12 of these hulking metal flying boats flew the skies between 1939 and 1946, before Boeing scrapped them – or sank them. A nice collection of vintage images have been discovered showing the height of luxury they offered passengers (who had to cough up $US760 for a one-way ticket between San Francisco and Hong Kong).
That may not look like much today, but back in the ’40s $US760 was an insane amount of money – and $US1368 for a round-trip would’ve convinced some people to just stay put in their new country.
Only 36 passengers could be carried on board the 32m long clippers, with the seats turning into bunk beds. There was a honeymoon room however, for those loved-up couples who didn’t want to spare any luxury on that all-important first night together. I just hope the walls were soundproofed.
Check out the images over on the Flying Boat Forum, and tell me they don’t make you pine *at least* a little bit for the olden days. Unfortunately the closest you’ll ever get to seeing one of these Boeing 314s is by visiting the Foynes Flying Boat Museum in Ireland, which has a life-size replica of one of them – though if a daring group of French businessmen succeed in locating a sunken 314 in the Atlantic, we might be able to see the real thing. [Flying Boat Forum via ASB via Boing Boing]