A First Day Cover marking the First Transpacific Flight to Hong Kong.  This event was possible since the British opened up Hong Kong to the Pan Am Clippers, nearly 21/2 years after the first transpacific flight to Manilla.

The extended route included flying from Manila further west to Macao, then the last leg to Hong Kong.

This cover is specific from Honolulu to Macao.  April 23,1937 is the Hong Kong departure date, landing In Hong Kong also on April 28.

This historic cover is uniquely addressed to Mr. Russell Sabor ("CommAIRdore" Sabor), a legendary early aviation enthusiast and pioneer passenger on Pan Am's first transpacific and transatlantic routes.

The photographs shown in the listing are included.  The post card size item has the photographs on the front and back

Details of the flight and aircraft:

The first commercial transpacific passenger flight arrived in Hong Kong on April 28, 1937, operated by Pan American Airways using the legendary Martin M-130 flying boat, the China Clipper. The landmark journey across the Pacific Ocean was officially completed after crossing roughly 8,000 miles.

Key Details of the Historic Flight
  • Departure: The flight departed from San Francisco Bay, California, on April 21, 1937.
  • Arrival: The aircraft touched down in Hong Kong on April 28, 1937.
  • Passengers: There were 7 revenue passengers on board. Note: One of these first seven passengers was Mr. Russell Sabor.  He was also on the first Trans-Atlantic flight.
  • The Route: The flight path crossed the Pacific via stops in Hawaii, Midway Island, Wake Island, Guam, Manila, and Macau before reaching its final destination in Hong Kong.
The Aircraft
  • Model: Martin M-130 flying boat.
  • Crew: Carried a crew of nine and a capacity of eighteen night passengers.
  • Construction: Built at a cost of $417,000 by the Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore, Maryland, and powered by four 14-cylinder Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engines.
Legacy and Aftermath
  • The journey marked the inauguration of commercial transpacific aviation, establishing a route that required over six days to complete.
  • The success of the route proved the viability of long-haul transoceanic flight, prompting Pan Am to later expand its network using newer Boeing 314 Clipper seaplanes.