Boeing 314A Clipper
Boeing · United States · first flew 1938 · airliner
The Boeing 314 Clipper was the largest, most luxurious, and most capable flying boat airliner of its era, providing scheduled transatlantic and transpacific passenger service for Pan American World Airways from 1939.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 32.31 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- enormous four-engine flying boat with a deep double-deck hull
- four Wright Twin Cyclone radials in a thick shoulder-mounted wing
- characteristic sponsons along the lower hull acting as water floats and fuel tanks
The sheer size of the 314 dominates any comparison; the double-deck hull with elegant sponsons, the thick shoulder wing carrying four large radials, and the characteristic bow shape of the all-metal hull make it unmistakable among flying boats.
Specifications
- The Boeing 314A Clipper has a length of 32.31 m (106 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 46.33 m (152 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 340 km/h (211 mph).
- Typical crew: 10.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Boeing designed the 314 around the wing of the experimental XB-15 bomber, and Pan Am ordered six aircraft in 1936. Service on the North Atlantic began in May 1939, with the 314A model introducing increased fuel capacity. The type provided critical wartime transport, flying Churchill and Roosevelt across the Atlantic before land-based long-haul aircraft became available.
Variants
The Boeing 314 was the initial version; the 314A carried more fuel for extended range. Twelve aircraft were built in total, with wartime examples requisitioned by the US Navy and BOAC.
Where you'll see it
Pan American operated the type on North Atlantic and Pacific routes; during the war BOAC and US military authorities used the aircraft for high-priority passenger and VIP transport. The type was retired in 1946 as pressurised land-based airliners made flying boats uneconomical.
Related aircraft
- Boeing 307 Stratoliner
- Boeing 314 Clipper
- Boeing XB-15
- Boeing P-26C Peashooter
- PZL PZL.44 Wicher
- Renard R.35
- Aero A.304
- de Havilland DH.91 Albatross
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