How a Brand New Pilot (and Grape Soda) Made History Crossing the U.S.

$50,000. That was the prize publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst set in 1910 for the first person to fly across the United States in 30 days or less before October 10, 1911. Today, the prize would be worth over $1.6 million dollars.

Who was the first person to fly across America?  

Wilbur Wright responded to the challenge saying “The man who makes it will be exceptional, physically and intellectually. He will need every atom of courage in his make-up.” A week after earning his pilot’s license in 1911, Calbraith Perry Rodgers decided he was up to the challenge. In addition to being a brand new pilot, Rodgers was also mostly deaf after a childhood illness. However, he had a love of speed—whether on a boat, car, or motorcycle—so to him flying was a natural next step. Why not try for Hearst’s prize? 

What’s this about grape soda? Who paid for the first transcontinental flight? 

Flying across the country was expensive. To finance his trip, Rodgers partnered with Chicago’s Armour Company, who were introducing a new grape-flavored soft drink: the Vin Fiz. Armour agreed to pay Rodgers $5 for each mile he flew east of the Mississippi, and $4 for each mile he flew west of it. The company also provided a special train, with cars for the accommodation of Rodgers's family and his support crew, and a "hangar" car, which was a rolling workshop, filled with spare parts to repair the airplane over the course of the flight.  In return, the Vin Fiz logo was painted on the train and Rodgers’ plane.  

Before the plane ever took flight, it made history. Rodgers’ partnership with Vin Fiz marked the first time a plane was used for commercial advertising. Rodgers covered the rest of the costs, paying for the fuel, oil, spare parts, mechanics, and airplane. 

How difficult was the flying across the United States in 1911? Very.

Next up: the actual flying—which was challenging to say the least. Two other competitors were attempting the flight that September: Robert Fowler and James Ward. Fowler took off from San Francisco on September 11, but gave up after three failed attempts to cross the Sierra Mountains. Ward took off from the east coast on September 13, but quit little more than a week later, not even making it out of New York State. 

Rodgers took off from Sheepshead Bay, NY on September 17, 1911, with less than Hearst’s 30 days to complete the trip. As his competitors demonstrated, it would not be easy. Within a day, Rodgers crashed. He had to completely rebuild his plane, costing him three days. But he did, taking off again. What followed was over 15 crashes and four engine explosions, but Rodgers kept flying.

When he was flying, Rodgers relied on railroad tracks for navigation—as the plan didn’t have a compass. On more than one occasion, he picked the wrong line, followed the wrong tracks, and had to regroup.  

When Hearst's 30-day time limit was up, Rodgers had only reached Kansas City, MI. Even without a hope of the prize, Rodgers continued on.  

How long did the first transcontinental flight take?

After 82 hours and 4 minutes of flying covering 4,321 miles, spread across 49 days, Rodgers landed in Pasadena, CA. He was welcomed by an awaiting crowd of 20,000 people. Rodgers had done it—he was the first pilot to make a transcontinental flight across America. 

 Sadly, Rodgers would not be able to enjoy the acclaim for long. Less than a year later, he was killed in an airplane crash less than 100 yards from where he ended his transcontinental flight. However, his name is forever in the history books, followed by Lieutenants Oakley Kelly and John Macready—who were the first to make a nonstop transcontinental flight in 1923; Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the U.S. in 1932; and many others.  

Rodgers once remarked “I expect to see the time when we shall be carrying passengers in flying machines from New York to the Pacific Coast in three days.” Today, non-stop flights from New York to California take about 6.5 hours.