Nice action shot. The Commodore was first ordered by the short-lived New York, Rio & Buenos Aires Line, NYRBA, but played an important role in Pan Am service. Photo from: SFO Museum

Pan American Airway's Consolidated "Commodore" at their Alameda base in 1937. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge can be seen in the background. Apologies for the rope in front.

The Consolidated "Commodore" made its first flight in 1929 and was the state-of-the-art flying boat in the early 1930s. It was increasingly obsolete by 1937. The model 16-1 had a capacity of 22 passengers and 3 crew members.

Pan American's Consolidated "Commodore" on exhibit as part of the 1940 Golden Gate International Exposition. Carried "Training Plane No.1" on the nose. The exposition opened May 25, 1940, through September 29, 1940.

NYRBA started flying the Commodore flying boat on its main Buenos Aires - Miami route in February 1930. This did not last long as the company was taken over by Pan Am in August 1930. Photo from: Dan Shumaker collection

Dating approximate. A famous aviator, Clarence Chamberlin tried to start his own airline using several Curtiss 53 Condors. It was apparently linked to New York & New England Airways. A former NYRBA Line and Pan Am machine, NC664M was registered to Chamberlin's wife when levied upon by the sheriff of Kings County (Brooklyn) on 31 October 1938. It burnt at Takla Lake, British Columbia, on 18 June 1942 while in American Export Airlines service under contract for the US military. Plans were made in 2010 to salvage the flying boat. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum

One of 14 Commodore flying boats bought by Pan Am from the NYRBA Line in December 1930. Operated on the Miami to Santiago de Chile route via the east coast of Latin America. Obtained from Pan Am 60 years ago.