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Posted: 5/12/2018 8:41:33 AM EDT
[#1]
Great read.
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Posted: 5/12/2018 9:05:36 AM EDT
[#2]
Quote History |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 9:13:54 AM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Cool story, thanks. You might be interested in the war time Perth to Sri Lanka/Karachi flights in Qantas operated Catalinas. Flew a 4,000 mile, 33 hour long leg at a blistering 120 mph that crossed Japanese held territory, so radio navigation would have been suicide. Planes were so overloaded with fuel that all they could carry each trip was a mail bag and 3 passengers. They flew it weekly or better for a couple years. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 9:26:07 AM EDT
[#4]
The pilot, Bob Ford, was a surfer, 80 years ago. These guys were amazing.
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Posted: 5/12/2018 9:28:23 AM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That would make an awesome movie. Why can't Hollywood do that one instead of fucking around with classics like Ghostbusters?  After that, there wouldn't be much time left for the airplane stuff. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 9:35:51 AM EDT
[#6]
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Posted: 5/12/2018 9:40:58 AM EDT
[#7]
 The Harrowing Journey of a Pacific Clipper |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 9:59:09 AM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Not sure what model but there is still a couple of the flying boats of this era doing forest fire fighting work out on the west coast . Super Scooper |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 10:02:32 AM EDT
[#9]
Great story.
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Posted: 5/12/2018 10:04:38 AM EDT
[#10]
It’s really impossible to understate the impact of Pan Am and TWA on making modern travel and modern all weather long range air operations possible.
The military and federal government had far less to do with it than a bunch of guys wondering if it was possible and trying it. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 10:35:09 AM EDT
[#11]
That's a great story and a heck of an accomplishment. Thanks for posting.
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Posted: 5/12/2018 11:02:14 AM EDT
[#12]
I had my wife read this before breakfast and now she's super pissed off that nobody has made a movie about this.
What an amazing story that nobody has ever heard of. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 11:07:43 AM EDT
[#13]
OST
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Posted: 5/12/2018 11:21:26 AM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Sounds like you're thinking of the 'Super Scooper'... those are current production amphibs designed to skim over water in flight to refill the water tanks. Super Scooper Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Not sure what model but there is still a couple of the flying boats of this era doing forest fire fighting work out on the west coast . Super Scooper ETA: Ever since discovering them in the "Black Cats" mission of CoD:WaW the PBY has been one of my favorite planes. One of these days I'll get a chance to see one up close. I'd love to get inside one (or any WW2 original-configuration bomber, for that matter) but that seems unlikely. I saw a (pretty torn up) PBY in person years ago, but only from a distance at NAS Whidbey Island while visiting a friend who wrenched on Prowlers up there. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 11:59:20 AM EDT
[#15]
I never heard that one. Thanks OP
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Posted: 5/12/2018 12:18:00 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
There are still WW2 PBY Catalina planes used for firefighting all over the US ETA: Ever since discovering them in the "Black Cats" mission of CoD:WaW the PBY has been one of my favorite planes. One of these days I'll get a chance to see one up close. I'd love to get inside one (or any WW2 original-configuration bomber, for that matter) but that seems unlikely. I saw a (pretty torn up) PBY in person years ago, but only from a distance at NAS Whidbey Island while visiting a friend who wrenched on Prowlers up there. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 12:21:03 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
There are still WW2 PBY Catalina planes used for firefighting all over the US ETA: Ever since discovering them in the "Black Cats" mission of CoD:WaW the PBY has been one of my favorite planes. One of these days I'll get a chance to see one up close. I'd love to get inside one (or any WW2 original-configuration bomber, for that matter) but that seems unlikely. I saw a (pretty torn up) PBY in person years ago, but only from a distance at NAS Whidbey Island while visiting a friend who wrenched on Prowlers up there. http://militaryaviationmuseum.org/aircraft/wwii-aircraft/ @CFletch |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 12:31:06 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
If you are ever in SE VA the Military Aviaton Museum in Va Beach has an operational PBY in its collection. http://militaryaviationmuseum.org/aircraft/wwii-aircraft/ @CFletch Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
There are still WW2 PBY Catalina planes used for firefighting all over the US ETA: Ever since discovering them in the "Black Cats" mission of CoD:WaW the PBY has been one of my favorite planes. One of these days I'll get a chance to see one up close. I'd love to get inside one (or any WW2 original-configuration bomber, for that matter) but that seems unlikely. I saw a (pretty torn up) PBY in person years ago, but only from a distance at NAS Whidbey Island while visiting a friend who wrenched on Prowlers up there. http://militaryaviationmuseum.org/aircraft/wwii-aircraft/ @CFletch |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 12:38:49 PM EDT
[#19]
Great story....thanks for posting it....
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Posted: 5/12/2018 12:40:59 PM EDT
[#20]
Best link of the year so far.
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Posted: 5/12/2018 12:43:14 PM EDT
[#21]
That was a great read and should definitely made into a movie!
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Posted: 5/12/2018 12:54:46 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That was great. A plane so overloaded with fuel that the fucking wings bent enough to jam the mechanisms controlling the flaps, and then subsequently having to surf the damn plane through a canyon with rapids below, all in an effort to finally take off. Jesus. I’d be interested to read about what these planes did during WW2. So many stories are just lost, forgotten, or hidden from our own histories. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 1:20:14 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
there are few in civilian collectors hands that fly around still. I think one or two of them still do rides just like the bombers do. eta: Does anyone know of the Philippine MARS ever got to Pensacola or is its move still being held up by Canada?  Martin Mars Water Bomber Demo - Richmond, B.C.  Philippine Mars US Navy Museum Restoration  Martin Mars Time Lapse Video Launching July 11,2016  Martin (Philippine) Mars bomber back on water 8/31 2015  The Philippine Mars All Four Engines Running From The Cockpit The Sunderland leaving the UK for its home one Florida.  The Last Sunderland Flying Boat |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 1:42:13 PM EDT
[#24]
Other stuff on the Boeing 314.
Typical cruising speed of 155mph. Seattle to Honolulu took 19 hours. Service was beyond what we'd even consider First Class nowadays. Flying wasn't cheap. SFO to Hong Kong cost $760 one way in 1940. That's almost $14k in todays $$. I think the Pan Am Clippers are the best looking airliners ever. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 1:58:01 PM EDT
[#25]
Thoroughly enjoyed reading that and shared it with my dad.
Thanks for posting it up OP. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 2:09:24 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That would make an awesome movie. Why can't Hollywood do that one instead of fucking around with classics like Ghostbusters? |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 3:15:47 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
https://i.imgur.com/EMabFl7.jpg Thanks 
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Posted: 5/12/2018 3:48:51 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I am not home but I told my Dad about this story and he found the book for me. Very interesting read. Would like to read more about this. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 4:02:19 PM EDT
[#29]
It’s either the long way home or a long ride home, Or the long flight home sorry I can’t be more specific.
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Posted: 5/12/2018 4:05:26 PM EDT
[#30]
New Zealand to New York? Is this really circumnavigation?
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Posted: 5/12/2018 4:11:44 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Hawaii to New Jersey? Is this really circumnavigation? I suppose technically it's not but from the sounds of it it would have been extremely unusual for a seaplane to fly across the US. I'd say it's close enough. Amazing story OP, thank you. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 4:35:43 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: San Francisco to New York. I suppose technically it's not but from the sounds of it it would have been extremely unusual for a seaplane to fly across the US. I'd say it's close enough. Amazing story OP, thank you. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 4:53:48 PM EDT
[#33]
Damn! That's a great story. I've been in about half of the places they were, and I've flown around the world going west at least 3 times, so its particularly interesting to me.
Stories about people stranded by big events are always cool (I.E. Casablanca). You could probably make a good romantic comedy about people stuck during 9/11 in London. Good job OP. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 5:19:45 PM EDT
[#34]
Cool story OP, thanks for posting
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Posted: 5/12/2018 5:58:40 PM EDT
[#35]
Thanks OP
Great read. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 6:04:14 PM EDT
[#36]
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Posted: 5/12/2018 6:31:23 PM EDT
[#37]
The same story as told by "The History Guy" (an excellent YT channel):
The Harrowing Journey of a Pacific Clipper ETA: I see that DoubleARon beat me to it. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 6:33:53 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote History |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 7:02:39 PM EDT
[#39]
To the gentleman who got me a Platinum membership, you are awesome!
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Posted: 5/12/2018 7:04:17 PM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I can't prove it but I'd imagine it eventually found its way back to the west coast for Pacific service. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted: San Francisco to New York. I suppose technically it's not but from the sounds of it it would have been extremely unusual for a seaplane to fly across the US. I'd say it's close enough. Amazing story OP, thank you. |
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Posted: 5/12/2018 10:33:47 PM EDT
[#41]
Awesome read OP. Thank you for posting this.
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Posted: 5/13/2018 3:52:06 PM EDT
[#42]
Thanks for this OP, was a great read
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Posted: 5/13/2018 4:32:03 PM EDT
[#43]
Wow what a story! I’m surprised Tripp didn’t make it a major story after the war was over.
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Posted: 5/13/2018 6:53:12 PM EDT
[#44]
Great story
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Posted: 5/13/2018 6:56:36 PM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Thanks for this OP, was a great read |
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Posted: 5/14/2018 12:41:44 PM EDT
[#46]
Reading the book now.
The long way home by Ed Dover |
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Posted: 5/14/2018 12:52:36 PM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Write it. Have a black woman play the captain, a spunky gay guy to play the flight engineer and have a white guy co-pilot that has a nervous breakdown and Hollywood might buy it. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
That would make an awesome movie. Why can't Hollywood do that one instead of fucking around with classics like Ghostbusters? |
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Posted: 5/14/2018 1:01:10 PM EDT
[#48]
awesome, thanks for sharing.
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Posted: 5/14/2018 1:13:11 PM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Reading the book now. The long way home by Ed Dover |
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Posted: 5/14/2018 1:16:32 PM EDT
[#50]
Great read
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