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.

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.

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.