Airways

North Pacific

Inaugural Flight, Frisco to Manila

AN historic flight was made in the North Pacific at the end of Novem ber.

A large aeroplane operated by Pan American Airways left San Francisco on November 23, carrying two tons of mail matter, and flew direct to Honolulu, Hawaii, in 21 hours 20 minutes. It sub sequently continued the journey to Mid way Island, Wake Island, and Guam Island, where it arrived on November 27.

It flew the last 1537 miles from Wake to Guam in 10 hours 3 minutes. The aero plane left Guam on November 28 and flew, without incident, to Manila, Philip pine Islands.

This inaugural flight was carried out by a huge aeroplane weighing 25 tons, called the China Clipper, under the com mand of Captain Musick, Its departure from San Francisco was made the occa sion of a great public demonstration, in which it was emphasised that thus was marked the beginning of great aerial ser vices in the Pacific, including a service running southwards through the Central Pacific, from Honolulu to Auckland.

On the second section of the voyage to the Philippines (Honolulu to Manila) the ’plane carried 14 passengers, all em ployees of Pan American Airways.

It was announced about the same time that the Royal Dutch Air Line, which for years has been successfully operating a service between the East Indies and Europe, would commence a regular ser vice from Batavia (Java) to Manila (Philippines). This would connect with the new Pan American Airways service, and would make it possible for letters from the United States, using this route, to connect with the Imperial Airways’

London-Sydney service, to reach the principal cities in Australia in eight or nine days.

It was announced from Auckland on November 22 that the agreement between the New Zealand Government and Pan American Airways, providing for a ’Frisco-Auckland service, was to be signed on November 23. It stipulated a minimum of two return trips a month and a maximum of two trips a week. The service was to be commenced not later than the end of 1936. The agreement contains special provision for reciprocal use of landing stations on British and American territory by American and British aeroplanes.