Description: Frequent strong west-to-east headwinds during the winter season constituted a severe problem on the Lisbon-Horta-Bermuda-New York route. When such conditions prevailed flying the Bolama route, with shorter legs and more frequent refueling but heavier payloads, was an attractive alternative.The alternate route was Lisbon - Bolama, Portuguese Guinea - Belem, Brazil (optional) - Port of Spain, Trinidad - San Juan - New York. It went into operation without advance notice on the Foreign Air Mail Route 18 return flight from Lisbon, February 5, 1941.Pan American Airways president Juan T. Trippe and Wendell L. Wilkie were passengers on the inaugural flight.It was originally expected that the Bolama alternate would be used during the winter season and only westbound. However, with experience it was found that conditions favoring use of this route – in both directions – occurred at other times, even though the total distance traveled was considerably longer. Consequently the Bolama alternate evolved into a trans-Atlantic route that was used ‘as necessary’ during World War II. Aircraft and command pilot: Boeing 314, NC 18605, Dixie Clipper, Captain Harold E. Gray. This cover was carried on the inaugural Foreign Air Mail Route 18 flight from New York to Bolama, Portuguese Guinea (where it was backstamped) and is listed in the Foreign Air Mail Flights (FAM) Section of The American Air Mail Catalogue as F18-20.
Price: 4 USD
Location: Cranford, New Jersey
End Time: 2024-08-29T20:00:35.000Z
Shipping Cost: 1.35 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Type: Aviation History
Place of Origin: United States
Quality: First Flight Cover
Event: First Flight
Grade: Ungraded
Exact Topic: First Flight
Topic: Postal History
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Modified Item: No
Certification: Uncertified
