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[ Graphical: Channel4 Homepage ]
For a short period in the late 1930s, airships threatened the ocean liners' Atlantic reign as the way to cross the ocean. But the terrible disasters of the Zeppelin R101 and the Hindenburg exposed the inherent dangers and interest waned. Following this, the concept of a seaplane, which could land if necessary in relatively quiet waters, appealed to the rich traveller. The race to design and build a flying boat capable of ferrying passengers over the Atlantic Ocean was on.
Dixie Clipper |
Golden Hind |
|||||
Length |
32.3 metres |
26 metres |
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Wingspan |
46.3 metres |
34.4 metres |
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Weight |
37.4 tonnes |
27.2 tonnes |
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Power |
4 x Wright engines (1600 horsepower each) |
4 x Bristol Hercules engines (1380 horsepower each) |
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Top speed |
199 mph |
217 mph |
The seaplane design, with the sealed hull offering both copious storage space and plenty of room for passengers (even enough for bunk beds), was a marvel of its time. Both the Pan American B314 Dixie Clipper and the Imperial Airways Golden Hind were sturdy and reliable aircraft – important factors for non-stop transatlantic flight. Where the smaller Golden Hind carried the traditional wing sponsons for stabilising in water, the Dixie Clipper employed a pair of hull-mounted sponsons which also acted as extra fuel tanks. Added to this was a triple tail fin that helped with vertical stability. The fundamental problem with the Golden Hind was that it was relatively heavy and underpowered compared to its huge and immensely powerful Pan Am opponent. In this race for reliable, comfortable and high-class transatlantic travel, the larger and more slick Dixie Clipper won the day.
The engines of these first 'jumbo' airliners needed to be both powerful and reliable to cope with a demanding flying time of some 19 hours. The chance of being 1000 miles from help if forced to land in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean also made tough and rugged powerplants an imperative requirement. This was the hardest air crossing of the time.
The Golden Hind used four of the proven workhorse Bristol Hercules engines which when combined offered the pilot over 5500 horsepower.
The Dixie Clipper employed the same engine as the B-15 experimental heavy bomber. The four GR2600 Wright twin cyclone engines were truly outstanding. With each 14-cylinder, air-cooled radial motor pushed to the limit the pilot could draw on 6400 horsepower. Also, as the first machine to use super powerful 100 octane fuel there really was no other way to cross the Atlantic. And on 18 June 1939, Pan Am, with their Dixie Clipper, became the first to inaugurate a transatlantic passenger service.
Cutty Sark and the Great Clippers
Graphics version (includes layout and images)