Customer Reviews

Wings to the Orient: Pan American Clipper Planes, 1935-1945 : A Pictorial History

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is one of the finest collections on information regarding Pan-Am's famous flying boats. Loaded with old photos, classic ads, maps and much more, this book details the building of the reknown yet short lived Pacific air route. I read it from cover to cover in two days and enjoyed every page of it.

Cohen's book is among the better works to document the short but exciting history of Pan American's pacific clipper operations, providing insight into the pilots and aircraft that flew it and the route they took. My few complaints were with the relative dirth of information following the outbreak of World War II, some speculative accounts which have been correctly described in other books, and a lack of color photos. Still, for the price it is a most valuable addition to anyone's aviation library.

Stan Cohen's book is a wonderful pictorial exploration of the commercial aviation conquest of the Pacific. I found the discussion of the North Haven Expedition and the Pacific Clipper base construction most interesting. Cohen shows pictures of their heyday and as the looked when he researched the book. Cohen also has some photos of the China Clipper I had not seen previously. If you are a Pan Am Clipper history buff - this is a must have book.

Jamie Dodson, Author
[...]

For the lay person who doesn't understand aeronautical engineering, but thinks the Clippers were possibly the coolest thing in the world, this is a great book to have around. The pictures are excellent, there's enough--not too much--technical info to make it interesting and it's a concise introduction to this phase of history.

Roy Allen's wonderful book explores how seven years after Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic solo; Pan American Airlines opened Trans-Pacific airline service. It was a feat as unimaginable as flying to the moon. America, in the depths of the Great Depression, was short of heroes. But, Juan Trippe, an enterprising man with a vision, provided hope to so many, when hope was hard to find. Allen details the pilots, crews, and flying boats that made this epic conquest a reality. From the voyage of S.S North Haven, the tramp steamer that provided transport to the island base construction crew, to the first flight of the legendary China Clipper, Allen explores every aspect of this magnificent achievement. Roy Allen's book is a must have for the Clipper Wing Nut, or anyone interested in the Golden Age of Aviation.

Jamie Dodson, Author of
Flying Boats & Spies
and
China Clipper, a Nick Grant Adventure

Thank you for this historically accurate protrayal of the airplane, the Martin 130; and the organization ( Pan American Airways ) that opened the Pacific to international aviation! Stan Cohen's great book is an amazing historic achievement!

The book is a readable and well illustrated comprehensive record of the history of Pan American Airlines and the man who founded it. The research by the author was an in depth study of the origin of one of the great airlines of our time and is a delight to read. I highly recommend the book to anyone above the age of twelve years interested in aviation and its pioneers.