Clipper, Vol. 10, No. 22, October 28, 1954

              Vol 10 No. 22
PUBLISHED BY THE EMPLOYEES OF PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS
October 28, 1954
PAA Acquires Electric Tractors to Use at SFO
Follows City's Request to Eliminate Smoke and Noise
Cooperating with the management of San Francisco’s International Airport, Pan American is the first airline using the terminal to put into operation all-electric tractors.
Airport officials had made the reauest in order to eliminate fumes and noise at the new 14 million dollar terminal, where tractors operate under the building in carrying baggage to and from the airplanes.
Pan American has purchased two of the electric tractors and an electric fork lift. The tractors have been modified with the addition of a special deck at the rear for the movement of last-minute luggage.
Cruising speed loaded is three and a half miles an hour. Empty the tractors can hit seven and a half miles an hour. Its maximum pull is one ton.
Goats are the only animal in the Hawaiian Islands that may be shot the year round.
BRINGING DOWN THE RAFTERS
Shown arriving in San Francisco last Saturday is William Willis, who recently splashed to fame when he rode a raft from Peru to Samoa. The trip took 115 d,ays, but he made it back to San Francisco in just 27 hours. With him is purser Chaussee Fontagneres. He is holding his cat Meekie, who made the voyage with him. Also on board the raft at the take-off was a parrot, Peekie, but somewhere along the route Meekie ate Peekie.
NEIL BOLTS WITH VOLTS
San Francisco’s ramp crew chief Neil Sheehy is shown at the controls of one of the new electric tractors purchased by Pan American for use at the new terminal. These tractors are far quieter than the gasoline type and leave no fumes.
BIG BLOW STARTS MONDAY
PAD Will Commence Third Season of Non-Stop Jet Stream Operation Between Japan and Hawaii
For the third successive season, Pan American Strato Clippers will begin scheduled non-stop flights between Tokyo and Honolulu in the Pacific jet stream. The first trip will depart Tokyo next Monday, November 1st.
Because of the advanced knowledge of weather forecasting and operational techniques acquired during the last two winters Pan American will be able to lengthen the jet stream operation by a full month this season. In the past the jet stream schedules have been terminated at the end of March, but during the 1954-55 season the 3800-mile non-stop flights—longest in commercial aviation—will continue thru April.
Another important factor in the forthcoming operation will be the installation of a new type General Electric turbo-supercharger on the engines of the B-377’s. This new equipment to be installed on the entire PAD fleet of 17 Boeings will permit the Clippers to “get upstairs” in a much shorter time— up to the altitudes where the built-in tail winds of the jet stream reach higher velocities.
Past schedules have called for an eleven and one-half hour flight between Tokyo and Honolulu. This is seven hours less than the flight time when the Clippers land at Wake.
However, during January and February much faster flights are made. Last February Captain John Kelly set the current commercial record of 9 hours and 18 minutes. During this flight, made at 25,000 feet, tail winds averaged 133 miles per hour, and for one hour reached a velocity of 175 miles an hour.
Operations engineers predict that when the new turbo-superchargers are installed Captain Kelly’s mark will be toppled.
Marilynn McFarland Completes Ten Years With Pan American
San Francisco’s top secretary got her ten year pin last week. Marilynn McFarland, who takes her dictation straight from the vice president, was feted at a lavish party at which guests killed half a jug of coffee and sneaked in a few doughnuts. Marilynn started in Maintenance and then transferred to Industrial Relations before becoming Colonel Young’s secretary.
PAA's Canton Islanders Ready For Moving Day
New Quarters Almost Completes On "Business" Side of Island
Pan American residents of Canton Island are moving north for the winter.
In fact, by the first of December all of PAA’s installations will have been moved from the south to the north side of the island. B&F has just about completed five separate family dwellings, a separate lounge, emergency quarters for passengers in the event of an unscheduled lay-over, quarters for the Fijian workers, shop and utility buildings.
Families will order their food : each month. This will be shipped by air from either Auckland or Honolulu. Deep-freezes are available for storage.
This move to the north side, where the runway is located, will simplify the operation. It was previously necessary to “commute” from the south side by means of a launch.
Two Foreign Hag Carriers Ordering Douglas DC-7C's
Pan American won’t have a monopoly on the DC-7C. Swissair has already ordered two of the planes, and Scandinavian Airlines is reportedly ready to order eight of the long-range version of the DC-7.
LIKE A BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE
That’s the way Captain John Kelly came last February when he set the commercial jet stream record between Tokyo and Honolulu. He is shown here in the middle being briefed by Tokyo meteorologist Russ Ulrich. Listening in ut right is 1st Officer Ira Anderson. This winter’s jet stream season opens Monday.