Across the Pacific (2020) - Pan Am Clipper DVD
"Across the Pacific" is a three-hour documentary series about one of the great milestones in aviation history: the 1935 crossing of the Pacific Ocean by a Pan American Airways flying boat known as the China Clipper. Originally seen on public television stations, the entire series is on this Across the Pacific DVD.
The story of Pan Am's crossing of the Pacific Ocean is told by dramatic re-enactments, vintage film footage and historical commentary. There are many clips and still photos of Pan Am flying boats including the Sikorsky S-42, the Martin M-130 (China Clipper flying boat) and the Boeing 314.
Aviation pioneers spent an intense eight-year period preparing to cross the vast Pacific Ocean. This remarkable journey was the result of years filled with dynamic innovation and progress. Throughout this time, numerous individuals—both celebrated figures and those working behind the scenes—played crucial roles in making this groundbreaking venture a reality.
The Global Broadcast of the China Clipper's Takeoff
In November 1935, a monumental event captured the world’s attention: the takeoff of the China Clipper from San Francisco Bay. This historic flight was not merely a technological feat but a media sensation, broadcasted live across the globe.
How the Broadcast Was Conducted
The departure of the China Clipper was aired over nine major radio networks, a testament to the significance placed on this journey. These networks connected millions of listeners across four continents, making it one of the preeminent live broadcasts of its time.
Global Reception
The anticipation surrounding this event was palpable. It mirrored the excitement that future generations would feel during the iconic Apollo rocket launches to the moon from Cape Canaveral. People around the globe tuned in, recognizing that they were witnessing a defining moment in aviation history.
The ability to cross the Pacific by air opened new horizons, symbolizing a shrinking world where even the most remote locations could be reached. This event signified the dawn of a new era in global connectivity, much like the lunar missions would later do.
In essence, the China Clipper’s journey was not just a leap in aviation but a giant leap in how the world perceived distance and connectivity.
DVD Contents
Hour 1 - Airborne - The film's four main characters - airline executive Juan Trippe, pilot Charles Lindbergh, airplane builder Igor Sikorsky and radio engineer Hugo Leuteritz - separately struggle to find a place in post-World War I aviation. Their struggles illuminate the challenges all aviation pioneers face as they fight for survival in these early, uncertain days. The four men join forces and set out to build an airline to South America: Pan Am.
Hour 2 - Latin Laboratory - As they push southward, the four aviation pioneers outwit all competing airlines to dominate service to Latin America and launch the global air tourism industry. By the 1930s, Pan Am is the world's largest airline. But all of this is merely preparation for their ultimate goal: flying the oceans using Pan Am flying boats.
Hour 3 - Another Ocean - When Pan Am is denied the British landing rights needed to cross the Atlantic, Juan Trippe surprises even his own staff by turning to the Pacific. Defying the skeptics, Pan Am builds an airway to Asia, and the Martin M-130 flying boat known as the China Clipper inaugurates transpacific airmail service in 1935. Within two years, Pan Am is offering regular passenger service to Hong Kong, connecting America and the Asian mainland. Air service from New York to London using the new 314 Clipper begins in 1939, completing a chain of airways encircling the globe.
Total runtime for Across the Pacific film is about 180 minutes in color and B&W. Format is NTSC DVD and region-free.
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