calbraithrodgers

Cal Rogers! Is that the Vin Fiz in the background?

www.first-to-fly.com/History/History of Airplane/hearstprize.htm

This image had to be between 1910 and 1912...there is no way it could be later than April 3rd of that year. In a flight over Long Beach, Rodgers flew into a flock of sea gulls; his plane crashing into the surf. He perished with a broken neck.

The date on the photograph is September 17, 1911. This is the day Cal Rodgers took off from Sheepshead Bay, New York at 4:30 pm in pursuit of the Hearst Prize. The Hearst Prize was offered by George Randolph Hearst to the first aviator to fly coast to coast across the United States, in either direction, in fewer than 30 days from start to finish. Rodgers flew a Wright EX Flyer, a modified Model B, named the "Vin Fiz Flyer". Vin Fiz was the sponsor of Rodgers and his airplane. Rodgers would eventually reach Pasadena, California on November 5, 1911, after multiple crashes and mechanical problems throughout his journey. Rodgers would not win the prize because he exceeded the 30 day requirement, and the prize itself had expired weeks earlier. However, Rodgers and the Vin Fiz Flyer would be the first to complete a journey coast to coast across the United States. Calbraith Perry Rodgers earlyaviators.com/erodgers.htm