How Hollywood Airplane Sets Make Flying Feel Real

Step aboard the Pan Am Experience and it feels real. The seats, the galley, the spiral staircase to the Upper Deck, the china and glassware all look like they belong on a 1970s Boeing 747. That is not an accident. The Pan Am Experience lives inside Air Hollywood, the aviation-themed film studio in the Los Angeles area, and the same craft that makes airplanes look convincing in movies is what makes an evening aboard “Clipper Juan T. Trippe” feel like a real flight.

Hollywood Has Always Needed Airplanes That Don’t Fly

Filmmakers have been faking flight almost as long as there have been movies. In September 2026, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum published a look at how filmmakers make airplane scenes look real, tracing the craft from early models and miniatures to modern effects. The article features Air Hollywood founder Talaat Captan and describes how Air Hollywood builds airport and airplane sets from surplus and decommissioned airliner parts.

That detail matters for passengers too. A set built from real aircraft components has the right proportions, the right textures and the right sounds, which is why it feels so convincing when you sit down in it.

From a Garage to a Film Studio

The Pan Am Experience began in 2007 in Anthony Toth’s garage in Redondo Beach, with half a fuselage and a few friends. In 2012 it moved to a warehouse in the City of Industry, where Anthony built an entire 747-200 interior. In 2013 he met Talaat Captan, and the 747 moved to Air Hollywood, where it was rebuilt with Air Hollywood’s expertise in aviation mockup design and construction, including advanced audio-visual systems, programmable LED lighting and central air conditioning. The Pan Am Experience officially launched on October 18, 2014. You can read the full story on our Our Story page.

The Movie-Making Details You Will Notice On Board

The cabins

Main Deck passengers settle into plush Sleeperette seats in First Class, while Clipper Class sits aft of the galley and the Upper Deck dining room waits at the top of the winding staircase. Each space is designed to read as a 1970s 747 from every angle, just as a film set has to hold up wherever the camera points.

The lighting

Programmable LED lighting is a standard tool on film sets, where the mood of a scene can change in a single cue. On board, it sets the warm evening glow of a long-haul dinner flight.

The service

Like actors in a period film, the crew wear original-style uniforms, perform an in-flight safety demonstration before “take-off” and serve a five-course dinner from carts and trolleys, including Chateaubriand carved in the aisle. See every course on The Experience page.

The props

Boarding passes, ticket jackets, carry-on tags, menus and postcards are the kind of small details a set decorator obsesses over. On the Pan Am Experience, you get to take them home as keepsakes.

Step Behind the Scenes After Landing

The connection to Hollywood does not end when dinner does. After the flight, passengers are offered an optional tour of the production sets at Air Hollywood, including the original cockpit from the film Airplane! It is a rare chance to see the airplane sets that productions use, and to understand how a studio turns a stage into a cabin, a cockpit or an airport.

See It Like a Filmmaker: Tips for Your Flight

• Arrive with time for the Clipper Club. The lounge is filled with vintage Pan Am memorabilia, from uniforms and airline seats to handbags and artwork, and it is the best place to take in the details before boarding.
• Choose your cabin for the mood you want. Main Deck First Class is quiet and intimate. The Upper Deck, up the winding staircase, is lively and social.
• Watch the safety demonstration. The crew performs it before “take-off”, and it is part of the show.
• Keep your keepsakes. Your boarding pass, ticket jacket, luggage tag, menu and postcards are designed in period style, just like props on a film set.
• Save energy for the tour. The optional studio tour after landing is where you will see how the rest of Air Hollywood’s sets are built for film and TV.

Why This Makes a Great Night Out

• For movie lovers: dinner inside a working film studio, followed by a look at real production sets.
• For aviation fans: a 747-200 interior with Main Deck, Clipper Class and an Upper Deck.
• For couples and friends: a unique date night in Los Angeles, with a reason to dress up in 1970s style.
• For groups: private events with seated dinners for up to 48 guests on board.

FAQ

Is the Pan Am Experience a real airplane?

It is a detailed 747 interior built inside Air Hollywood’s motion picture studio, so the whole “flight” takes place safely on the ground.

Can I see film sets during my visit?

Yes. After the flight, passengers are offered an optional tour of production sets at Air Hollywood, including the original cockpit from the film Airplane!

Where is the Pan Am Experience?

At Air Hollywood, 27615 Avenue Hopkins, Valencia, CA 91355, in Los Angeles County. Call 818-890-0444 with questions or read our FAQ.

Book Your Flight

Ready to experience the golden age of flying on a real Hollywood set? Check the latest flight dates and reserve your seats on our Tickets page.