Boeing 314: Electric version of the Famed Yankee Clipper
The 314 was preceded in Pan Am's overseas service by the Martin 130, which entered service in October 1935. NC 14716, the legendary China Clipper, crossed the Pacific Ocean November 11, 1935 and is remembered as the airplane that started the long over-water flights to Hawaii, Midway, Wake, Guam, and Manila. The quest for greater payload and increased range led to the huge advances from the Sikorsky S-42 to the Martin 130 to the Boeing 314. All had sensational performance for their time-far outperforming all other designs. Aircraft performance and safety took a large step forward in 1934 with the advent of variable-pitch propellers, which measurably aided range and payload. A second advancement
