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  • Navigating
    at Sea
    • Challenges of Sea Navigation
    • Navigating Without a Clock
    • The Longitude Problem
    • The U.S. Goes to Sea
    • Navigate at Sea! Activity
  • Navigating
    in the Air
    • Challenges of Air Navigation
    • Early Air Navigators
    • Navigation at War
    • Navigate the Skies! Activity
  • Navigating
    in Space
    • Challenges of Space Navigation
    • Reaching for the Moon
    • Navigating in Deep Space
    • Navigate in Space! Activity
  • Satellite Navigation
    • Challenges of Satellite Navigation
    • Reliable Global Navigation
    • Global Positioning System (GPS)
    • Who Uses Satellite Navigation
  • Navigation
    for Everyone
    • Meet a Professional Navigator
    • Personal Navigation Stories
  • Timeline of Innovation
  • Artifacts
  • Learning Resources
  • Multimedia Gallery
  • Research
  • Visit the Exhibition

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Time and Navigation Home
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Time and Navigation
The untold story of getting from here to there.
Home

Search form

  • Navigating at Sea
  • Navigating in the Air
  • Navigating in Space
  • Satellite Navigation
  • Navigation for Everyone
  • Timeline of Innovation
  • Artifacts
  • Learning Resources
  • Multimedia Gallery
  • Research Journal
  • Visit the Exhibition
  • Challenges of Air Navigation
    • Flying Boats Cross the Seas
    • Overcoming the Challenges
      • Celestial Navigation
      • Radio Navigation
      • Dead Reckoning
    • Navigate the Skies! Activity
  • Early Air Navigators
    • Dying to Set Records
    • Charles Lindbergh's Calculated Risk
    • The Business of Air Navigation
      • The Teacher: P. V. H. Weems
      • The Air Navigation Community
      • Radio Time for Aviation
    • Lindbergh's New Tools
    • Two Men in a Hurry
      • The Winnie Mae
      • Meet the Navigator: Harold Gatty
    • Navigation Gone Wrong: Amelia Earhart
  • Navigation at War
    • The Wartime Navigator
      • Harry Crosby
      • Tools of the Trade
    • Naval Aviation
      • Meet the Navigators: WAVES
    • A New Era in Time and Navigation
      • Hyperbolic Systems
      • LORAN
      • Meet the Clockmaker: Alfred Loomis
  • Navigate the Skies! Activity

Did You Know?

The first attempt to fly to Hawaii from the mainland United States, in 1925, resulted in a fight for survival and an amazing feat of navigation and seamanship.

Explore More

Link A-12 Sextant »
Kollsmann D-1 Periscopic Sextant »
Peter Redpath »
World War II Bombing Mission Radar Map  »
"Kingsford Smith Luck Holds" [Run Time 1:40] »

Flying Boats Cross the Seas

Flying boats spearheaded aerial exploration and overseas transport in the 1920s and ’30s and opened the era of regular transoceanic flights.

Although landplanes and airships had the range to cross oceans, explorers, airlines, and military aircrews often preferred flying boats. With runways few and far between in most countries, flying boats could land in almost any sheltered stretch of water. They also made in-flight emergencies over the open ocean much more survivable. Still, navigating across an ocean in any type of aircraft was difficult and often perilous.

Why Did Nations Take the Risk?

Many nations took on the challenge of navigating across the ocean by air. Between the world wars, the United States and many European countries competed for national prestige by setting new transoceanic records, establishing overseas airline service, connecting colonial possessions, and demonstrating military power.

In peacetime, these achievements showed how far aviation had come in only a few years. But as war broke out again, the ability to cross oceans by air meant that no nation was safe from attack.

 

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Dornier Do R4 Superwal I-RIDE, 1/20 Scale
In the early 1930s, this type was proposed (unsuccessfully) for the first regular commercial transatlantic service.
Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

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PN-9 Crippled after Nine Days Adrift
The PN-9 after "sailing" to Hawaii.
Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

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Naval Aircraft Factory PN-9, 1/16 Scale
Cmdr. John Rodgers and his crew spent nine days adrift at sea in this aircraft after failing to rendezvous with a refueling ship.
Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

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S.I.A.I. S.55A (Italy)
From the mid-1920s to the mid-1930s, the Italian-built twin-hulled S.55 was one of the most common crossers of the Atlantic.
Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

dornier_doj_-_nasm-1a37122.jpg

Dornier Do J Wal (Germany)
The rugged "whale" was perhaps the most internationally popular of the interwar flying boats for transoceanic flights and polar exploration.
Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

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Martin M-130 (USA)
Used in pioneering trans-Pacific airline service by Pan American Airways.
Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

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Latécoère 521 Lieutenant de Vaisseau Paris (France)
This "one-off" record-setting airliner showcased French engineering expertise on a range of transatlantic flights in the late 1930s.
Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

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Kawanishi H6K (Japan)
Japan's airline routes were closely tied to military goals, as were the aircraft they selected, such as the H6K, which became a patrol bomber in World War II.
Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

after_a_ten_months_journey_-_dornier_do_x_arrives_in_north_america_-_pathe_865.28.mp4

"After a Ten Months Journey" [Run Time 1:09]
Dornier Do X arrives in North America
Credit: WPA Film Library

almost_a_miracle_-_pn-9_hawaii_flight_attempt_-_pathe_422.06.mp4

"Almost a Miracle" [Run Time 0:58]
PN-9 Hawaii flight attempt
Credit: WPA Film Library

first_formation_atlantic_flight_-_balbo_italy_to_brazil_-_pathe_709.03.mp4

"First Formation Atlantic Flight" [Run Time 2:27]
Balbo Italy to Brazil
Credit: WPA Film Library

for_trans_pacific_service_-_martin_m-130_unveiled_-_pathe_817.06.mp4

"For Trans-Pacific Service" [Run Time 0:45]
Martin M-130 unveiled
Credit: WPA Film Library

germany_to_america_by_flying_boat_-_von_gronau_-_pathe_721.20.mp4

"Germany to America by Flying Boat" [Run Time 1:29]
Wolfgang von Gronau
Credit: WPA Film Library

italian_air_armada_stirs_new_york_-_1933_balbo_flight_-_pathe_566.21_.mp4

"Italian Air Armada Stirs New York" [Run Time 2:51]
1933 Balbo Flight
Credit: WPA Film Library

new_yorks_great_reception_to_allied_airmen_-_balbo_1933_-_pathe_729.15.mp4

"New York's Great Reception to Allied Airmen" [Run Time 0:48]
Balbo 1933
Credit: WPA Film Library

san_francisco_-_boeing_314_enters_service_-_pathe_1001.09.mp4

"San Francisco" [Run Time 0:49]
Boeing 314 enters service
Credit: WPA Film Library

the_giant_-_sikorsky_s-42_unveiled_-_pathe_1040.14.mp4

"The Giant" [Run Time 1:16]
Sikorsky S-40 unveiled
Credit: WPA Film Library

the_italian_air_armada_-_balbo_in_chicago_1933_-_pathe_729.22.mp4

"The Italian Air Armada" [Run Time 1:40]
Balbo in Chicago 1933
Credit: WPA Film Library

the_return_of_the_italian_air_armada_-_balbo_returns_to_rome_1933_-_pathe_733.19.mp4

"The Return of the Italian Air Armada" [Run Time 1:25]
Balbo returns to Rome 1933
Credit: WPA Film Library

yankee_clippers_atlantic_flight_-_first_boeing_314_transatlantic_flight_-_pathe_1005.17.mp4

"Yankee Clippers Atlantic Flight" [Run Time 0:27]
First Boeing 314 transatlantic flight
Credit: WPA Film Library

clipper_trans-atlantic_mail_service.mp4

"Clipper Trans Atlantic Mail Service" [Run Time 0:54]
The Pan Am Clipper Starts Service
Credit: WPA Film Library

1933_earhart_cross-country_record_-_pathe_1062.10.mp4

Amelia Earhart, Airwoman [Run Time 0:40]
Amelia Earhart After a Cross Country Flight
Credit: WPA Film Library
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  • Navigating at Sea
    • Challenges of Sea Navigation
    • Navigating Without a Clock
    • The Longitude Problem
    • The U.S. Goes to Sea
    • Navigate at Sea! Activity
  • Navigating in the Air
    • Challenges of Air Navigation
      • Flying Boats Cross the Seas
      • Overcoming the Challenges
      • Navigate the Skies! Activity
    • Early Air Navigators
    • Navigation at War
    • Navigate the Skies! Activity
  • Navigating in Space
    • Challenges of Space Navigation
    • Reaching for the Moon
    • Navigating in Deep Space
    • Navigate in Space! Activity
  • Satellite Navigation
    • Challenges of Satellite Navigation
    • Reliable Global Navigation
    • Global Positioning System (GPS)
    • Who Uses Satellite Navigation
  • Navigation for Everyone
    • Meet a Professional Navigator
    • Personal Navigation Stories
  • Timeline of Innovation
  • Artifacts
  • Learning Resources
  • Multimedia Gallery
  • Research
  • Visit the Exhibition
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Sponsors
  • Press
  • Donate
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