Pan Am China Clipper, the very first transpacific flight to Manila

Aviation history in the Philippines began as early as the 1920s; however, it was in the 1930s when the first transpacific flight happened, not by Philippine Airlines, but by Pan American Airlines, or Pan Am. A Martin M130 named “China Clipper” by Pan Am became the first transpacific flight from the United States to Manila. This is perhaps the very first international long haul passenger flight to ever arrive in Manila.

Before I talk about this historic arrival in Manila, allow me to share a little about the Martin M130 flying boat, the plane designated as the “China Clipper” by Pan Am.

Martin M130 “China Clipper”

The Pan American Airways China Clipper, commonly known as the Martin M-130, was a large flying boat that flew during the 1930s. The plane was particularly developed for transpacific travel, and it took off on November 20, 1935.

With a range of 2,400 miles and a peak speed of roughly 150 mph, the China Clipper was a breakthrough aircraft at the time. It was also outfitted with cutting-edge navigation and communication systems, making it one of the most sophisticated aircraft of its day.

• Crew: six-nine (Captain, First Officer, Junior Flight Officer, Engineering Officer, Assistant Engineering Officer, Radio Operator, Navigation Officer, plus cabin stewards)
• Capacity: 36 day, 18 night passengers
• Length: 90 ft 10.5 in (27.7 m)
• Wingspan: 130 ft 0 in (39.7 m)
• Height: 24 ft 7 in (7.5 m)
• Max takeoff weight: 52,252 lb (23,701 kg)
• Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S2A5G Twin Wasp 14-cylinder radial engines, 830 hp each later 950 hp with hydromatic propellers
• Maximum speed: 180 mph (290 km/h, 160 kn)
• Cruise speed: 130 mph (209 km/h, 110 kn)
• Range: 3,200 mi (5,150 km, 2,800 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,048 m)

The aircraft was also designed to be able to take off and land on water, and it was equipped with retractable landing gear for this purpose.

The Pan Am China Clipper arriving in Manila

The China Clipper conducted its historic maiden flight from Alameda, California, to Manila, Philippines, on November 22, 1935. Captain Edwin Musick flew the voyage, which was the first commercial trans-Pacific journey by an airplane. The flight took more than 36 hours, including stops in Honolulu, Midway Island, Wake Island, and Guam before arriving in Manila.

The China Clipper’s arrival in Manila was a big occasion that was received with considerable enthusiasm and hoopla. The Philippine President, Manuel L. Quezon, was among the dignitaries there to greet the plane and its passengers. A sizable audience came to see this historic occasion welcomed the China Clipper as well.

The landing of the China Clipper in Manila signaled the start of a new era in air travel, paving the way for the growth of commercial air travel across the Pacific. The aircraft’s performance prompted Pan American Airways to expand its Pacific route network, and it also motivated other airlines to launch their own trans-Pacific flights.

However, the China Clipper period was short-lived, since the Pacific War and the development of long-range land aircraft rendered the flying boat obsolete. Nonetheless, the China Clipper and its groundbreaking voyage to Manila will be recognized as a watershed event in aviation history.

In 1946, Philippine Air Lines, now Philippine Airlines (PAL) launched its first transpacific flight from Manila to Oakland California, making it the first Asian airline to cross the Pacific ocean.