Pan American Grace Airways Sikorsky S-38 Amphibian Plane 1929 Real Photo Postcard

The aircraft depicted is likely a Sikorsky S-38 amphibian, a crucial early passenger transport aircraft used by Pan American-Grace Airways (Panagra). Panagra, formed in 1929 as a joint venture between Pan American World Airways and W.R. Grace and Company, was instrumental in pioneering commercial air travel routes along the west coast of South America, connecting the United States with nations like Peru, Chile, and Argentina. The S-38's amphibian design allowed it to operate from both land-based airfields and water, a vital capability for establishing air routes in a region with undeveloped airport infrastructure during the late 1920s and 1930s.