The China Clipper was the first of three Martin M-130 four engine flying boats and shattered aviation records on its maiden six-day flight from California to the Orient in 1935; the flying boat became an instant celebrity. This lively history by Robert Gandt traces the development of the great flying boats as both a triumph of technology and a stirring human drama. He examines the political, military, and economic forces that drove its development and explains the aeronautical advances that made the aircraft possible. To fully document the story he includes interviews with flying boat pioneers and a dynamic collection of photographs, charts, and cutaway illustrations. The China Clipper remained in service until January 8, 1945, when it was destroyed in a crash in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Sixteen passengers and nine crew members were killed. About the Author Robert Gandt is a former naval officer, international airline captain, and air show performer. A resident of Port Orange, FL., he is the author of thirteen books, including Bogeys and Bandits.