[AndyJackson]

Very interesting story. There is a point that I would like to underscore from this about reliability engineering. You are not safer with 4 low reliability engines when the plane can barely fly on 3 engines - the probability of a disaster is the probability of a failure of less reliable engine - not divided by 4 but multiplied by 4. That is why passengers are much better off on a 787 where a lot of engineering and quality control have gone into ensuring that the two engines that are there are extremely reliable.

Bottom line - there is no safety in numbers when you are only as strong as your weakest link.

[fugazi]

Fascinating point... It’s neat to see the formula and mathematics behind the common sense. Shaking my head because I had argued against the logic of flying across oceans with only two engines.

[mad_as_he$$]

A lesson that many fail to learn.

[Clutch Martin]

I think by 1956 the Pan Am Clipper Flying Boats were coming to the end of their life cycle, they had served well in the mid-to-late thirties and through the war but they were old birds 1956.

[hdstmf]

I have over ten years experience on USAF version of the this aircraft and several others with the same engine/prop systems. That includes 1957-58 providing maintenance on those spending 26 hours on the Pacific run. I’m surprised they are still in service.