Breaking Through the Clouds: The First Women's National Air Derby
Released: February 4, 2010Runtime: 110 min
Amelia Earhart and 19 other women defied convention by racing across the sky in 1929 to compete in the first women's national air derby. With just a compass and road map to guide them, they navigated through rough weather, mechanical failures, public scrutiny and rumors of sabotage. Wearing breeches and goggles during the day and ball gowns in the evening, these aviators challenged stereotypes by proving women could be independent, competitive, self-sufficient, intelligent, graceful and above all, really good pilots. Breaking Through The Clouds shows actual footage from the 1929 air race, aerial recreations using planes like the women flew in the derby, interviews with legendary pilots Elinor Smith and Patty Wagstaff as well as family members of the pilots and aviation experts.
Credits
- Cheryl Bakeras Close Friend of Bobbi Trout
- Florence Pancho Barnesas Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby
- Margaret Whitman Blairas Self - Author: 'The Roaring Twenty'
- Terry Carbonellas Self - Air Racer with Team Wild Mama
- Julie Clarkas Self - Airshow Pilot
- Dorothy Cochraneas Self - Curator, National Air & Space Museum
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Cast & Crew
Top billed cast
Cheryl Baker
as Close Friend of Bobbi Trout
Florence Pancho Barnes
as Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby
Margaret Whitman Blair
as Self - Author: 'The Roaring Twenty'
Terry Carbonell
as Self - Air Racer with Team Wild Mama
Julie Clark
as Self - Airshow Pilot
Dorothy Cochrane
as Self - Curator, National Air & Space Museum
Marvel Crosson
as Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby
Louis D Elia
as Self - Custodian, Pancho Barnes Trust Estate
Susan Dusenbury
as Self - Piloted Louise Thaden's 'Travel Air' in 1989 Recreation of the 1929 Women's National Air Derby Race
Amelia Earhart
as Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby
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