Panama by Air (Reel 4)

This segment, Reel 4 of the 1914 six-reel film "Panama by Air," documents an aerial journey over the Panama Canal, capturing a unique perspective of this monumental engineering project:
Aerial Photography: Filmed by Ray Duhem, with Rob Fowler as the pilot, this reel provides viewers with an early instance of aerial cinematography, showcasing the canal from above as they fly from the Atlantic to the Pacific side.
Culebra Cut to Gatun Lake: The footage specifically covers the transition from the Culebra Cut, one of the most challenging sections of the canal's construction, to the area where their aircraft runs out of gas. This dramatic moment is captured on film, including the propeller stopping, marking the end of their flight over Gatun Lake.
Engineering Marvel: The aerial views would have been particularly valuable at the time for illustrating the scale and complexity of the canal project, offering insights into the landscape, the construction sites, and the natural beauty of Panama.
Historical Significance: Not only does this film document the Panama Canal's construction from a perspective rarely seen at the time, but it also serves as a piece of aviation history, showing one of the first aerial surveys of a major infrastructure project.
Narrative of Adventure: The incident of running out of gas adds an element of adventure and human challenge to the documentary, highlighting the risks and excitement of early aerial exploration.