Airfix A04172V Boeing 314 Clipper 1:144

Airfix 04172V 1/144 Boeing 314 Clipper

Total parts 76.

Painting options: 2

At the time, it was one of the largest aircraft in the world. Of the twelve built, three were transferred to BOAC under Lend-Lease, which used them for Atlantic and Pacific crossings.[1] It was the first transatlantic passenger airliner and, for 30 years, the largest civilian aircraft. In July 1936, Pan American signed a contract with Boeing to build six aircraft, with options for six more. A total of 12 were built – six Boeing 314s and six B-314As. On June 7, 1938, the first aircraft took to the air.[2] Initially, they only carried mail on transatlantic flights. Over time, as the aircraft's safety proved, passenger flights were also introduced. Pan American, with the Boeing 314, opened the first transatlantic flight on June 28, 1939. The flight between Southampton and New York took approximately 24 hours. Meals were prepared by chefs from four-star hotels. Men and women had separate changing rooms. Transatlantic flights from England were suspended after three months due to the outbreak of war.[1] After the outbreak of World War II, nine aircraft were transferred to the US Armed Forces. One of them, a Dixie Clipper, carried President Roosevelt to the Casablanca Conference in January 1943. On February 22, 1943, a Yankee Clipper crashed in Lisbon. The accident resulted in twenty-four fatalities and was the only one in the history of this aircraft model.