While the film
Silver Streak was the blockbuster hit of 1976
Less well-remember is the sequel that came out the following year.
While
Silver Streak II lacked box-office punch, it did have some things the first movie lacked. Not only was it filmed in the revolutionary new process known as
Seaplane-o-Scope 360, but while the original
Silver Streak mostly took place on a train
the follow-on movie was set on a plane.
The
Silver Streak II centered around an airline expanding into service from the Finger Lakes to Miami, Florida and the hijinks that ensued on the last of the grand passenger flying boats ever built, namesake of that famous globe-girdling explorer.
Built by Martin just as the era of large, piston-engine flying boats was ending, the Magellan was fated to be the only one of its kind.
In what design historians now consider the last and perhaps penultimate piece of Aero Art Deco, the aircraft certainly stood out with its cockpit perched up high above the nose and the domed dining/dancing/bar area convertible to a honeymoon suite in back.
The Martin Magellan was briefly trialed by Pan Am who were still using sea planes on some of their Caribbean and South American routes but by the late 1960's, interest had waned perhaps due to the dawning of both the Jet and psychedelic eras.
Martin had thoughtfully put the Magellan in storage and there it waited for one last call to service. The Canadian charter airline Worldways had expanded with a new U.S. subsidiary and they wanted a PR blitz. The film
Silver Streak II was seen as the perfect vehicle for this even if featured star Gary Coleman was often bad-tempered and difficult to work with.
Worldways purchased the Magellan and in keeping with the concept of a Silver Streak, the aircraft was suitably re-painted and the airline's eye-catching logos added.
While it was nothing short of a miracle that this one-off flying boat could take off again after being in storage so long, take off it did to the delight of director John Guillermin who grinned with anticipation of all the footage of this majestic aircraft he'd have for his film.
While the director got some of his shots, he didn't get many as the aircraft broke its back upon landing after the first day. Fortunately, enough of the fuselage survived to finish filming but all of it would be scrapped in frustration to make up for steep losses the movie incurred.
Since so little of the Magellan or the
Silver Streak II in general survives today, not only are there so-called "experts" that deny this aircraft ever flew but also film buffs who doubt the movie ever was either.
However, we know better, don't we?
Brian da Basher