Martin M-130

M-130
Role Flying Boat
Manufacturer Glenn L. Martin Company
First flight December 30, 1934
Status retired
Primary user Pan American Airways
Number built 3


The Martin M-130 was a commercial flying boat designed and built in 1935 by the Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore, Maryland, for Pan American Airways. Three were built: the China Clipper, the Philippine Clipper and the Hawaii Clipper. A fourth flying boat (the M-156) called the Russian Clipper was built for the Soviet Union. It was similar to the M-130 but had a larger wing (giving it greater range) and twin vertical stabilizers.

Martin called them the Martin Ocean Transports, but to the public they were the "China Clippers", a name that became a generic term for Pan Am's large flying boats - the Martin M-130, Sikorsky S-42, and Boeing 314.[1]

Operational history

Cover flown on the "China Clipper" on the first commercial transpacific flight from Alameda, CA, to Manila, PI (FAM 14) November 22–29, 1935

Designed to meet Pan American Airways President Juan Trippe's desire for a trans-Pacific aircraft,[2] the M-130 was an all-metal flying boat with streamlined aerodynamics and powerful engines, selling at US$417,000 a copy, to achieve Pan Am's specified range and payload. First flight was December 30, 1934.[3] On November 22, 1935, the China Clipper, piloted by Captain Edwin C. Musick and First Officer R.O.D. Sullivan flew the first trans-Pacific airmail route.[1] As illustrated on this page, a postage stamp, Scott Catalog C-20, was printed for use on the transpacific service. With extended service two more denominations were later issued. All three have the same design showing the M-130 in flight.

Weekly passenger flights across the Pacific began in October 1936 when Hawaii Clipper left San Francisco for Manila, stopping overnight at Honolulu, Midway, Wake and Guam. An S-42 began flying Manila-Hong Kong in 1937 and the Martins replaced it in 1938.[1]

In July 1938 Hawaii Clipper disappeared between Guam and Manila with the loss of nine crew and six passengers. No cause was determined.[4]

Their range and capacity made them valuable for over ocean military flights during World War II. Beginning in 1942, the two remaining planes were pressed into transport roles for the United States Navy. The Philippine Clipper which survived the Japanese attack on Wake Island following the attack on Pearl Harbor[5] crashed in January 1943 between Ukiah and Boonville, California on a flight from Honolulu. ComSubPac Admiral Robert H. English and 18 others were killed.[6]

In January 1945 the last M-130, the China Clipper, left Miami on Pan Am's first scheduled flight to Leopoldville via Brazil. It broke up and sank during landing at Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on January 8, killing 23 of those on board [7]

Specifications (Martin M-130)

Data from

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development


Related lists

References

  1. 1 2 3 Flying Clippers undated, URL retrieved 19 August 2007
  2. ↑ Chasing the Sun at PBS.com undated, URL retrieved on 20 August 2007
  3. ↑ The Golden Age of Aviation undated, URL retrieved on 20 August 2007.
  4. ↑ Aviation Safety Network 10 October 2006, URL retrieved 19 August 2007
  5. ↑ Flying Clippers at War undated, URL retrieved on 20 August 2007
  6. ↑ Aviation Safety Network undated, URL retrieved on 20 August 2007.
  7. ↑ Accident Report at Aviation Safety Network October 23, 2006, URL retrieved on August 20, 2007
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