As they push southward, Trippe, Sikorsky, Lindbergh and Leuteritz build larger flying boats, harness radio to navigate safely over great distances, and, with help from the U.S. government, outwit all competing airlines to dominate service to Latin America and launch the global air tourism industry. But all of this is merely preparation for their ultimate goal: flying the oceans. Trippe spends six years carefully laying plans for an Atlantic crossing – only to have his hopes dashed when Britain refuses to let Pan Am’s planes land because their own planes can’t make the ocean crossing. With $2 million in new planes on order, Trippe is stymied, with no ocean to cross.

• Stephen Lyons

• Jim Powers