Over the Top: From Exploratory Arctic Flights to Trans-polar Express Service

Over the Top: From Exploratory Arctic Flights to Trans-polar Express Service

In 1926, Richard E. Byrd and Floyd Bennett became the first pilots to successfully fly over the barren, ice-covered expanse of the Arctic Ocean to reach the North Pole. Over the next three decades, numerous aircraft crossed over the Polar Circle conducting research and surveying for possible commercial routes. In 1954, SAS Scandinavian Airlines System became the first carrier to inaugurate commercial trans-polar service between Los Angeles, California and Copenhagen, Denmark. Soon other carriers began trans-polar service between North America and Europe and extended their routes to include Japan and Australia. Polar air traffic steadily grew as more airlines chose the timesaving "great circle route" on long-haul international flights. Currently, thousands of flights pass over the Arctic every year. This exhibition presents a collection of objects representing nearly a century of Arctic aviation and commercial polar route service, including the compass used by Byrd and Bennett, aircraft models, photographs, flight covers, promotional items, and pilot uniform caps and insignia.

Photography is not permitted.
© 2010 by San Francisco Airport Commission. All rights reserved.