The Martin M-130 flying boat, formally called Martin Ocean Transports, were long-range airliners designed by the Glenn L. Martin Company. With a range of up to 3,200 miles or 5,150 kilometres, they were designed for Pacific Ocean services for Pan American World Airways.
First flight of the Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp powered aircraft was on 30 December 1934. Air mail services began on 22 November 1935, with passenger services starting on 21 October 1936. Capacity was 12 berths for overnight flights, or 20 seats in daytime configuration.
Martin M-130 Flying Boat Video
Following on from the last video about the rare Airbus A320-100, this week we head back across the Atlantic to look at the Martin M-130 flying boat. Below is a short two minute presentation showing the aircraft in flight and on the ground with some great period narration.
For a more in depth look at the on board experience, the two videos below are from an address one of the passengers gave after the inaugural flight.
The trip from San Francisco to Manila took 59 hours and 48 minutes of flying time, with stops at Honolulu, Midway, Wake and Guam. This flying took place over six days, with overnight hotel stops during the journey.
While the narration in the videos is less than exciting, the words being said are more important. What is quite nice is the fact that the images of the various places visited along the way are included, so you can see what is being described.
How About Three Interesting Pictures?
First up is a cutaway of the Martin M-130 from a Pan American brochure from the time. It’s worth reading, as lines like, “So effective are the walls soundproofed that a normal conversation tone may be used at all times” are pretty amusing.
Overall Thoughts
Just three of the Martin M-130 flying boats were produced, called Hawaii Clipper, Philippine Clipper and China Clipper. Each one was lost in accidents in 1938, 1943 and 1945 respectively.
They were referred to generically as China Clippers thanks to a 1936 movie called “China Clipper” that starred Pat O’Brien, Ross Alexander, Beverly Roberts and featured a performance by Humphrey Bogart. Eventually the Martin’s were replaced by the larger and more capable Boeing 314 flying boat.
Did you know about the Martin M-130 flying boat? I daresay no-one reading has actually been on one. What did you think of the videos? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image by Bill Larkins via Wikimedia Commons who took the picture on his 620 Box Brownie at age 14.
Cutaway image via Pinterest.
Colour image by HT Wong on Flickr.
Manila image via The Smithsonian Institution SI-80-17077.
The Monkees did a song called “Zilch” that included the line “China Clipper calling Alameda.” The line was originally used, several times, in the “China Clipper” film.
Oh, I didn’t know that at all – thanks very much for the information! I’ll check that song out. Really appreciate it!
[…] Does anyone remember the famous China Clipper, the Martin M-130 flying boat? […]
I just read an interesting book, Pan Am at War, by by Mark Vaz and John Hill,about Pan American operations during WW II, and period leading up to it, including flying boat operations.
Thanks for the tip, I might see if I can get myself a copy to read. Appreciate that!
I never noticed before how different the Martins look from the Boeings. Narrower on the top among other things, sort of partway between a Boeing and a Sikorsky.
Yes, you hit the nail on the head there – pretty much half way between a Boeing and a Sikorsky. There weren’t many of them anyway!
My son and I flew the UA island hopper MNL-GUM TKK PNI KWA MAJ HNL (https://simpleflying.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-united-airlines-island-hopper/) in 2018 for 17 hours. Wasn’t quite the same as flying a China Clipper for sure, but making the 5 stops was memorable (although not like 5 stops in the US on WN)!
Then in 2019 we flew AKL NOU NAN CXI HNL.
Both Tripp’s were awesome (pun intended).
I had no idea about the island hopper route, so it’s great to find out about that. Sounds like something I’d do just for the fun of it… how else would I ever visit all those islands? Sounds really cool indeed. Hahaha – I see what you did there! Thanks for telling me about that, I appreciate it!
What an elegant beast that was. Way before my time but I always imagine how much fun that would have been to be wined and dined from SFO-MNL with the multiple stops and looking down and seeing nothing but ocean. Knowing that you could set down anywhere if something would happen and the navy would come to your rescue. I have been born too late for that experience but if I had a way-back machine….oh the times I could have had.
It certainly would have been an experience to remember, that’s for sure. Another age entirely, and not all that far off being 100 years ago. We’re lucky to have such good film records of such things!