The Pan Am Podcast

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Episode 8: A Lifetime of Romantic Adventure…From Flying Boats to Jumbo Jets Oct 31, 2021

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In this episode we are joined by a very special guest: Pan Am Captain Dave Bridges, Centenarian. He celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year and he just might be one of the oldest people to ever be on a podcast!

A 37-year Pan Am veteran, Captain Bridges joined the company in 1943 and retired in 1981. He began as a relief co-pilot on the Boeing 314 flying boat during World War II, and after the war he flew a variety of land-based aircraft including the Douglas DC-3, DC-4, DC-7c, the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, the Boeing 707, and the Boeing 747.

He currently lives outside of San Francisco, California and enjoys spending time with his family.

Special thanks to Museum Curator John Luetich, Admiral Bill Studeman, Board Member Matt Eberhart, and Museum Board Chair Linda Freire for their help on this interview. Also, thank you to donors on Facebook that made this interview possible!
Shortly after the conclusion of World War II in 1945, Pan Am made a film to mark the airline's contributions and sacrifices during the war: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTzpFX2BPPI
In 1950, Pan Am made a promotional film to promote the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v92U2F9gbUo
In the interview, Captain Bridges mentions an “old timer” that served as a mentor to the younger pilots. His name was Pan Am Captain John H. “Jack” Tilton.
Tilton joined Pan Am in 1929 and would later go on to be Chief Pilot of the Pacific Division succeeding the late Captain Edwin C. Musik. In 1941, after the promotion and transfer of John C. Leslie to be Division Manager of the Atlantic, Captain Tilton was promoted to Operations Manager of the Pacific Division.
After a distinguished 24 year career with Pan Am, Captain Jack Tilton retired in 1953 with 22,000 flying hours. He was the first pilot of the Pacific Division to retire.
Here is a 1948 article from the “Clipper” employee newspaper about Captain Tilton:
https://digitalcollections.library.miami.edu/digital/collection/asm0341/id/62129/
A special thanks to the University of Miami, Richter Library Special Collections for digitizing this publication and making it available to the public.

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A very special thanks to Mr. Adam Aron, Chairman and CEO of AMC and president of the Pan Am Historical Foundation and Pan Am Brands for their continued and unwavering support!

Episode 7: Supersonic Transports, An Angry JFK, and Flying the Line Oct 20, 2021

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In this episode we will be exploring the 1960s race for the first supersonic passenger aircraft between the United States, the Soviet Union, and a British-French partnership.

Then we are joined by Becky Sprecher, a Pan Am flight attendant and co-author with Paula Helfrich of “Flying: A Novel,” a historical fiction book about Pan Am crews flying over the Pacific in the 1970s.
To purchase the book, “Flying: A Novel,” please visit the Museum’s online store: https://shop.thepanammuseum.org/products/flying-a-novel

To watch the late 1960s Boeing promotional film “You, Me, and the SST” mentioned in this episode, visit: https://youtu.be/730hKzBgu6c
Julia Cooke wrote a moving article about the incredible life of the late Paula Zoe Helfrich in Atavist Magazine: https://magazine.atavist.com/the-improbable-life-of-paula-zoe-helfrich/?fbclid=IwAR0P3krMF-nH_W1NiJOgCCewU2Z-wvrQ1tl9q-7UiL9Bx4K7K3DShmjLu-4
The mission of the Pan Am Museum Foundation is “to educate, celebrate,and inspire present and future generations by preserving historical and diverse personal stories of Pan American World Airways.”
Pan Am was a pioneer in air travel and still stands as one of the most iconic and innovative airlines in aviation history.

That legacy lives on at the Pan Am Museum in Garden City, New York, where you can explore the rich history of the aircrafts and individuals at the heart of the company known as The World’s Most Experienced Airline.

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Episode 6: Hijackings and the Dawn of Global Terrorism Sep 24, 2021

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In this episode we explore the coordinated terrorist hijackings of four passenger airliners all bound for New York on the same day on September 6, 1970. The events were a watershed moment and aviation would never be the same again.
The four planes involved were: a TWA Boeing 707, a SwissAir DC-8, a El Al Boeing 707, and a Pan Am Boeing 747 named Clipper Fortune. A fifth plane, a BOAC Vickers VC 10, was hijacked three days afterward.

Later in the program we are joined by Pan Am Captain Paul Lachapelle. A 30-year Pan Am veteran who joined the airline in 1955 flying the 707 and later 747SP. He retired from United Airlines in 1993.

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Episode 5: Missiles, Hotels, and Rebranding an Icon Sep 13, 2021

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In this episode we explore two of the subsidiaries of Pan Am: the InterContinental Hotels Corporation and the Pan Am Guided Missiles Range Division.

Yep, you read that right, the airline company had its own hotel chain for about 30 years, and Pan Am did aerospace work for the U.S. government including the space program for almost 40 years. Why? Because the American government asked them to do both.
Later we are joined by Jennifer Coutts Clay, a leader in the aviation business in the field of aircraft interiors, corporate identity, and branding.
A pioneer for women in the airline industry, Jennifer joined Pan Am in 1986 as General Manager for Product Design and Development. In this capacity, she completed a three-year, $25-million fleet upgrade program, redesigning all major aspects of the Pan Am passenger service product.
She is the author of “Jetliner Cabins,” a visually stunning book that offers a complete history of recent cabin design going back to the 1970s. It is the first and only comprehensive account of the aircraft cabin environment. The book contains black and white and color photographs of airline interiors from around the world, covering everything from the first-class luxury to economy class passenger experience.

The robust e-book, with thousands and thousands of photos, available for purchase at: jetlinercabins.com.

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Episode 4: Evacuation of Saigon, Wings of Freedom Mission Sep 02, 2021

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In this episode we are joined by Allan Topping, a Pan Am employee who evacuated almost 500 people out of Saigon days before the city fell.
On April 24, 1975, at the conclusion of the Vietnam War, with time running out as Saigon was surrounded by North Vietnamese troops, a Pan Am 747 jumbo jet carried 463 American and South Vietnamese civilians to safety and freedom.
At the center of this dangerous and desperate mission was Allan Topping.
Mr. Topping is the author of a book, “Wings of Freedom: A True Story,” about his incredible experience in Saigon.

To purchase the book, please visit the Museum’s online store: https://shop.thepanammuseum.org/products/wings-of-freedom-a-true-story-by-allan-topping

In 1990, NBC made a movie out of Al’s story called Last Flight Out starring James Earl Jones, Richard Crenna, and Rosliand Chao.

Watch the full movie on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FH5Ef3AzsA

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Episode 3: Flying Boats, Irish Coffee, and a Hollywood Star Aug 26, 2021

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In this episode we explore Pan Am’s Boeing 314 Flying Boats. Then we are joined by Margaret O’Shaughnessy of our sister museum, the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum in Ireland.
Check out their website: https://www.flyingboatmuseum.com/

Margaret will tell us all about her museum which has the only full scale replica in the world, of a Pan American Boeing 314 called the Yankee Clipper. She will also tell us about the origins of Irish coffee and its unique connection to Pan Am history along with a conversation about Hollywood legend Maureen O’Hara and her storybook romance with Pan Am Captain Charlie Blair.

Foynes Irish Coffee Recipe: https://www.flyingboatmuseum.com/authentic-foynes-irish-coffee-recipe/

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Episode 2: The First Presidential Flight and the Last Pan Am Flight Aug 19, 2021

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In this episode we explore the first presidential flight. Then we are joined by Pan Am Captain John Marshall to share memories of the very last flight of Pan Am.
The mission of the Pan Am Museum Foundation is “to educate, celebrate,and inspire present and future generations by preserving historical and diverse personal stories of Pan American World Airways.”
Pan Am was a pioneer in air travel and still stands as one of the most iconic and innovative airlines in aviation history.

Support the show

Visit Us for more Pan Am History!
Support the Podcast!
Donate to the Museum!
Visit The Hangar online store for Pan Am gear!
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Episode 1: Welcome to the Pan Am Podcast and the Pan Am Museum Aug 18, 2021

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Opened to the public in 2016 in Garden City, Long Island, New York (outside of NYC), the Pan Am Museum presents the Pan Am Podcast!
The Museum’s mission is “to educate, celebrate, and inspire present and future generations by preserving historical and diverse personal stories of Pan American World Airways.”
In this inaugural episode, Museum Director and Board Chair Linda Freire introduces the Pan Am Museum and talks about her career as a flight attendant, recruiter, and manager with Pan Am.
Pan Am was a pioneer in air travel and still stands as one of the most iconic and innovative airlines in aviation history.

Support the show

Visit Us for more Pan Am History!
Support the Podcast!
Donate to the Museum!
Visit The Hangar online store for Pan Am gear!
Become a Member!

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