Clipper Victor
Encyclopedia
Clipper Victor (also known as Clipper Young America) was a Boeing 747-121 which began service with Pan Am in 1970. It was the first Boeing 747 in service and is notable for its brief but significant history. Its tail number was and was named Clipper Victor. Pan Am named all of its planes "clippers", harking back to the 19th century clipper ships
.
Renamed Clipper Young America, it was the first Boeing 747 to make a commercial flight, flying from New York to London Heathrow, after the planned aircraft (also called Young America) developed a mechanical problem. In its first year of service the aircraft became the first 747 to be hijacked when it was flown to Cuba
on August 2, 1970. Following this incident the aircraft was renamed Clipper Victor.
On March 27, 1977 Clipper Victor was destroyed in the world's deadliest aviation accident when it collided with another 747 on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport
, Tenerife, Canary Islands. The other aircraft involved in the incident was the Rijn, a 747 of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. During the crash the plane was piloted by Captain Victor Grubbs and first officer Robert Bragg (see Tenerife airport disaster).
Clipper
A clipper was a very fast sailing ship of the 19th century that had three or more masts and a square rig. They were generally narrow for their length, could carry limited bulk freight, small by later 19th century standards, and had a large total sail area...
.
Renamed Clipper Young America, it was the first Boeing 747 to make a commercial flight, flying from New York to London Heathrow, after the planned aircraft (also called Young America) developed a mechanical problem. In its first year of service the aircraft became the first 747 to be hijacked when it was flown to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
on August 2, 1970. Following this incident the aircraft was renamed Clipper Victor.
On March 27, 1977 Clipper Victor was destroyed in the world's deadliest aviation accident when it collided with another 747 on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport
Los Rodeos Airport
-Statistics:-Accidents and incidents:Tenerife North Airport was the scene of the Tenerife airport disaster, to date the worst accident in aviation history. The accident took place on 27 March 1977, when, during take-off, the Boeing 747 of KLM Flight 4805 crashed into the Boeing 747 of Pan Am Flight...
, Tenerife, Canary Islands. The other aircraft involved in the incident was the Rijn, a 747 of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. During the crash the plane was piloted by Captain Victor Grubbs and first officer Robert Bragg (see Tenerife airport disaster).
External links
- Clipper Victor accident on PanAmAir.org
- Clipper Victor accident on PanAmAir.org old site