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All,
December 26, 1937 gave us a great example of the intersectionality of air travel and amateur radio. In this article Dec 1937: Clipper completes second flight to Auckland there is a fascinating recitation of the earliest flights to the South Pacific. Details include radio operators onboard the aircraft, the importance of ground stations and at the bottom of the page a lot of different entities associated with amateur radio have their own names attached.
In those days flying was perilous indeed. In fact, within a month the same Captain Musick was killed with all aboard when his aircraft crashed on a subsequent flight. High-octane fuel, radial engines, no weather radar and scant support tools made aviation in those days so much riskier than today. San Francisco to Auckland took 50 hours of flying on these early trips. In contrast to that, DFW to Auckland today, done on the Boeing 787 made by the same Boeing that made the Clippers used in this story; those daily flights travel the 7500 miles nonstop and take only 15-17 hours. Above most weather, with continuously updated and highly accurate weather information, the best onboard weather radar ever made and 100% reliable navigation and communication equipment; quite a difference. Oh, and only four pilots, not a whole team of people on the flight deck.
As we are wrapping up 2024 I was fascinated to read the article at the link above. I am senior enough to operate those flights and so Kathy and I are considering my move to that plane next year. We will see. And whether I do or not, I really thought the article would be of interest to all of you.
Enjoy,
Phillip Beall (W5EBC)
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