by Helwing Villamizar | Airways Magazine

On December 30, 1934, the first Pan American Airways Martin M-130, an all-metal, trans-Pacific flying boat, performed its maiden flight.

The Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore, Maryland, designed and constructed the M-130 commercial flying boat for Pan American in 1935. Three examples of the M-130 were built: the China Clipper, the Philippine Clipper, and the Hawaii Clipper.

On November 22, 1935, the China Clipper flew the first trans-Pacific airmail route The flight was piloted by Captain Edwin C. Musick and First Officer R.O.D. Sullivan A postmark, Scott Catalog C-20, was printed for use on the Transpacific Service Two more denominations were later issued with the expanded operation, all featuring the same configuration as the M-130 in flight. [More]

By 1945, all three Martin M-130 Clippers had encountered crashes, bringing an end to their operational history.

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