Beyond The Powder: The Legacy of the First Women's Cross-Country Air Race

BEYOND THE POWDER is a documentary film that follows the female pilots of the 2014 Air Race Classic racers as they make their way across the country, while telling the story of the first women's cross-country air race of 1929, also known as the Powder Puff Derby. The first Women's Air Derby in 1929-which was comprised of 20 women, including Amelia Earhart-was flown from Santa Monica to the finish line in Cleveland, kicking off the National Air Races. The country watched as these brave women made history flying cross-country, breaking into a competition that was thought to be for men only. They encountered sabotage, death, and all the difficulties of flying at the dawn of aviation. Today the Powder Puff Derby continues as the Air Race Classic, with modern day racers carrying out the legacy and the adventurous spirit of the original racers. Showing that they were more than just their make-up, the original Derby contestants have inspired those flying today to truly push beyond the powder.

Duration: 56 minutes and 46 seconds


Watch Beyond The Powder: The Legacy of the First Women's Cross-Country Air Race - Clips, Episodes & Previews




NHPBS Over-the-Air Broadcast

WENH-TV Ch. 11 Durham

WLED-TV Ch. 48 Littleton

WEKW-TV Ch. 18 Keene

W50DP-D Ch. 50 Hanover

W34DQ-D Ch. 34 Pittsburg

Cable and Satellite Channels


NHPBS Five Channels

NHPBS - 11.1

Explore - 11.2

World - 11.3

Create - 11.4

Kids - 11.5

All of our channels and NHK World Japan are streaming LIVE ONLINE and on the PBS App, available on most devices.

Learn More


 

Community Impact

NHPBS NHPBS Passport Passport

American Masters | Sun Ra: Do The Impossible [ASL]
Ask This Old House | E15 | Toys and Colors, Air Switch | Ask This Old House
This Old House | E15 | Suburban Victorian | Getting Our Ducts in a Row
Nature | Freshwater | Parenthood
Secrets of the Dead | The Quest for Camelot
NOVA | Can Dogs Talk?
History with David Rubenstein | Stuart Eizenstat
Antiques Roadshow | Georgia State Railroad Museum, Hour 2
Austin City Limits | Queens of the Stone Age
Finding Your Roots | The Road We Took
All Creatures Great and Small | Episode 1: Gathering the Flock
American Experience | Bombshell
From That Small Island: The Story of the Irish | New Worlds
London's New Year's Day Parade | The London Parade 2026
Rome New Year's Day Parade 2026 | Rome New Year's Day Parade 2026
Bookish | Slightly Foxed, Part 1
Happiness | Episode 1
Great Performances | Nutcracker from English National Ballet
Miss Scarlet | Episode 3: The Delivery
Christmas With The Tabernacle Choir | Hope of the Season: Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir
London Parade - A Tribute to 40 Years | London Parade - A Tribute to 40 Years
The St. Olaf Christmas Festival: Our Hope for Years to Come | The St. Olaf Christmas Festival: Our Hope for Years to Come
Prue Leith's Cotswold Kitchen | Charlotte Church
The Nutcracker at the Jacobs School of Music | The Nutcracker at the Jacobs School of Music
The Caverns Sessions | Flatland Cavalry
The Great Escaper | The Great Escaper
The American Revolution | In Order to Be Free (May 1754 - May 1775)
Rick Steves' Europe | London: A Royal Tour
RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service | Sieve & Sort
Lidia Celebrates America | Lidia Celebrates America: A Nation of Neighbors
Story Pole | Story Pole