Pan Am Clippers - the Golden Age of Flying Boats

John's painting "Musick's Trippe to Paradise", is featured in the new book by noted aviation author and historian Jim Trautman. Mr. Trautman wrote about his book, why he decided to write it, and why he wanted to add the painting to the book. The book is extremely well done, with lots of historical information and photographs of the Pan American Clippers. Be sure to look for "Pan American Clippers - The Golden Age of Flying Boats" by James Trautman the next time you go to the bookstore.

For a world coming out of economic depression in the 1930's, the Pan American Airways Clipper "flying boats" symbolized elegance and luxury, adventure and romance. The book illustrated with rare period photographs, vintage travel posters, magazine ads, and colorful 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, providing mail delivery between countries, 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. It contains 300 photographs including 200 color images many never before published. 272 pages. James Trautman is a regular contributor to North American magazines, newspapers and television. He lives in Southern Ontario.

The idea for the Pan American Clippers began with my life long love of aviation and the pioneers that took the massive risks in the early years. My early years were spent in the Pioneer Homes Housing Project in Elizabeth, New Jersey, which was located on the edge of the runways to Newark Airport. Living on the top floor I would watch the DC-3's in their final landing approach or early stages of takeoff. At night the planes were so low and close the silhouette of the passengers could be seen inside the aircraft through the lighted windows.

In doing my research for the book I visited hundreds of aviation websites, Pan Am archives at the University of Miami and San Francisco. As soon as I saw John's painting of Musick's Trippe to Paradise commemorating the first Pan Am Clipper flight from San Francisco to Hawaii and eventually the Philippines I knew it had to be included in the book. It not only jumped out at me, but was exactly what the book was focused on. The beauty of the Martin 130 caught in flight with the interior lights on and island in the distance. It reminded me of the many nights I spent watching the aircraft come into Newark Airport. Of times gone into the mists of time that should be remembered. One could almost hear the sound of the four engines and the chatter of the crew and passengers.

In several phone conversations with John I noticed like myself a fellow aviation lover of the beauty of the aircraft, flight and the men and women that were such a large part of aviation history.