Which Boeing flying boat began Pan Am’s first regular transatlantic passenger service in 1939?

The Boeing 314 Clipper began Pan Am’s first regular transatlantic passenger service in 1939.

The large four-engine flying boat was developed for Pan American Airways, which wanted an aircraft capable of crossing oceans before long-range land-based airliners became practical. Its first flight took place on June 7, 1938, and Pan Am introduced scheduled Atlantic services the following year.

The 314 used a hull rather than conventional landing gear for normal operations. Passengers boarded at seaplane bases, and the aircraft’s spacious interior included sleeping berths and a dining area. Its range and ocean-going design made it an important step in early intercontinental air travel.

The Clipper is sometimes confused with Boeing’s earlier 314-derived aircraft or with the Boeing 307 Stratoliner, which was the first commercial airliner with a pressurized cabin. The 314 was instead best known for luxury long-distance flying-boat services, which declined rapidly after World War II as land-based airliners improved.