Pan Am Story Double Decked Strato Clipper 377 DVD

Description

This Pan Am Story Double Decked Strato Clipper DVD contains two films from the 1950s that cover the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser also known as the Pan Am Double Decked Strato Clipper.

Film #1 - Pan Am Story - chronicles the accomplishments and progress of Pan American Airways in long-range over ocean flying. We start in 1928 with Fokker F7 tri-engine airplanes being flown out of Miami to South American destinations. Then Sikorsky S-38 amphibious flying boats are used followed by the S-40 flying boat.

The next challenge is the Pacific which no airline to date has dared tackle due to the very long distances involved. In Nov 1935, the Martin M-130 China Clipper conquers the Pacific with the first regularly scheduled passenger service from the United States mainland to the Far East.

The Atlantic is the next challenge that is conquered using the Boeing B-314 flying boat. New York to Lisbon, Portugal in 26 hours.

Then World War II. Pan Am flying boats and land-based aircraft are pressed into service to supply bases all over the world. Pan Am also trains many military pilots in long range ocean flying.

With WWII over, people wanted to travel to other countries. Pan Am is there with aircraft such as the Lockheed Constellation. In 1947, the Clipper America Constellation made a record-breaking around the world passenger flight in 13 days.

Other propeller aircraft such as the Douglas DC-4, DC-6, and DC-7 are added to Pan Am's inventory after the war. The double-deck Stratocruiser was the culmination and New York to London was flown in 12 hours.

Pan Am ushered in the Jet Age in October 1958 as the first airline to use Boeing 707s. New York to Paris was now 8 hours. By the summer of 1965, Pan Am is making 258 trans-Atlantic flights per week.

In 1970 came the introduction of the Boeing 747 and in 1976 the B-747 SP (special performance) model that enabled non-stop flights from New York to Tokyo.

Total run time for Pan Am Story is about 13 minutes in B&W and color.

Film #2 - Double Decked Strato Clipper - The film begins with the rollout and taxing of the Pan Am Double-Decked Strato Clipper (Boeing 377 Stratocruiser). We see luggage and food service items being loaded aboard the Clipper. The engines start, the Clipper taxis, and then takes off.

There is a flashback summary of Pan American firsts, accomplishments, and aircraft. In 1927, the 3-engine Fokker F7 followed by the Sikorsky flying boats. Then, in the 1930s, the Martin M-130 China Clipper and B-314 flying boats conquer the Pacific.

We then see the construction of the Boeing Stratocruiser (Strato Clipper) which is based on large WWII bombers such as the B-17 and B-29. Wind tunnel tests are performed to prove out the design. Landing gear and other aircraft parts are shown being tested to confirm reliable operation.

The first Stratocruiser test flight was performed in 1947 and we see cockpit views as well as testing and instrumentation aboard the aircraft.

Back to the present day Strato Clipper journey. We see views of the galley as well as dinner time aboard the Clipper. We see the lower deck lounge/bar that is accessed by a stairway. Then, we see the sleeping berths and dressing rooms. Views of the flight deck, pilots and engineer are then shown.

Total run time for Double Decked Stratoclipper is about 25 minutes in color.

In NTSC DVD format and region-free with a total run time of 38 minutes. Please note that because of the age and rarity of these films, quality can vary. Packaged in a clear plastic C-Shell case without paper graphics.