Pan American B-314 Clipper Flights

 

 

Thanks to Bjorn Larsson of www.timetableimages.com   I have recently received copies of the 1939 Pan Am Clipper timetables below.   This new information will prove some of my conjectures regarding operations to be incorrect.

 

 

Flight#

From/To

ICAO

Est, Time

Distance

PA101

New York

Shediak NB

Botwood NF

Foynes Ireland

KLMT

CYSK

CYBW

EIFN

 

03:30

02:45

11:25

 

522nm

409nm

1733nm

 

 

Flight#

From/To

ICAO

Est, Time

Distance

PA102

Foynes Ireland

Botwood NF

Shediak NB

New York

EIFN

CYBW

CYSK

KLMT

 

11:25

02:45

03:30

 

1733nm

409nm

522nm

 

Bluegrass Virtual Airline Pilots report these flights to the Northern Division Director

 

This flight is best flown in the long days of summer.

 

Here is how I flew it.  Date was set to June 24th

 

LaGuardia Marine Air Terminal

NDB 752.0

Lv 08:00

Shediak New Brunswick

NDB 755.0

Ar12:30    3hrs 30min

Lv 13:30

Botwood, Newfoundland

NDB 756.0

Ar 16:15    2hrs 45min

Lv 18:15

Foynes, Ireland

NDB 757.0

Ar 09:40   11hrs 25min

 

 

The Clipper taxis across the Shannon River to the Foynes Ireland dock.

 

Foynes, Ireland

NDB 757.0

Lv 21:30

Botwood, Newfoundland

NDB 756.0

Ar 05:10    11hrs 40 min

Lv 07:10

Shediak, New Brunswick

NDB 755.0

Ar 09:55       2hrs 45 min

Lv 10:55

LaGuardia Marine Air Terminal

NDB 752.0

Ar 13:25       3hrs 30min

 

The following schedule and postcard images are from the collection of Craig Morris.

Check out some of the airline collectibles he has for sale at: www.thepostcard.com/craig

 

When I saw the schedule I asked him for information on the “Flying Ace”, which he supplied along with images of the postcards below.

 

The Flying Ace was a Vought Sikorsky VS-44 flying boat used Exclusively by American Export line(initial operator), Antilles Air Boats line, Avalon Air Transport. Basically: crew of 9, 26/50 passengers, 80ft long,28ft high,124ft wing span, gross wt. 58,000lbs, 4 Pratt&Whitney Twin Wasp Radials, range 3600 miles, 19,000ft ceiling, cruise 160mph, test flight 8/13/37, Initial operator/service 6/22/42 by AEA. They used PBYs in late 30's for survey flights to which I have 2 Real photo postcards--and 1 autographed by the entire crew. Really started contract govt. services 1/12/42, Govt. terminated services Jan 1945--they worked for ATC for a short time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To take off empty the auxillary tanks (otherwise the B-314 won’t budge)  When you get it moving you can fill the auxillary tanks, then reset the fuel status gauge.   Lift off at 85 knots then drop the nose to build up speed..  Climb at 40” of M.A.P. and establish your cruise at 30” M.A.P.   The Botwood-Foynes leg requires  some of the auxillary fuel, but the other legs can be flown with only the main tanks.  Cruising speed is 155-160 knots using about 205 Gallons Per Hour.

 

The westbound flight would have to leave Foynes at sunset, since with the time changes it would arrive before dawn if you left earlier. These flights were flown on June 24th. One of the longest days of the year.  On shorter days (longer nights) the westbound trip would be flown at a slower speed.  Also using real weather would help as you will normally have headwinds on the westbound leg.

 

The flights were flown using FSNAVigator which  plotted great circle routes.

 

In the winter the route was via Bermuda, Horta, Azores, and Lisbon.

 

Check out these links for some of the history of this route.

 

History of flying boats at Botwood Newfoundland

 

Foynes Ireland Flying Boat Museum

 

Flight#

From/To

ICAO

Est. Time

Distance

PA201

New York

Bermuda

Horta, Azores

Lisbon, Port.

KLMT

TXDI

LPHS

LLPT

 

4:30

11:30

06:02

 

670nm

1800nm

914nm

 

 

Flight#

From/To

ICAO

Est. Time

Distance

PA202

Lisbon, Port

Horta, Azores

Bermuda

New York

LLPT

 LPHS

TXDI

KLMT

 

06:00

11:30

4:30

 

914nm

1800nm

670nm

 

This flight can be at any time of year

 

Bluegrass pilots, report flights departing Bermuda to the Southern Division, flights

departing Lisbon, Horta and New York are reported to the Northern Division.

 

Here is how I flew it.  Date was set to December 24th

 

 

LaGuardia Marine Air Terminal

NDB 752.0

Lv 10:00

Darrell’s Island, Bermuda

(set clock 3hrs ahead before landing at Horta)*

NDB 760.0

Ar 15:30    4hrs 30min

Lv 17:00

Horta, Azores

NDB 758.0

Ar 09:09    13hrs 9min *

Lv 10:30

Lisbon, Portugal

NDB 320.0

Ar 17:32      6hrs 2min

 

 

 

Lisbon, Portugal

NDB 320.0

Lv  11:00

Horta, Azores

(set clock 3 hrs behind before landing at Bermuda) *

NDB 758.0

Ar  15:55  5hrs 55min

Lv  17:30

Darrell’s Island, Bermuda

NDB 760.0

Ar  07:40   17hrs 10min*

Lv  10:30

LaGuardia Marine Air Terminal

NDB 752.0

Ar  13:55  4hrs 25min

 

 

 

A Clipper arrives at Horta, Azores from Lisbon, Portugal

 

 

Flight#

From/To

ICAO

Est. Time

Distance

PA301

Lisbon, Portugal

Bolama, G-B Africa

LLSB

GGBA

 

10:30

 

1651nm

 

 

Flight#

From/To

ICAO

Est. Time

Distance

PA302

Bolama G-B Africa

Lisbon, Portuga

GGBA

LLSB

 

10:30

 

1651nm

 

 

Flights departing Lisbon are reported to the Northern Division, 

all other flights listed below are reported to the Southern Division.

 

I flew the southbound leg with the date set to Dec. 25th (one of the shortest days of the year)

 

 

Lisbon, Portugal

NDB 320.0

Lv 08:00

Bolama, G-B Africa

NDB 759.0

Ar 1730

 

Take off was made shortly after sunrise and the landing was shortly before sunset.

I gained an hour enroute with a time zone change.  Flight was made at 159 knots.

 

 

Bolama, G-B Africa

NDB 759.0

Lv 17:30

Lisbon, Portugal

NDB 320.0

Ar 08:00

 

The northbound trip on the shorter days of the year would have to be flown

at slower speeds so that takeoff and landing could be accomplished in daylight.

In the example above the target ground speed would be 122 knots or less.

On the longer days of the year, perhaps March to mid October it could be flown in daylight, and

the logistics of scheduling the flight for daylight departures and arrivals would be much simpler.

 

Flight#

From/To

ICAO

Est. Time

Distance

303

Bolama, G-B

Fisherman’s Lake, Liberia

GGBA

GLFL

 

2:35

 

380nm

 

Flight#

From/To

ICAO

Est. Time

Distance

304

Fisherman’s Lake, Liberia Bolama, G-B

GLFL

GGBA

 

2:35

 

380nm

 

 

Bolama, G-B

NDB 759.0

Lv  08:00

Fisherman’s Lake, Liberia

NDB 753.0 (approach 320.0)

Ar  11:35  (time zone change)

 

PanAm installed an NDB at the eastern edge of Fisherman’s Lake to aid in Zero/Zero Landings.   Approach over NDB 320.0 then fly direct to NDB 759.0 at a heading of 309 degrees.  Distance is 8.9 nm

 

Fisherman’s Lake, Liberia

NDB 753.0

Lv  14:00

Bolama, G-B

NDB 759.0

Ar  15:35  (time zone change)

 

Visit the B-314 Clipper.com  site for more clipper history.

Read the anecdotes submitted by retireed PanAm employees.

 

Flight#

From/To

ICAO

Est. Time

Distance

401

Miami, FL

Port of Spain, Trinidad

Belem, Brazil

Natal, Brazil

KDIN

TTPM

SBBS

SBNM

 

08:55

  06:50*

05:20

 

1396nm

1062nm

837nm

 

Flight#

From/To

ICAO

Est. Time

Distance

402

Natal, Brazil

Belem, Brazil

Port of Spain, Trinidad

Miami, FL

SBNM

SBBS

TTPM

KDIN

 

5:20

06:50*

08:55

 

837nm

1062nm

1396nm

 

There is 1 hour time glitch with FS2002 between Port of Spain and Belem.  I flew it in 5:47 which is impossible as I was cruising at 158knots  The FS2002 log shows 6.8 hours but the GMT clock showed 5:47.  So before landing at Belem adjust the clock forward 1 hour, and adjust backward one hour before landing at Port of Spain on the northwest bound leg.

There is a time difference of 1 hour between Belem and Natal, Brazil

 

 

Miami, FL

NDB 750.0

Lv  07:00

Port of Spain, Trindad

 

NDB 320.0

Ar  16:53

Lv  07:00

Belem, Brazil

 

NDB 320.0

Ar  14:47

Lv  08:00

Natal, Brazil

NDB 754.0

Ar  14:20

 

Natal, Brazil

NDB 754.0

Lv  06:30

Belem, Brazil

 

NDB 320.0

Ar 10:50

Lv  11:50

Port of Spain, Trindad

 

NDB 320.0

Ar  17:37

Lv  08:00

Miami, FL

NDB 750.0

Ar  15:53

 

 

Flight#

From/To

ICAO

Est. Time

Distance

403

Belem, Brazil

Bolama, G-B

SBBS

GBBA

 

13:42

 

2119nm

 

Flight#

From/To

ICAO

Est. Time

Distance

404

Bolama, G-B

Belem, Brazil

GBBA

SBBS

 

13:42

 

2119nm

 

Belem, Brazil

NDB 320.0

Lv  18:00

Bolama, G-B

NDB 759.0

Ar  11:16  (time zone change)

 

Eastbound flight flown with real weather (15 knot headwinds)  155 kts Time zone changes +2 hours.

 

 

Bolama, G-B

NDB 759.0

Lv  06:00

Belem Brazil

NDB 320.0

Ar  17:28  (time zone change)

 

Westbound flight flown with zero winds  (-2 hour time change) 159kts

 

Flight#

From/To

ICAO

Est. Time

Distance

405

Natal, Brazil

Fisherman’s Lake, Liberia

SBNM

GLFL

 

10:20

 

1617nm

 

Flight#

From/To

ICAO

Est. Time

Distance

406

Fisherman’s Lake, Liberia

Natal, Brazil

GLFL

SBNM

 

10:20

 

1617nm

 

Natal, Brazil

NDB 320.0

Lv  18:20

Fisherman’s Lake, Liberia

NDB 759.0

Ar  07:18 

 

 

Fisherman’s Lake, Liberia

NDB 759.0

Lv  07:00

Natal, Brazil

NDB 320.0

Ar  16:10 

 

Flown with Real Weather winds at mid point were 120/10

Fisherman’s Lake GMT, Natal GMT-2

 

 

 

 

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