The First Women's National Air Derby of 1929, in Santa Monica California
"The women worked collaboratively to ensure everyone’s success. They consulted each other before making decisions so they were ALL leaders. This is one of the reasons I produced the film as the women are role models of working together toward both collective and personal goals even in a competition! If they fought or only chose one leader, then the press would pick up on that and try to make it seem like there were cat fights. This would overtake the women’s entire purpose of proving they could fly and that flying was safe. This helped not only them, but all those relying on the women for the success of the derby including the plane manufacturers, sponsors, and cities that were promoting them."- Heather Taylor, Producer Breaking Through The Clouds. Interview with Keri Kittleson