FLYING ACROSS AMERICA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 107, 13 January 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

FLYING ACROSS AMERICA

4231 MILES IN 49-24 MINUTES. Exceeding during the time consumed in his actual flight the speed of an overland express train, Calbraith P. Rodgers, a daring young aviator, has (says the San 'Francisco correspondent of the Age) achieved a notable feat in aeronautics by winging his way across the American continent. He flew from the Atlantic coast, in New York State, to Pasadena, California, where he, was in sight of the Pacific Ocean. This was the real finish of the trip, but in attempting to cover the few remaining miles in order to make the official finish at Long Beach Rodgers unfortunately became entangled in a network of overhead electric wires, and sustained a rather serious accident. He is now recovering, and in a few days will fly to the actual shore of the Pacific Ocean.

The distance covered in the fight to Pasadena was 4231 miles, and the time actually spent in the air was 4924 minutes, or three days ten hours and a few minutes. With delays and stops, however, Rodgers was 49 days in making his record-breaking trip. 'This achievement far outranks that of Harry Atwood, who some weeks ago gained the world's record for long distance flight by flying from St. Louis to New York, 1265 miles. Rodgers endeavored to win the £IO,OOO prize offered bv William R. Hearst, the millionaire newspaper proprietor, as a reward for the first man who should fly across the American continent in 30 days.

Although he failed in this, Rodgers' performance is one that places him in the forefront in the ranks of man-birds. During the time lie was in the air his actual speed was 51.59 miles an hour. On one day lie broke the American record for a sustained flight, covering 240 miles without a stop. The cross-country flight is a notable event in aviation, achieved in the face of most disheartening obstacles. From the time Rogers began his flight until he reached California, he had troubles with his machine, and almost everything that could happen to an aviator, except death, happened to him. From his own statement he had nearly a score of narrow escapes from death. In the last stages of the flight only nerve and dexterity in handling a flying machine with a dead engine saved him. Once, at Imperial Junction, he volplaned to the ground from a height of 4000 feet, with one hand on the controlling lsver of the biplane and the other clutching parts of the machinery to prevent the broken motor and propellers from thrashing the flimsy aeroplane fabric to pieces.

"Well, one thing is certain; you cannot do a transcontinental trip in 30 days," was the first thing Roberts said upon landing. "Thirty-day trips from coast to coast will be out of the question until there are radical improvements both in flying machines and motors." The aviator's statement was based on the series of accidents that happened to his machine. Rodgers in his flight passed through 11 States—New York, Pennsylvuuiii. Ohio. Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. He was accompanied most of the way by a special train, bearing expert mechanicians, gasolene and materials for effecting repairs. Without this aid he admits that he would have succeeded in his undertaking. His wife and mother were on the special train. Some 20,000 people gave him a clamorous welcome at Pasadena. He was literally mobbed by the surging crowd, everyone eager to shake hands with him. Although he did not succeed in gaining the £IO,OOO prize, much wealth will flow to him as the result of his feat. He has received some very tempting offers to appear at exhibitions in different parts of the country.