Canadian online channel AeroCinema is expanding the programme distribution side of its business, picking up an aviation feature documentary for international sales.

AeroCinema, which specialises in aviation content, will distribute Erik Nelson’s feature doc 25 Missions globally.

The programme is in development and follows the discovery of 15 hours of unseen footage from the filming of William Wyler’s iconic aviation film The Memphis Belle.

The renowned Hollywood director travelled to Europe in 1943 to document the air war, flying missions with American B-17 bombers and putting himself and his cameramen in the line of fire.

Nelson and his firm Creative Differences recently uncovered a cache of 15 additional hours that have never been seen before, including colour footage of bombing runs. Nelson previously produced Werner Herzog’s 2005 feature Grizzly Man.

Paul G Allen’s Vulcan Productions came onboard the feature doc as its US coproducer at MipTV last week and the anticipated release date is in early 2018.

Philanthropist Allen has supported the restoration of Second World War aircraft through The Flying Heritage Collection & Combat Armor Museum for decades.

AeroCinema is a VoD channel led by executive chair Clark Bunting, past president and general manager of Discovery Channel, and CEO Philip Osborn, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the creation of aviation, aerospace and military content.

The channel currently offers more than 150 hours of original HD documentaries, drawing on decades of experience in the production of aviation docs for the Wings slot on Discovery Channel and the Legendary Wings slot on Planete France.