Talk:Pacific Clipper

Merging to Boeing 314

Merging this into a sub-section of the B314 article seems fair. Reverendlinux 19:17, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Un-merged. After three years, the section is far long enough to support its own article. Btw, there wwere still links in the Boeing 314 page to this article in a separate paragraph in the Operational history section. Sloppy merge by whoever did it. - BilCat (talk) 05:46, 22 November 2009 (UTC)

NC18602 was Capt Ford’s aircraft confirmed by a photo in the New York Times taken at LaGurdia upon its arrival. Jjluet (talk) 17:02, 11 June 2021 (UTC)

This Is Not the California Clipper re-named

The Pacific Clipper was only temporarily named California Clipper (before the world tour) while the original California Clipper was being moved to the Atlantic service. They are not the same planes. Different registration numbers. Tmangray (talk) 05:31, 4 February 2017 (UTC)

The included photo is indeed the California Clipper, but it is definitely not the Pacific Clipper. Photos of the actual Pacific Clipper that made the world tour described can be seen, with text, at the Smithsonian site: https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/december-7-1941-and-first-around-world-commercial-flight. Tmangray (talk) 06:11, 4 February 2017 (UTC)

Distance flown

The distance of "over 31,500 miles" is wrong, unless it includes the original scheduled flight from San Francisco. This link gives the total distance between the corresponding modern airports as 20,431 statute miles. I will change the text to "over 20,000 miles (32,000 km)". Verbcatcher (talk) 02:41, 11 September 2017 (UTC)

Furthermore, is it factually correct to claim that the plane circumnavigated the world if it only flew from San Francisco or Auckland to New York? An impressive feat surely, but not circumnavigation without the final leg from New York to San Francisco or Auckland. -87.92.56.154 (talk) 16:55, 19 August 2021 (UTC)

Since the claim is cited to a reliable published source, you need to cite a specific reliable published souw that specifically states tje claims.are.wrong. Anything else is Original Research. BilCat (talk) 19:47, 19 August 2021 (UTC)

That is incorrect. The source does not even once mention circumnavigation. -87.92.56.154 (talk) 19:54, 19 August 2021 (UTC)

I have cited a source that shows that the "over 31,500 miles" claim is wrong.[1] If this source is assessed to be unreliable then it should tagged as such or removed, and we may then decide to remove the claim sourced to it. We should not include claims that are demonstrably incorrect even if they are based on a usually-reliable source. Verbcatcher (talk) 23:30, 18 September 2021 (UTC)

History and registration number do not match

The article describes the background (excluding the flight) of NC-18609 (Pacific Clipper), whilst listing the registration as NC-18602 (California Clipper) Creeper4414 (talk) 12:21, 30 August 2021 (UTC)

It seems most evidence points to it being NC-18602, even in publications that call the aircraft "Pacific Clipper" Creeper4414 (talk) 12:24, 30 August 2021 (UTC)

Fixes

I have edited the entire page using Dover's book and have hopefully resolved all the issues. Concerns:

• There are various opinions about more than one aircraft being involved. I hope the "Aircraft identification" section solves the issue.
• Various web pages suggest the Pan Am had no idea where NC18602 was during its journey. Since Captain Ford coordinated with military officials and Pan Am base managers and was expected at various stops, these suggestions appear to be fluff. I would have said so in the article, but we don't do that.
• I've removed entries that did not apply to the aircraft and the flight.
• I think a better article title is indicated. "Round-the World" flight of Pan Am 18602, imho, fits best but I'm not yet at the point of renaming or even recommending renaming.
• The dialogue in Dover's book is reconstructed years after the events; I've opted to leave it out.
• Dover used made-up names for ground personnel; I omitted the names, including those of the mechanics, who may have been crew or passengers, depending one's point of view.

--Georgia Army Vet Contribs Talk 18:50, 13 June 2022 (UTC)

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-12-03-0012030260-story.html names Leach as Eugene, not Edward. Maybe a verification and correction is needed? Also mentions Hong Kong Clipper and Philippine Clipper. Sleeps-Darkly (talk) 02:28, 30 July 2022 (UTC)

I can't verify Leach's first name because I had borrowed the Dover book from a library in Florida via inter-library loan. Adding the other two clippers seems like a good idea; I'm working on phrasing since the news article conflicts with TWA's record that there were only two B314s in the Pacific. Maybe aircraft in port in the western reaches weren't considered "in the Pacific?" Guessing won't get us anywhere. Thanks.--Georgia Army Vet Contribs Talk 19:48, 30 July 2022 (UTC)

Page 74 of Dover's book has photocopy of a flight log showing two different aircraft numbers. N18606 from SFO to Honolulu, and then N18602 from Honolulu for the remainder of the journey. Andrewhiscane (talk) 22:28, 27 January 2024 (UTC)

@Sleeps-Darkly:, I added the ref to the other two clippers, which I don't think were B-314s. Please take a look and thanks again.Georgia Army Vet Contribs Talk 21:52, 31 July 2022 (UTC)

seems good, thanks! Sleeps-Darkly (talk) 00:53, 1 August 2022 (UTC)