MARTIN M-130 FLYING BOAT - CHINA CLIPPER

Historical Note:    Unbeatable museum quality best describes our handcrafted Martin M-130 model airplane. After passing through the hands of master craftsmen, the parts are sanded and primed many times. Talented artists then paint on the intricate details with great accuracy. A final coat of clear lacquer protects the Martin M-130 model and gives it a glossy finish. The Martin M-130 model airplane comes with a handsome mahogany-based chrome pedestal, and to ensure that it is ready for delivery, it undergoes various stages of quality control before being placed in its box. The Martin M-130 model airplane is perfect as an addition to a growing collection or as an exquisite gift to a loved one.

Scale:    1:92
W/S:      17.0    inches
Lgth:      11.5    inches

Item Number:    TMC-KM130                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Price:    $175.95

Quantity to Order:

 

Historical Note Cont'd:    Built by the Glenn L. Martin Company, the Martin 130 flying boat was the first true intercontinental airliner. It resulted from a request made in 1931 by Pan American Airways for seagoing airliners to fly the Atlantic. Only three flying boats were built: the China Clipper, the Philippine Clipper and the Hawaii Clipper, all of which were named after Pan Am's principal Pacific destinations. Both the first mail and first passenger runs were made by the China Clipper, thus its name became generic and was used by the public to refer to all three aircraft in the fleet.

The China Clipper was of all-metal construction with a two-step hull, the upper portions of which were covered in corrugated duralumin sheet. Sponsons were fitted to the hull sides at cabin floor level. These aerofoil-shaped surfaces not only helped stabilize the airplane while resting or maneuvering on the water, they also served as storage areas for nearly half of the M-130's 3,800 gallon fuel load. Despite its large size, the China Clipper gave a feeling of grace and style. Its central lounge was fitted with broad armchairs, and its meal service included china and silverware. The aircraft took its maiden flight on December 30, 1934.

On November 22, 1935, the China Clipper made the first transpacific airmail flight with 111,000 letters on board. It departed San Francisco and reached Manila via Honolulu, Midway Island, Wake Island and Guam. It first carried passengers on October 21, 1936, cruising at 150 miles per hour and having a range of 3,200 miles. The nine passengers on this flight each paid $1,438.20 for a round trip from San Francisco to Manila. The inauguration of ocean airmail service and commercial airflight across the Pacific was a significant event for the whole world. In 1936, a film called China Clipper was released. Starring Humphry Bogart and Pat O'Brian, it included a recreation of the first transpacific flight.