The 314 was a 4-engine, long-range, flying boat developed and produced by American aviation company Boeing. The aircraft was the last of Boeing’s renowned line of passenger-carrying flying boats and is widely hailed by aerospace historians as the pinnacle of this form of aviation. The aircraft took its maiden flight on June 7, 1938 and it was introduced in 1939. Boeing produced a total of twelve 314s during a production run that spanned from 1938 to 1941.
Boeing created two primary variants, the 314 and the 314A, with the latter being fitted with more powerful engines. Boeing tested three empennages with the original 314, one with a single vertical stabilizer, one with two vertical stabilizers, and one with three vertical stabilizers. Both the 314 and the 314A production models featured an empennage with three vertical stabilizers due to the yaw authority and stability this form of tail unit engenders.
Boeing developed the 314 based on a 1936 request from Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) for a next-generation, trans-oceanic flying boat. Specifically, Pan Am sought a craft that could carry up to 10,000 pounds of payload, cruise at 150 miles per hour, and had a range of 2,400 miles. Furthermore, Pan Am stated that the aircraft should be the ultimate in luxury, reliability, and safety for their well-heeled passengers. The airline offered a $50,000 prize for the winning design to stimulate their prospects from the aviation industry.
The Boeing design, which was one of the largest aircraft ever created at the time, won the bid as it bested all of Pan Am’s criteria, notably range. Boeing used the wing design of the company’s XB-15, a testbed long-range bomber, and Wright Double Cyclone radial piston engines. The aircraft, crewed by four, could carry up to 74 passengers, or up to 40 when configured for overnight sleeper berths. The 314, dubbed the “Clipper,” after transoceanic sailing ships, had the range for both trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific flights and set new standards of luxury for airline passenger service. Amenities included large windows for passenger viewing pleasure, dressing rooms, a dining salon (that could be converted into a bridal suite or a lounge), and a galley that served four-star meals. Pan Am ordered twelve total, in two blocks of six. The 314 and the routes that it flew became legendary.
The great Boeing Clippers were drafted into military service for the Allies at the onset of the Second World War. The 314 had been rendered obsolete by the end of the conflict due to the numerous airfields that had been built featuring runways that could handle long-range aircraft.
The 314 measured 106 feet in length, stood 27 feet, 7 inches tall, and had a wingspan of 152 feet. It featured a high-mounted, cantilever (unbraced) main wing and sponsons. The sponsons stabilized the craft while on water, provided a loading / unloading surface, and added limited aerodynamic capabilities while in flight including lift and stability.
The 314 was powered by four Wright Twin Cyclone GR-2600 engines. The original 314 used the GR-2600-A2A model that produced up to 1,500 horsepower and the 314A used the GR-2600-A25 that generated up to 1,600 horsepower. Both the 314 and the 314A used Hamilton-Standard 3-blade, fully-feathering, constant-speed propellers.
The 314 had a range of 4,028 miles, an operational service ceiling of 8,000 feet above sea level, a cruising speed of 183 miles per hour, and a top speed of 193 mph.
The 314A had a range of 5,410 miles, an operational service ceiling of 8,000 feet above sea level, a cruising speed of 189 miles per hour, and a top speed of 193 mph.
