June 1934

 

 

“1934: The Last Word in Travel Comfort"

Photo: Maintenance on Pan Am Lockheed Electra (PAHF collection).

 

New Electra Features

"LOS ANGELES. — Deeply upholstered reclining-type chairs, individually operated ventilators over each seat, reading lights, co-pilot call buttons, ashtrays, a lavatory and thorough soundproofing provide the last word in travel comfort for passengers in the newest high-speed transport airplane, the 221-mile-an-hour Lockheed Electra which is nearing completion for Pan American Airways System.

 

Although the Electra has a small frontal area due to sinking the fuselage into the wing, it has a 58½-inch wide cabin which provides ample space for comfortable seating of 10 passengers in arm chairs. Generous leg room is provided between the chairs. The height of the cabin is 60 inches.

 

To provide what is perhaps the quietest cabin of any high-speed transport plane in the world, Western Electric engineers were employed to soundproof the Electra. The cabin is completely lined with three layers of ⅛-inch kapok sheets. The center sheet is krinkled so as to leave an air space between the outer layer which is glued to the metal shell of the fuselage and the inner layer over which the upholstering cloth is laid. At 200 m.p.h. the noise intensity in parts of the cabin is as low as 70 decibels, which corresponds to that of a Pullman car.

 

The walls and ceiling are finished with a light olive green upholstering cloth, while the seats are covered with a material of slightly darker shade, producing a harmonious and restful two-tone effect.”

Source:

"Pan American Air Ways," Vol. 5, No. 4 (June-July 1934) p. 16.

 

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