• PAHF HOME
  • ABOUT THE PAN AM ERAS
  • TAKE OFF
  • EXPLORATIONS
  • WORLD WAR TWO
  • POST WAR PAN AM
  • INTO THE JET AGE
  • THE WORLD'S AIRLINE

ERA | PAN AM TAKE-OFF

TAKE OFF Pan Am Fokker land plane Take Off Era

Viking Trail Blog Pic

Pan Am's Arctic explorations: Following the Viking Trail - Newfoundland to Greenland to Iceland. Then on to Europe, Africa, South America and home again.

Read more: The Viking Trail

NYRBA worker atop Sikorsky S-38

The "Pernambuco," a Sikorsky S-38 flying for New York Rio Buenos Aires (NYRBA) became a Pan Am plane when NYRBA was absorbed by Pan Am.

Read more: The "Pernambuco"

First Flight 10 19 27 blog

Preparations, anticipation, and deadlines: Pan Am's very first flight with Cy Caldwell piloting the La Nina, October 19, 1927 from Key West to Havana, Cuba.

Read more: Pan Am's Big Day

Pan Am S-43 take off

A View from Ketchikan: Pacific Alaska Airways, subsidiary of Pan American Airways, based on an article by Dave Kiffer (2006).

Read more: A View from Ketchikan

Pan Am's Meacham Field Key West, FL, from the John Johnson Collection

Influential figures in the Pan Am's incorporation March 14, 1927: Investors and military officers who had concerns for the safety of the Panama Canal.

Read more: PAA Incorporates

Pan Am's First Crash in 1928. Fokker F-7 on Mail Route from Key West to Havana, Cuba

The 1928 loss of a passenger during the crash of Fokker "General Machado" from Havana to Key West marked the start of Pan Am's radio navigation. PDF

Read more: Pan Am's First Crash

New PanAm Airport w crowd blogpic

January 9, 1929. The day that marked the beginning of Pan American’s coordinated route system, which would grow exponentially in years to come.

Read more: A Day to Remember

Ford lands w llamas

The Battle for South American routes: Pan American Airways and the New York, Rio and Buenos Aires (NYRBA) line, in 1930.

Read more: Battle for So. America

Pan Am S40 at Dinner Key blogpic

Pan Am's very first named Clipper, Sikorsky S-40 flying boat "American Clipper," shows Pan Am seaplane base personnel at Dinner Key, Miami, 1931.

Read more: The Very 1st "Clipper"

Compilation Key West Photo (PAHF) & Key West Citizen,  October 1927 Courtesy of the Monroe County Public Library

Pan Am’s Cornerstone Moment: October 28, 1927, the day that was the true start of Pan American Airways, as a scheduled airline.

Read more: First Schedule

Ralph-Oneills-Magic-Carpet-blog

Ralph O'Neill's Magic Carpet: The Once and Future Commodore by Doug Miller.The story of Pan Am's Consolidated Commodores. PDF.

Read more: O'Neill's Magic Carpet

Pan Am Sikorsky S-40 American Clipper

Pan Am's Clipper Debut. Sikorsky S-40 “American Clipper" was the very first to be named a Clipper, delivered to Pan Am in October 1931.

Read more: Clipper Debut

Preflight conference Eyes on the Sky by Eric Hobson

1929, A challenge to archeologists: On PAA's first mail flight over the Yucatan, Lindbergh saw  pyramids jutting through dense, unmapped jungles PDF.

Read more: Eyes in the Sky

Page 2 of 2

  • 1
  • 2
To Top

JOIN US
Join Us Pan Am 747 with Greyhound Bus size comparison courtesy AeroArt International Blog

SITE MAP
Sitemap for PanAm.org

EXHIBITS
"Clipper Hall" - PAHF's New Digital Library Platform, named in honor of Althea (Gerry) Lister, Pan Am's Historian


 
Media, History inquiries & Collection Donations
panamweb@gmail.com
 
 with Paypal

 
 
PanAm.org Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

 
Join Us at PAHF
Membership Inquiries
pahfmemberships@panam.org
 
 
© 2025 Pan Am Historical Foundation
Guidestar