Biographical Sketches

JUAN TERRY TRIPPE

Born: June 27, 1899    In: Sea Bright, NJ
Died: April 3, 1981    In: New York City, NY

Juan Terry Trippe was best known as co-founder of Pan American Airways and its guiding influence for more than 50 years. Entered Yale in 1917, where he founded the Yale Flying Club, left to join the USN during WW1, then returned to complete his studies. Trippe and former members of the Yale Flying Club purchased seven surplus naval aircraft and formed Long Island Airways (1923). In 1924 he formed Colonial Air Transport, which served the New York-to- Boston route on the first U.S. Air Mail contract.

He left Colonial in 1926 and joined with Cornelius Whitney and John Hambleton to form a new service that won the first international air mail contract (1927), between Florida and Cuba. In 1927 this company merged with PAA, a company formed by Richard Bevier and Grant Mason to compete for the Florida-Cuba airmail contract. Trippe served as Chairman and CEO of the operating company of PAA Corp for 41 years (1927-68). Following WW2 Trippe advocated low-cost air travel, introduced low-fare service on PAA’s North Atlantic routes and the two-class seating arrangement later adopted by all major operators. In 1949 the holding and operating companies of PAA Corp merged as Pan American World Airways. Despite attempts to depose him, Trippe remained in control of PAWA until he resigned in 1968. He remained honorary chairman and an active member of the board until 1975, and continued to work a full schedule until suffering a stroke in 1980, passing away a year later.

Enshrined in National Aviation Hall of Fame 1970.

Denotes an individual known to have soloed an aircraft prior to December 16, 1917, whether they were members of the "Early Birds of Aviation" Organization or not.