Michael Kelley is a Los Angeles-based architectural photographer and aviation lover who often catches himself “at 2am looking up articles on aviation” (I know that feeling.) So when the opportunity came to recreate the famous Pan Am way-of-fly using a vintage 747, he jumped right in. His new photos are perfect.
From its founding in the 1920s to its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, Pan Am set the status quo when it came to international travel. Everyone wanted to fly Pan Am, other airlines wanted to be Pan Am, and everyone wanted to work for Pan Am. Revered by the rich and famous, the travelling public, enthusiasts and employees alike, Pan Am’s legacy lives on to this day.
In an attempt to share this legacy with the world, Mike Kelley worked with Anthony Toth, one of the world’s foremost experts on aviation history, to bring Pan Am back to life in 2014. This is the story of Pan Am Flight 120, from Los Angeles International (LAX) to London Heathrow (LHR) on a Boeing 747-200, Clipper Gem Of The Ocean.
Michael Kelleyis a Los Angeles-based architectural photographer. His work has been featured in major publications worldwide and his clients include companies like Adobe, Vail Resorts, and the Beverly Hills Historical Preservation Society.
You can follow him on his website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.