Cover of 1941 issue of New Horizons magazine depicting the iconic painting by Gordon Grant entitled "Yankee Clippers Sail Again"

The term “Clipper” evokes images of Pan Am’s iconic aircraft. But how did they derive their famous moniker? Founder Juan Trippe came from a family that made its fortune from the clipper sailing ships of the nineteenth century, and he noticed many parallels between the sailing steamships of olden days and the modern flying boats of the 1930s. In his mind, the flying boats were essentially modern versions of fast sailing ships, a notion portrayed in Pan Am artwork over the years.

Just as every steamship had a name, so too would Pan Am’s planes. Trippe believed it would encourage people to fly aboard his aircraft and he used this as a marketing ploy. Beginning with the American Clipper in 1931, all Pan Am aircraft would subsequently bear the Clipper name, ultimately leading the company to trademark its use. Many of the early aircraft had names associated with exotic destinations, such as the Honolulu Clipper. Eventually, Pan Am’s fleet became so large and diverse that it devised naming themes according to aircraft type. For example, all Boeing 747s were named after seas or oceans, while the Boeing 747SPs had patriotic names, such as Clipper Constitution.

Artistic sketch of a Martin M-130 flying boat flown by Pan American Airways

Few aircraft have occupied the imagination of the American public more than Pan Am’s early Clippers. Even today, these flying boats continue to evoke a sense of romance and mystery. Pan Am’s long-range seaplanes made transoceanic commercial aviation possible, and due to their pioneering achievements and exotic allure, they were a constant source of public discourse and media fanfare.

The sketch at right depicts a Martin M-130, of which Pan Am owned three: the China Clipper, the Philippine Clipper, and the Hawaiian Clipper. In November 1935, the China Clipper flew the first transpacific airmail route. The Hawaiian Clipper followed with the first transpacific passenger flight in October 1936, flying from San Francisco to Manila, with stops in Honolulu, Midway Island, Wake Island, and Guam.  Pan Am also used Sikorsky S-38 and S-42 flying boats primarily on its Latin American routes.

Artistic illustration of the Boeing 747 flown by Pan American Airways

The 747 Superjet - Ushering in the Global Era

By the late 1960s, airports grew increasingly congested as air travel became more accessible. Always one to stay ahead of the curve, Juan Trippe approached Boeing about building even bigger aircraft, which he believed would alleviate congestion and allow Pan Am to retain a competitive edge. The result was the iconic Boeing 747, the world’s first “jumbo jet,” which was a milestone in aviation history. Pan Am’s first 747 went into service in 1970 and newer variants are still in use today.

Cover of brochure entitled "Wealth of the Other Americas", 1945

Given its geographic location, Miami quickly became the "Gateway to the Americas" for Pan Am, serving as the launch point for its operations and many of its early flights to the Caribbean and Latin America. The region was a hotbed of commercial aviation during the 1930s as Germany, France, the United States, and others sought to expand their political and economic influence in the region. From there, Pan Am began to branch out, establishing a network of routes that eventually spanned the globe.

In addition to Miami, three other U.S. cities served as Pan Am’s primary gateways to the world: New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle. Even today, the company’s lasting legacy can be felt in these locations and others throughout the world.

Click on these locations on the map below to study how Pan Am left its mark on the world.