Only eight years after the Wright Brother’s first powered flights, the “Vin Fiz” would mark a milestone in aviation history – the first flight across the United States. The driving force behind the effort was a $50,000 prize offered by newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst for completing the first transcontinental flight within 30 days of the initial take-off.

Rodgers (in hat) 

It was an enormous undertaking as there were few roads and even fewer airfields. Navigation would have to be done by the “Iron Compass” otherwise known as following railroad tracks. In the face of these difficulties, one man with a true spirit of adventure, Calbraith Perry Rodgers (who was rarely seen without a cigar in his mouth) took on the challenge. Rodgers had learned to fly at the Wright School of Aviation in Dayton, Ohio.

The Armour Company agreed to sponsor the flight to help advertise their grape soda called Vin Fiz. Rodgers flew the Wright EX, a special design used for exhibition flying, which was a slightly smaller version of the Wright Company’s standard Model B Flyer. The Vin Fiz was powered by a 35-horsepower inline 4-cylinder engine, and carried enough fuel for a maximum of 3 ½ hours flying time. A special railroad car was outfitted to support the trip. It contained two complete spare airplanes and a workshop. The Wright’s longtime mechanic Charles Taylor was the chief mechanic for the expedition. One of the Wright brothers was quoted as saying “…God knows you’ll need him.”

The Vin Fiz in our Museum's Rotunda.

When all was in order, Rodgers took to the air from Sheepshead Bay, New York on September 17, 1911. Although the plan called for many stops along the way, in the end there were 75; at least a dozen of these were crashes and Rodgers was injured several times. Taylor and the team of mechanics rebuilt the Vin Fiz when necessary. Only a few pieces of the original plane made the entire trip. Finally, after flying approximately 4,300 miles and taking considerably longer that 30 days, Rodgers landed his plane on the beach at Long Beach, California dipping his wheels in the Pacific Ocean December 10. While he did not claim the cash prize, he became a national hero. What remains of the original Vin Fiz is held by the Smithsonian.

The Vin Fiz after one of its many crackups. 

The San Diego Air & Space Museum’s reproduction Vin Fiz is the product of legendary aviation author Peter Bowers. It was built in 1961 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first transcontinental flight. The airplane is built to air-worthy standards and has been flown as a towed glider.