American Experience (1988)
S02E01 The Great Air Race of 1924
Episode Overview
The inaugural global air race, backed by the Army Air Service to demonstrate the airplane's potential for commercial use, was a true trial for both pilots and their aircraft. Four aviators launched from Seattle in their single-engine, open-cockpit planes. After an arduous journey spanning 175 days, only two of the original pilots returned to Seattle, completing the remarkable challenge they had set out to conquer.