XP3Y-1

San Franciscans, staring aloft last week at a huge, low-slung Navy flying boat droning up from the south, blinked with surprise as the twin-motored monoplane slid down for a landing. As the plane neared the Bay, the blunt tips of its 104-ft. wing split slowly open, hinged downward, became a pair of wing-pontoons which kept the narrow hull upright as it creased the water.

Retractable pontoons were a prime innovation in the Navy's new XP3Y-1. Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corp., it is similar to Pan American's new Martin Clipper in lines, has the same high tail, the same tapering fuselage. Most notable of all is the record it made last week on reaching San Francisco, having flown 3,450 miles non-stop from Panama in 34 hr., 40 min. Some 300 miles farther than the previous seaplane distance mark, this performance so pleased the Navy that it promptly ordered 60 more of the huge patrol planes, jealously guarded the details & costs of their construction.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.