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
6 - De Havilland Canada DHC-1A Chipmunk "Pennzoil Special" Reg. N13Y Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
7 - Unidentified aircraft.
8 - Stitts SA-2A Sky Baby Reg.N5K.

Reg.NC19903 Boeing 307 Strato-Clipper Clipper Flying Cloud of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

1 - Boeing 307 Strato-Clipper reg.NC19903 of PAA-Pan American Airways System.
2 - Mooney M-18C Mite reg.N3199K Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
3 - Arlington Sisu 1A reg.N1100Z Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
4 - Arrow Sport A2-60 reg.G-AARO (N9325 US registered) Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
5 - De Havilland Canada DHC-1A Chipmunk "Pennzoil Special" Reg. N13Y Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).
6 - Unidentified aircraft.
7 - Stitts SA-2A Sky Baby Reg.N5K.
8 - Bede BD-5B Reg.N234BD.

Reg.NC19903 Boeing 307 Strato-Clipper Clipper Flying Cloud of PAA-Pan American Airways System.

Douglas DC-3B

After WWII, Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) took toward the promotion of competition between major US carriers on key domestic and international scheduled routes compared with pre-war US aviation policy. TWA-Transcontinental & Western Air, soon rebranded Trans World Airline began operation routes to Europe.

Douglas DC-3B of TWA-Transcontinental & Western Air.

Douglas DC-3 Super B-Liner

With colours of Braniff International Airways, another competitor of PAA, on South American lines after war.

Douglas DC-3 Super B-Liner of Braniff International Airways.

Douglas DC-6

In the background, 2 Douglas DC-3 of American Airlines and another unidentified airline Douglas DC-6 in the far.

Douglas DC-4

Untitled.

Douglas DC-4.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

American Overseas Airlines launched international landplane flights on October 24, 1945, operating a Douglas C-54 Skymaster on the route New York City to London via Boston, Gander (Newfoundland) and Shannon (Ireland).

Douglas C-54 Skymaster of American Overseas Airlines.

Seen from New-York Idlewild Airport (JFK nowadays) traffic control tower.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster of American Overseas Airlines.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

Registration N88860, c/n 2060. Delivered to PAA-Pan American World Airways in May 1946, registered N88860 named Clipper Courier. Renamed later Clipper London. Transferred to Panair do Brasil in February 1947, registered PP-PCO. Re-registered PP-PCR in December 1947 named Bandeirante Domingos Barbosa Calheiros. Accidented in March 1962. Broken up in 1969.

Reg.N88860 Lockheed L-049 Constellation Clipper Courier of PAA-Pan American World Airways.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

At Flughafen Tempelhof during Berlin Airlift.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster of the USAF.

Douglas C-54G-5-DO Skymaster

Registration 45-0557, c/n 36010. Delivered new to the USAAF in 1945. Withdrawn from use in 1971. Preserved since at Flughafen Tempelhof.

Douglas C-54G-5-DO Skymaster of the USAF.

Douglas DC-6B

Registration N6533C, c/n 43533/264. Delivered new to PAA in September 1952. Registered N6533C, named Clipper Flying Arrow. Sold to FAP Força Aérea Portuguesa in April 1961, registered 6707. Wfu in July 1978.

Reg.N6533C Douglas DC-6B Clipper Flying Arrow of PAA-Pan American World Airways.

Advertising.

Douglas DC-6 of PAA-Pan American World Airways.

Douglas DC-6B

Registration N6117C, c/n 44117/461. Delivered new to PAA in April 1954. Registered N6117C, named Clipper De Soto. Later renamed Clipper Berlin. Sold to Loftleiðir-Icelandic Airlines in August 1961. Sold to Solastral Cabo de Hornos in July 1968, registered CC-CDH. Converted to Freighter DC-6BF, sold to Trans Global in June 1974. Purchased by Aeronica in April 1980, registered YN-BVI. Written off since.

Reg.N6117C Douglas DC-6B Clipper De Soto of PAA-Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 377 Stratocruiser

Untitled.

Boeing 377 Stratocruiser.

Model on J.T.Trippe's office.

Boeing 377 Stratocruiser.

Boeing 377-10-26 Stratocruiser

Boeing 377-10-26 Stratocruiser of PAA-Pan American World Airways.

Advert.

Boeing 377 Stratocruiser of PAA-Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 377-10-26 Stratocruiser

Registration N1028V, c/n 15928. Delivered new to PAA in March 1949. Sold to RANSA Rutas Aereas Nacionales in April 1961, registered YV-C-ERJ namded Andreina Maria. Brocken up in June 1969.

Reg.N1028V Boeing 377-10-26 Stratocruiser Clipper Flying Cloud of PAA-Pan American World Airways.

Douglas DC-7C Seven Seas

Registration N735PA, c/n 44877/677. Delivered new to PAA in May 1956. Registered N735PA, named Clipper Caroline. Converted to freighter, renamed Clipper Stargazer. Sold to Aeronaves Del Peru in 1956 as OB-R-936. Sold to FAP Força Aérea Portuguesa in April 1961. Wfu in July 1978.

Reg.N735PA Douglas DC-7C Seven Seas Clipper Caroline of PAA-Pan American World Airways.

De Havilland DH.106 Comet 3

Registration G-ANLO, c/n 06100. First flight 19 July 1954. A single aircraft of this variant was produced, flying testbed of the future and definitive Comet 4 version. This earlier photo shows an untitled livery, foreshadowing the future B.O.A.C livery.
Same aircraft seen in other movies - IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft.

Reg.G-ANLO De Havilland DH.106 Comet 3.

Boeing 367-80 Dash 80

Registration N70700, c/n 17158.
Same aircraft seen in other movies - IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft.

Reg.N70700 Boeing 367-80 Dash 80 of the Boeing Company.

Boeing 707-121 (model)

Boeing 707-121 of Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 707-121

Registration N707PA, c/n 17587/2. First flight in March 1958. Delivered new in December 1958 as first Boeing 707-121 to Pan American World Airways, registered N707PA named Jet Clipper Maria. Sold to Pan Ayer Corp. in January 1974, leased to Turkish Airlines, registered TC-JBA. Returned to Pan Ayer Corp. registered HP-551, then HP-780. Went back to USA as N707PA in August 1979. Stored at Miami International (KMIA/MIA), broken up in May 1988.
Same aircraft in other movies at IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft.

Reg.N707PA Boeing 707-121 Jet Clipper Maria of Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 707-321

Boeing 707-321 of Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 707-321B

Boeing 707-321B of Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 707 & Boeing 747-121

At Aéroport de Paris-Orly in the early 70s.

Boeing 707 and 747-121 of Pan Am-Pan American World Airways.

Unknown location.

Boeing 707 and 747-121 of Pan Am-Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 707-321B

Registration N415PA, c/n 18957/472. First flight in July 1966. Delivered new to Pan American World Airways the same month, registered N415PA named Clipper Monsoon. Sold to LAPSA in November 1978, registered ZP-CCF. Bought by Fuerza Aerea Paraguaya in June 1994, VIP conversion as presidential transport but not used, registered FAP-01. On display at Museo de la historia de Lineas Aéreas Paraguayas-Hotel Del Rancho. Registered 4001.

Reg.N415PA Boeing 707-321B Clipper Monsoon of Pan Am-Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 727-21

Pan Am's Internal German Services from Flughafen Tempelhof.

Boeing 727-21 of Pan Am-Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 727-21

Registration N327PA, c/n 19036/278. First flight in May 1966. Delivered new to Pan Am in June 1966, registered N327PA named Clipper Hannover. Renamed later Clipper Inca, Clipper Dusseldorf, Clipper Pocahontas, Clipper Berlin Express, Clipper Meteor. Lost on landing in 1980 at Juan Santa Maria International (MROC/SJO), San Jose Costa Rica.

Reg.N327PA Boeing 727-21 Clipper Hannover of Pan Am-Pan American World Airways.

Another one in the background.

Reg.N327PA Boeing 727-21 Clipper Hannover of Pan Am-Pan American World Airways.

Sikorsky S-61L

Sikorsky S-61L of New York Airways.

Sud Aviation-BAC Concorde (project model)

Will remain in the dream state for the CEO of Pan Am.

Sud Aviation-BAC Concorde.

Boeing 747-100

Boeing 747 title and colour sheet line prior to delivery to Pan Am.

Boeing 747-100.

Boeing 747-121

Boeing 747-121 of Pan Am-Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 747-121

Registration N733PA, c/n 19640/6. First flight in October 1969. Delivered new to Pan Am in January 1970. Registered N773PA named Clipper Young America. Renamed Clipper Constitution in 1974, then Clipper Washington in 1976, then Clipper Pride of the Sea in 1980, then Clipper Air Express in 1984, then Clipper Moscow Express in 1988. Sold to Trans Air Services, registered 5N-THG. Brocken up in December 1993 at San Bernardino International, CA (KSBD/SBD).
Another Pan Am's 747-121 in the background.

Reg.N733PA Boeing 747-121 Clipper Air Express of Pan Am-Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 747-121 of Pan Am-Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 747-121

Registration N742PA, c/n 19649/18. First flight in February 1970. Delivered to Pan Am in March 1970, registered N742PA named Clipper Rainbow. Renamed Clipper Neptune's Car in January 1992.

Reg.N742PA Boeing 747-121 Clipper Rainbow of Pan Am-Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 747-121

Registration N736PA, c/n 19643/11. First flight in December 1969. Delivered to Pan Am in January 1970, registered N736PA named Clipper Victor. Destroyed on the 27 March 1977 (Flight 1736) at Aeropuerto de Tenerife-Los Rodeos/Tenerife Los Rodeos Airport (TFN/GCXO) when colided with another KLM's 747 (PH-BUF) on runway in low visibility. 335 of 398 killed plus all 248 on KLM. Worst aviation disaster in history.
Same aircraft in other movies at IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft.

Reg.N736PA Boeing 747-121 Clipper Victor of Pan Am-Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 747-121

Registration N739PA, c/n 19646/15. First flight in January 1970. Delivered to Pan Am in February 1970. Registered N739PA named Clipper Morning Light. Renamed Clipper Maid of the Seas. Brought down by a bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988 (Flight 103), killing all 243 passengers, 16 crew, and 11 people on the ground. Same aircraft in other movies at IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft.

Reg. N739PA Boeing 747-121 Clipper Maid of the Seas of Pan Am-Pan American World Airways.

Boeing 747-121

Registration N740PA, c/n 19647/16. First flight in January 1970. Delivered to Pan Am in February 1970. Registered N740PA named Clipper Rival. Renamed Clipper Ocean Pearl with new BILLBOARD livery (1984-1991). Stored in December 1990. Purchased by GATX Leasing in October 1990, registered N493GX. Sold to Tower Air in July 1993, registered N613FF.