The Evolution of the Flying Boat.
Intercontinental Routes
Airlines began to investigate the possibility of inaugurating intercontinental services over long ranges. Most countries decided to use, for such services, aircraft that could operate from water, and the development of flying boats appeared to make good sense. America looked out across the vast reaches of the pacific, planning a route via island stepping stones. A route from Sanfrancisco to Honolulu would be the first. The Martin Company built three four-engined flying-boats for this service, to the specification of Pan American Airways. The China Clipper inaugurated the first transpacific mail service on November 22 1936. On October 21 1936 the first passenger flight took place.
