Summer/Fall 2020

www.panam.org NEWSLETTERCLI OF THEPP PAN AMER HISTORICAL FOUNDATION

From The Chairman, The Making of ‘Across the Pacific’ — Edward Trippe... A Conversation with Stephen Lyons, Executive Producer/Director By Ruth Maron

When the three-hour documentary, Across the Pacific, debuted on Virginia Public Media/PBS in May 2020, it was the culmination of more than 15 years of work. Clipper recently talked with Stephen Lyons, Executive Producer, Writer and Director, to find out how this groundbreaking Last December, could anyone film came about. have imagined that 2020 would unleash a global pandemic that “In the late ‘90s, I was working at development grants totaling $40,000 to would threaten our lives and all WGBH in Boston as development edi- support the research and writing of a pro- that we have comfortably assumed tor on a NOVA series called “Adventures posal to the National Endowment for the would be secure in this modern in Flight.’” The idea was to do a series Humanities, the most promising source era of technology and amazing of programs, each one a re-enactment of of production funds for a historical film medical advances? For the aging a historic flight,” Steve said. When an of this sort. Based on his experience with Pan Am community, we are the independent production team proposed previous NEH proposals, Steve did not most vulnerable and hopefully a film about the storied China Clipper, think it likely that NEH would support most of us have been spared. Steve added that idea to the hopper of a film that focused only on Juan Trippe, However, as this issue of Clipper potential programs for the series. But Pan Am and the China Clipper. But his goes to press, it is hard to compre- NOVA was unable to raise the necessary early research suggested a more promis- hend the new social and economic funds for “Adventures in Flight.” The ing approach: basing the film on Trippe realities we live with and where it project was ultimately shelved, and Steve and two other major characters: Russian will all end. soon left NOVA to pursue other projects airplane designer Igor Sikorskyand radio Across the Pacific as an independent producer. engineer Hugo Leuteritz. As the new decade of 2020 Years later, Doug Miller, a member of “People today think of Igor Sikor- opened, the Pan Am Historical the team that had initially proposed the sky as the inventor of the helicopter; Foundation (PAHF) had great film to NOVA, contacted Steve to re- they are largely unaware of the role he hopes and plans. The long-await- kindle interest in a film about the China played in the development of the Flying ed Pan Am documentary, Across Clipper. Now PAHF ‘s webmaster and a Boat,” Steve says. That story begins with the Pacific, was on schedule to roll board member, Doug eventually became Sikorsky’s design and production of an out in May and by June it was consulting producer on the film. amphibian called the S-38, which could showing on multiple PBS stations “Doug played a big role in the devel- land and take off on water as well as across the country. The film by all opment of the film,” Steve says. “He land. That led to the S-40 and the S-42 accounts has been a great success was an important source of informa- — two of the most important flying and has been well received by all tion about the early history of Pan Am; boats from an era when the lack of suit- who have had the opportunity to helped us track down dozens of critical able runways meant large planes could see it. In this issue, Executive Pro- images, particularly those from the Pan land only on water. ducer Stephen Lyons talks about Am archives, and was an invaluable Leuteritz played an underappreciated how the film came about over a sounding board for the project.” but critical role, pioneering the radio period spanning more than fifteen navigation techniques that would allow years. The story tracks the earliest Together, Steve and Doug approached PAHF and secured the first of two Across the Pacificcont. p. 4 Chairman cont. p. 2 Chairman from p. 1 Persistence of Vision — beginnings of Pan Am and chronicles the advances in avionics with each suc- Pan Am’s Moving Image Heritage cessive generation of aircraft. I grew up hearing stories about the early days By Doug Miller of Pan Am, but as I watch ‘Across the Pacific,’ I still marvel at that dedicated Having these historic motion pictures provides a bridge group of young men and their incred- to a past which is now beyond most living memory, but ible accomplishments achieved against they also provide the resources essential for accurately unimaginable odds. presenting Pan Am’s history on into the future. Marine Air Terminal After many months of discussion and rom the start, the building of an Pan Am, like other companies, much frustration, we hoped that in Finternational airline was the sub- saw value in commissioning films to 2020 we would conclude our plans with ject of intense interest and excitement. be shown to groups. Civic, church, the Port Authority for a permanent Pan Aviation was still in its formative school, and other gatherings were per- Am presence in the Marine Air Terminal stage, and stories of record-breaking fect venues, and the audiences were (MAT) at LaGuardia Airport. Though flights and adventure aloft filled more than willing to watch. As routes talks have been stalled by the current newspapers and magazines in the US spread ever wider, Pan Am made films pandemic, we are optimistic that plans and internationally. And even more with titles such as “Two Hours to Ha- captivating were actual movies of the vana,” “Flying the Lindbergh Trail,” same events. “South by Sky,” “Five Hours to Motion pictures were only a bit old- Bermuda,” “Gateway to the Southern er than aviation, but by the 1920s, Americas,” and “Transpacific.” Even the movie business had grown from if the average viewer was not about to novelty status into a sizable indus- pay the price of a Clipper journey, the try. By the close of the decade, as vicarious thrill of a promotional film Pan Am was spreading wings to the provided a fine alternative. south, the portable movie-making gear was widely available. Both professional and amateur film equip- Detail showing Pan Am from the famous ment was being widely used. James Brooks mural, “Flight” Hollywood had already caught will be finalized soon. The building has ‘flying fever’, not coincidentally with been designated a National Landmark so Charles Lindbergh’s unleashing a its place in history is secure. However, tidal wave of popular enthusiasm Pan Am’s role in the operation of the with his transatlantic flight in1927. Terminal is not well documented. The The very first Academy Award for MAT was Pan Am’s headquarters for Best Picture went that year to the its North Atlantic Operations from its Transpacific Title Frame World War I aviation epic “Wings.” opening in 1940 through WWII until These films were heavy on the allure the airline moved to the new Idlewild Interest in capturing aviation on of what were then exotic destinations, Airport in 1948. As previously re- film went far beyond big budget pro- but they also showed how comfort- ported, the exhibit will include a series ductions for the silver screen. Mo- able, safe, and exciting a Clipper trip of plaques recognizing the landmark tion picture presentations provided could be. Viewed today, the presenta- status of the building and commemorat- the perfect visual aids for group tion can seem campy and quaint. But ing the massive mural by James Brooks presentations — a huge advance the places filmed decades ago have which depicts the history of flight and over the ‘magic lantern’ used previ- long since changed. For example, Pan Am’s significant role in aviation. A ously. With the advent of portable shots of 1934 Port of Spain, Trinidad new, larger model of the Boeing B-314 is film cameras and projectors (mostly are today valuable as a window onto proposed to hang in the Rotunda. ✈ using 16mm ‘safety’ film rather than highly flammable nitrate film com- a bygone time and place. And the se- Please see page 3 for Ed Trippe’s report of monly used in Hollywood), public quences of the aircraft, terminals, and the Foundation sponsored tour through presentations enjoyed a powerful personnel are true historical gems. Egypt on the eve of the pandemic. new dynamic visual dimension. Persistence cont. p. 6

2 2 A report on the Pan Am Historical Foundation 2020 Tour on the Eve of the Covid 19 Pandemic By Ed Trippe n early March, an enthusiastic group of Cairo has changed dramatically since government moved quickly and all hotels IPan Am colleagues, along with family my days visiting Egypt in the 1980s. The and cruise ships on the Upper Nile were and friends, descended on Alexandria from urban sprawl has grown in all directions immediately quarantined. We were under far-flung corners of the globe to embark and the traffic is crippling. Unchanged and lockdown at the Moudira Hotel, unsure on a two-week adventure of a lifetime. still incredibly impressive are the Egyptian whether our Egyptian tour was about to be Upon arrival, we were greeted by Dina Ezz antiquities. On the first day, we visited the cancelled. By noon, the Egyptian medical El Din, our tour leader and Egyptologist Citadel, a massive fortification and mosque authorities had tested our group and we extraordinaire. Each day was filled with built in 1176 BC. Next on the tour was were released to continue our tour. That so much fact, myth and history that our the Al-Khalill Bazaar, a Cairo landmark afternoon we were among the first groups heads were spinning. The trip was the with narrow allies and vendors selling the to be admitted to the Valley of Kings, tenth tour to be organized and for the next few hours we by PAHF and was man- had this amazing site of ancient aged by our travel partner, burial chambers almost to our- Distant Horizons. Earlier selves. The tomb of King Tut is groups had gone to Cuba, among the most renowned with Iran, Southeast Asia, and still-vivid paintings created 3,500 Morocco. The Egypt trip, years ago. because of the onset of the Later that afternoon we early stages of the Covid-19 boarded our cruise ship, the MS virus, would have its own Farah, which was to become our challenges. hotel for the next four days as We started the tour in Alex- we moved South up the Nile to andria staying at the historic Aswan. Clearly Covid-19 was Cecil Hotel. A high point already impacting Egyptian tour- of our visit was the modern The group assembles beneath the towering statues of Pharaoh Ramses II at Abu Simbel ism as there was only one other Alexandria Library. Built in group on the ship. 2002, it is an amazing building housing an same wares they have for generations. That afternoon we toured the Cairo Museum Our next morning was spent at the impressive collection of books and historic Temple of Luxor, which dated to 1400 BC artifacts. that I had visited 40 years earlier on my first visit to Cairo. On our final day, we visited and is one of the largest and best preserved Our next stop was Cairo where we the Pyramids, an amazing sight that leaves of all of the ancient monuments. We sailed stayed at the Semiramis Inter-Continental you in wonder as to how in the world they on to visit a series of towns along the Nile Hotel. It was a nostalgic visit for me as I were built. to our final stop in Aswan, the location of was involved in the lengthy negotiations the High Dam that controls the flow of among the Egyptians, the Saudi investors The following day, we flew South to water in the Nile, the life blood of Egypt. Luxor on the Upper Nile that was the high and IHC when the hotel was built. IHC On our last day aboard the ship, we oversaw the development and construction point of the trip. The first night we stayed at the Hotel Al Moudira, a small boutique experienced a massive sand storm that es- of the hotel and ultimately its manage- sentially closed down all of Egypt. The air ment when it finally opened in 1988. We hotel that provided a bucolic transition from the chaos of Alexandria and Cairo. Al was filled with very fine particles of sand were also able to reconnect with my old that made it difficult to breathe. In Cairo, IHC colleague, Raymond Khalife. Many Moudira will also be remembered because it was where the harsh reality of the Covid-19 the city was shuttered and the airport remembered him from his days as General closed. The airport closure would add to Manager of the Phoenicia Inter-Continen- pandemic first began to register with us. An Egyptian tourist, who we think was travel- the chaos for visitors trying to reschedule tal in Beirut, a Mecca for Pan Am crews flights home. transiting the Middle East. ing from Asia, was on a Nile cruise and had shown symptoms of Covid. The Egyptian Egypt cont. p. 8 3 3 Across the Pacific from p. 1

Pan Am’s pilots to safely cross the work. He became the main voicein the had always been a cryptic figure,” ocean by touching down on the tiny Sikorsky sections of the film.” Steve noted. “But he comes to life islands where they would need to stop In telling the story of the events in these letters, which reveal a softer to refuel. leading up to the historic first flight of personal side to his personality.” Steve’s first proposal to NEH was the China Clipper, the film combines During the editing of the film, the turned down, in part because avia- interviews and archival images and team decided they needed a third hour tion films are not highly regarded by film, interwoven with dramatic scenes. to include the newly discovered let- historians — they’re often too superfi- The scripts draw on interview sound ters and tell this increasingly complex cial and celebratory. But Steve thought bites, excerpts from letters, speeches story. A last-minute contribution from it might be possible to change NEH’s and other archival material. Margaret C. Zockoll and Jim Zockoll mind. With the second (a former Pan Am em- of PAHF’s development ployee) made the third grants, he amended the hour possible. proposal to emphasize Across the Pacific is how the film would being distributed as explore the social di- three one-hour episodes mensions of flight, and by American Public he beefed up the epilog Television to all 350 to illustrate how the PBS stations nation- film would show how wide. But each station transoceanic flight had individually decides changed the world. On the set at the flming of ‘Across the Pacifc’ (L-R) Re-enactment Director Lisa Quijano; whether and when to Success! The second Director of Photography Ezra Wolfnger; Juan Trippe played by actor Brian Muller; Ed Trippe; and air the program. “It’s proposal was ac- Writer/Producer Stephen Lyons. frustrating not to be cepted, and Moreno/Lyons Produc- Using a model they had developed able to tell people when the program tions received, first, a scripting grant on earlier projects, the production will air, Steve says. “But it’s a good for $75,000 and, later, a production team cast the major characters in New sign that about 85 percent of the sta- grant for $600,000. “It was the largest York, where there is a deeper pool of tions that have scheduled it so far have grant NEH awarded in that cycle,” acting talent to draw on, and the lesser chosen to air it in prime time– week- Steve says, “but it was only half what characters in Boston, drawing on ac- nights between 8 – 11 pm— rather than we needed to make the film.” And tors from across New England. “The burying it over night or on weekends. so began a long fundraising drive, New York actors delivered the strong ”Though they don’t yet have a complete which eventually netted support from performances we expected,” Steve says. picture of ratings, the early signs are the Pan Am Historical Foundation, “The surprise was the caliber of the promising. In Richmond, a re-run of the Ambrose Monell Foundation, performances we got from the en- Across the Pacific, broadcast over three the Freeman Foundation, Wyncote semble cast from New England. They hours in a row on a secondary channel, Foundation, and the Thomas W. Haas really make certain scenes – and there- drew more viewers than a Masterpiece Foundation. Additional funds were fore the film – much stronger than we Theatre episode airing at the same time earned through a film tax credit from had any reason to expect.” on the main channel. Each episode the state of Massachusetts, where all drew more viewers than the one before All the re-enactments were filmed the dramatic re-enactments were shot. – a sign of the series’ ability to attract in the Boston area over five long, and grow an audience. ✈ Once they had enough funds to grueling days in four locations. “It produce a two-hour film, the produc- was the only way we could afford to If you don’t want to wait for the tion team started shooting interviews do it,” Steve says. program to be broadcast on your lo- with authors, scholars, former Pan Am cal station, you can stream it now Asked if there were any other sur- employees and family members of the on the Virginia Public Media web- prises along the way, Steve cited the aviation pioneers. “At a summer camp site or on the project website (www. recent discovery of the 1927 letters be- run by Sikorsky’s grandson, we discov- acrossthepacific.com). You can also tween Juan Trippe and his future wife ered that Igor Sikorsky III is a natural- purchase the series ($2.99 per epi- Betty, found in a closet by their son, born storyteller who had taken the sode or $6.99 for the entire series) Ed Trippe. “Up to then, Juan Trippe time to learn about his grandfather’s through iTunes at the Apple website.

4 4 The First Air Force One Flight — An African Odyssey By Ron Marasco

President Roosevelt celebrates his 61st birthday, January 30, 1943, aboard Boeing B-314 Dixie Clipper, en route home after the historic conference in Casablanca. From left, Admiral William D. Leahy, his physician, Harry Hopkins, his assistant, and PAA Captain Howard Cone.

uring World War II, Pan Am’s to capturing Stalingrad. The Conference cruise control techniques for long range Dfabled Clipper flying boats “carried planned the invasion of Europe and the transoceanic flights for all of the early priority passenger and cargo. Admirals Mediterranean Campaign with the plan to Flying Boats. In later years he advanced and General flew, kings and queens flew, invade Sicily. through the company’s senior executive film starts flew to entertain the troops Leslie’s memoir offered an opportunity ranks, including being a Board of Direc- and hundreds of American celebrities to document the historic contribution Pan tor for Pan Am. and noted war correspondents flew Am made to a truly pioneering event in As Leslie noted, it started with a phone throughout the world,” writes Robert aviation history, and indeed World War call from a friend on active duty who Daly in his book, An American Saga: II. The story, ‘The First Air Force One indicated that he better come down to Juan Trippe and His Pan Am Empire. Flight: An African Odyssey’ expands on the Washington to discuss “certain matters” But undoubtedly the most famous mission’s fascinating details, intriguing with the Navy high command. When passenger in the world was President he got there the Navy high command Franklin Roosevelt, “the first incum- told him he would organize what had to bent President ever taken aloft.” The be a “top-secret” mission, flying Presi- President’s trip to Casablanca for the dent Roosevelt to Casablanca. Since the first major Allied Conference in January mission had to be accomplished in total 1943, was also the first Air Force One secrecy, Leslie made no special prepara- flight undertaken during a dangerous tions for either aircraft or fight crews. In part of World War II. Clearly a bold and fact, he did not even tell Pan Am’s Chair- courageous undertaking given the overall man Trippe. Using two Pan Am Boeing state of President Roosevelt’s health B-314 flying boats, the President’s party The specific details of the trip were would fly in one aircraft, Leslie and the never widely known until 2011. Fortu- President’s support staff would fly in the nately for history, Peter Leslie, a Pan Am other aircraft. Historical Foundation Board member Today’s Air Force One is a magnificent published his father’s spellbinding mem- John Leslie, Atlantic Division Manager, VC-25, a military version of the 747-200 oir in his book entitled ‘Aviation’s Quiet was a Lt. Cdr. in the USNR. He was that has been totally reengineered from Pioneer John Leslie’. John Leslie was an placed on active duty and commanded top to bottom. It is “the most celebrated airline engineer and Pan Am’s Atlantic the Clipper One flights to Casablanca aircraft on earth, with sophisticated flight Division Manager. He was also a war- and return. control capabilities, top secret airborne time Naval Reserve officer who coordi- defense systems that surpass any plane in nated the Casablanca mission between commentary on the flight crews and the its class. Its design and extraordinary ca- the Navy and Pan Am, and accompanied exclusive revelation of the origin of today’s pability projects the power of the United the President on his historic journey. famous Air Force One call sign. States President around the world.” The Casablanca Conference was the first A Princeton graduate, Leslie also held The Presidential Airlift Group at of the great Allied mid-war conferences, an aeronautical engineering degree from Andrews Air Force Base is an elite flight attended by Roosevelt, Churchill, their MIT, and started his career in engineer- and ground support team that ensures military chiefs of staff, and the French ing with Pan Am in 1929. Throughout the president flies in the most secure leader Charles de Gaulle. the Soviet the 1930s he worked closely with Ed flight operations system in the world. Union’s Josef Stalin did not take part Musick, Pan Am’s legendary Chief Pilot The President travels in a secure bubble because the Nazis were dangerously close and Charles Lindbergh developing of protection, with Air Traffic Control Air Force One cont. p. 6 5 5 Air Force One from p. 5 Persistence from p. 2 clearing the airways and Air Force The Pan Am Historical Foundation is by an Act of Congress. If approved, the One’s every move tracked by an ar- fortunate indeed to have, and have ac- grant will provide a substantial sum for mada of air and sea support services. cess to and use of many of these de- our preservation of and digital reproduc- Needless to say, President Roos- cades-old films, through both donation tion of an important film collection we evelt did not travel to Casablanca in and via cooperative arrangements with currently hold. a secure bubble of protection. On other institutions and individuals. the contrary, the Casablanca mis- Of course, individuals were taking their sion was arguably, the riskiest air own motion picture gear along to record transportation mission a United their experiences. Clipper trips were a States President has ever undertaken. highlight of anyone’s life, and passengers Pan American World Airways had would bring their 8mm or 16mm cam- established a distinguished service eras. One such wonderful example of this record bringing far flung destinations is the extensive color footage recorded by from the United States to Europe and Jonnie and Pauline Falk on their 1937 the Far East within reach of world trip to China, including the transpacific travelers. Their legendary Boeing 314 flight on a Martin M-130. A year later, aircraft and Pan Am’s “elite flight and aeronautical engineer Richard Rhode flew ground support team” were a logical from Alameda to Hong Kong and back choice to ensure President Roosevelt’s on the Hawaii Clipper. His film, along A roll of film from the Fulton Collection: utmost safety. with a quantity of great still photos, was Saved from destruction Because of the dangers raging in donated to the Foundation. the North Atlantic at that time of We also have some of the films of the War, a South Atlantic crossing those connected with Pan Am. One became the chosen route for the such is Ernest Allison, who flew for and Casablanca trip. Pan Am’s pilots and managed operations in China for China navigators had garnered extensive National Airlines Corporation (CNAC). experience flying the Boeing 314 Other collections include those from pi- Clipper flying boat across the South lots Bob Ford, Humphrey Toomey, and Atlantic from Brazil to Liberia, Af- Royal Leonard. We even have the films rica, transporting cargo to supply the of the Trippe family themselves, which Allied forces in North Africa. awaits a transfer from the original 16mm The full story, The First Air Force film to a modern digital video format. One Flight: An African Odyssey, can All these, whether sophisticated com- be accessed on Pan Am’s website, mercial productions with music and A frame from the film reel shown above: panam.org. It vividly portrays Leslie’s narration, or silent personnel documen- A Panagra DC-2 with some uninterested onlookers observations of the trip from begin- tation, are perishable. The old film stock ning to end, starting with the pilots is often subject to chemical degradation Having these historic motion pictures reporting for duty, not knowing due to improper storage where heat and provides a bridge to a past which is now their passenger list would include the humidity will eventually destroy them. beyond most living memory, but they President of the United States; the also provide the resources essential for The PAHF has been working to save landing in Africa at Bathurst, British accurately presenting Pan Am’s history these irreplaceable historical assets. Gambia alongside the Navy Cruiser, on into the future. Much of the archival Since 2015, we’ve been working with a USS Memphis; the details of the footage used in “Across the Pacific,” re- nationally-recognized lab near Washing- abrupt change in Roosevelt’s return cently released on public television, was ton DC to make sure that they will be trip from the well-lit, calm waters of shot by Robert Fulton, Jr., a young man preserved and digitally copied so that Fisherman’s Lake, Liberia to a risky, hired to film Pacific base-building in the they will remain a valuable part of Pan unlit midnight departure takeoff 1930s (and more besides). The footage American’s rich legacy. from Africa’s Gambia River, loaded — much of it highly inflammable nitrate with floating debris; and ending the An exciting recent prospect is a grant stock — sat in a barn for years, until mission with a First Class Pan Am proposal currently under consideration rediscovered by his family and donated celebration dinner for President Roo- for funding by the National Founda- to the Foundation. It was almost lost sevelt’s Birthday, during the last leg of tion for Film Preservation (NFPF), an forever, but it’s now safely preserved and the trip from Trinidad to Miami. ✈ organization mandated by and funded available for years to come. ✈

6 6 An Interview with Dan Colussy By Martin Deutsch Martin B. Deutsch created Frequent Fly- er magazine in 1980 and was editor-in- chief and publisher for 15 years. He has also published and edited leading travel in- dustry magazines, including Travel Man- agement Daily and Travel Age.

Luxury Dining in the Sky

The oft-told narrative of the class seats on the lower deck of the Pan There were challenges. The financial Boeing 747 does not often Am 747s, but only 14 available dinner team needed to be convinced it was Tinclude tales of what was one positions in the lounge upstairs. an economic use of space. Besides, of the most tasteful promotions ever I know it’s hard to believe, but once Colussy remembers, “engineering crafted in the jet era: Candlelight sup- upon a time flying was that luxurious. doesn’t like marketing guys screwing pers on the upper deck of Pan Am’s Airlines competed for and courted first with their planes, whether seats or specially configured widebodies. class customers. They were pampered you name it.” The Queen of the Skies is in the with sandwiches from famed restau- Although the steep, narrow Boeing news again more than 50 years after rants such as New York’s 21 Club and 747 spiral staircase would remain, Pan its maiden flight because the end in-flight lounges offering cocktail bars Am installed a “dumbwaiter to get food is near. Although Boeing has not and even Wurlitzer organs. Pan Am upstairs” at the back of the upper cabin. confirmed it, the financially stressed was always a cut above, however. Special tables and chairs were installed, plane-maker will shutter its 747 as- Dan Colussy, who ran Pan Am mar- some plush banquettes, others swivel- sembly lines. Production of passenger keting in the 1970s, found the Boeing style bucket seats. Tables were outfitted variants ended in 2017, but Boeing 747 upper deck a problematic piece of with white tablecloths and napkins has continued to slowly crank out real estate. During a recent conversa- and set with fine china, glassware and 747 freighters for grateful custom- tion, the now 88-year-old Colussy utensils. Four people were seated at each ers such as UPS. Only about a dozen told me he “didn’t think” the area was table as well as one set for two. There remain to be built, however, and right for a “legit first class seat” and were fresh flowers, of course — a grace- 2022 literally seems to be the end of he found existing upper-deck lounges ful centerpiece for each table. the line for the aircraft that essentially “ineffective. If you put economy And what of the food? There was no created modern commercial aviation. [seats] up there, then first class pas- separate menu for the lucky 14 who Mass-market flying--the “democ- sengers were offended with [coach dined restaurant-style in the bowed racy” of affordable travel for all, if you flyers] walking through the space” to upper deck. The first class passengers will--is surely the Boeing 747’s greatest reach the staircase to the upper deck. who remained downstairs and the fly- legacy. Which is ironic because it took “It was a problem from a marketing ers invited upstairs ordered from the a double-decked behemoth like the point of view.” same menus. 747 to allow Pan Am to craft a most The solution — a lounge that But, oh, what menus. The star was elegant and exclusive in-flight perk. Al- converted to a 14-seat dining room for always Pan Am’s carved-at-your-seat though I flew Pan Am 747s dozens of first class flyers — was certainly some- roast beef. Lobster Thermidor was times back in the day, I only remember thing that would burnish the Pan Am equally loved. Menus rotated sea- being invited a few times to the upper brand. The airline “was known for din- sonally with a choice of entrees, of deck. Even a first-class ticket wasn’t ing. After some research, we said, ‘Let’s course. Deserts such as Baked Alaska enough to guarantee you an invitation give this a try and see what happens.’ were popular. On some routes, local to the dinner table. There were 24 first Supper in the Sky cont. p. 8

7 7 Supper in the Sky from p. 7 Egypt from p. 3 specialties were featured, such as a cheese celebrity,” he recalls. “That was a big plate on flights to Nice. And there was attraction for other first class passen- always top-notch caviar and wonderful gers, to see a celebrity and maybe sit Champagne. upstairs with them.” “It was quite the elaborate service,” Sadly, the upper-deck candlelight Colussy says proudly. dinner service was ephemeral. It oper- Wine service was often controversial, ated for only two years in the early Colussy recalls. “We always had good 1970s and was jettisoned as the oil wines. In those days, the French domi- crisis exacerbated Pan Am’s worsening nated the elite selections and we had finances and stoked its long competi- special deals with vineyards in France. tive decline. We basically March 14th was our final day in the bought Upper Nile and began with a short out their flight to the Temple of Abu Simbel whole before continuing on to Cairo that sup- afternoon. Abu Simbel, with its four plies.” colossal statues of Pharaoh Ramses II, was to become the most impres- But sive temple we visited. Originally Pan Am built in 1244 BC on a site overlook- strived ing the Nile, the temple, in a massive to offer feat of engineering, was relocated both by UNESCO and rebuilt into a the best mountainside when the Aswan Dam of the flooded the Upper Nile. “elite” French category and the best Ameri- Colussy, who joined Pan Am in 1970, can wine. That didn’t sit well with Euro- has been more durable. He lasted a We returned to Cairo for our final pean guests. “Back in the 1970s, Europe- decade at America’s one-time “Chosen evening and at dawn the next day ans were very snobby about their wines. Instrument” and ended his career as presi- we would all make our separate ways California wines were not considered very dent and chief operating officer. In 1981, home. These were the chaotic days good. They turned up their nose at our he became chairman, president and chief when returning US residents on service of California wine.” executive of Canadian Pacific Airlines. He flights from all over the world expe- led the company that rescued Iridium, rienced massive delays and confu- You could reserve a seat for dinner the satellite operator. He’s still active sion in US gateway cities. When we upstairs when you booked your first class today as chairman of Gemini Capital, arrived at JFK, the Immigration and seat. I never did. It was always a bit of a a venture-funding firm, and appears as Customs lines were chaotic with few thrill to be offered the opportunity to as- personable and approachable as ever. people wearing masks and no effort cend the spiral staircase for dinner after at “social distancing”. It is no wonder being invited by the purser or a flight at- As for the Boeing 747, there are two in the chaos that my wife and I were tendant. It was, literally, a class by itself. more passenger versions in production exposed to and contracted Covid-19. It made you feel important. There was along with the remaining freighters. Boe- Thankfully we have both recovered a cache to this marketing approach that ing has a contract to build a pair of spe- and nobody else in the Pan Am still resounds all these decades later. cially configured 747-8 aircraft to serve as the next generation of Air Force One. group contracted the virus. And while I best remember some The $3.9 billion aircraft are expected to Since March and our amazing trip unique tablemates — three fresh-faced be delivered in 2024. to Egypt, the world has changed dra- German post-grads on a backpacking trip matically. As I look ahead, it’s hard of a lifetime--Colussy stresses that Pan I’m guessing whomever is President in to know when or where there will be Am was always the carrier of the stars. four years will be able to arrange their own in-flight luxury dinners. I’m available on another Pan Am tour. But the Pan “The thing about Pan Am in those short notice to fill out a table. ✈ Am family members are inveterate days, on almost every flight, especially travelers so we can assume there will Reprinted With permission from ‘Joe to Europe and across the Pacific, is be a time in the future when we’ll Sent Me,’ a business travel newsletter you always had one movie star aboard search the Pan Am route maps and by Joe Brancatelli. or someone who could be called a pack our bags again. ✈ 8 8 PAN AM HISTORICAL PAN AM HISTORICAL FOUNDATION NONPROFIT ORG FOU N DATION 1559-B SLOAT BLVD. #144 US POSTAGE SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132 PAID SAN FRANCISCO, CA OFFICERS & DIRECTORS PERMIT #11882

Edward S. Trippe Chairman RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED C.W. (Pete) Runnette President Sally Andersen Treasurer Darlene Laster Secretary VP, Asia & Pacific William Lange VP, Europe and Atlantic Chair, Memberhip & Marketing, Lilian A. Walby VP, Latin America & Caribbean Chair, Archives & Memorabilia John H. Hill Chair, Museums & Exhibits Jeffrey Kriendler Chair, Communications Ruth Maron Clipper Editor Doug Miller Webmaster

Peter M. Leslie Ron Marasco Charles W. Trippe, Jr.

CLIPPER EDITOR Ruth Maron [email protected]

WEBSITE www.panam.org

WEBMASTER Doug Miller [email protected]

ARCHIVES www.library.miami.edu/ archives/panam/pan.html

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Emilia De Geer [email protected]