by Ed Dover
[2] ETP: Equi-time Point is that point in a flight where, in the event of an engine failure, the flight time to destination is the same as the flight time back to the departure point.
[3] GMT: Greenwich Mean Time. All overseas flights used Greenwich Mean Time (Now referred to as Universal Time) as the standard time reference for navigation and communications.
[4] CINCPAC – “Commander-in-Chief Pacific”
[5] Present-day Kinshasa, Zaire
[6] British naval station in Ceylon – today’s Sri Lanka
[7] Present day Sri Lanka
[8] BOQ: Bachelor Officers’ Quarters
[9] Albert S. Tucker, Jr., Pacific Clipper – The Untold Story, The News-Gazette Print Shop 2001, page 83, note 8. This corrects information in the original version of The Long Way Home in which the identity of Ford’s dinner hostess is reported as Lady Mountbatten. Mr. Tucker’s research revealed that Lord Mountbatten did not take command of the China-Burma-India theater until 1943 – well after Ford’s visit. Thanks to Al Tucker for correcting this detail of the story.
[10] The blades on the variable-pitch propellers were adjusted by a set of pistons built into the control located in the hub of the propeller.
[11] At the time, the base at Fisherman’s Lake in Liberia had not yet been established.
[12] Density Altitude: An indirect measure of air density based upon temperature, humidity, and true altitude above sea level. High temperature combined with high humidity increases density altitude. This reduces the lifting efficiency of the wing and reduces engine and propeller efficiency thereby making it more difficult to takeoff and climb.
[13] Howgozit Curve: A line plotted on the navigation chart to measure fuel consumption against flight progress. Used to determine, at any point in a flight, if there is enough fuel to reach destination with a suitable reserve for emergencies.
[14] S-O-P: Standard Operating Procedure