Crashing from Coast to Coast

Cal Rodgers was the first to accomplish an amazing feat in history: flying across the entire United States. He did it in 1911 in his fragile biplane, which he named the Vin Fiz, built by the Wright brothers. This is the inspirational story of the challenges he overcame.

Cal Rodgers was the first to accomplish an amazing feat in history: flying across the entire United States. He did it in 1911 in his fragile biplane, which he named the Vin Fiz, built by the Wright brothers. This is the inspirational story of the challenges he overcame. There were no airports or air traffic control towers to make his journey easier. But he had courage and a willingness to try the impossible, and the genius of the Wright brothers was built into his aircraft. Cal cheated death numerous times on his journey, and in the process taught us all a lesson about life with his enthusiasm and persistence. His story is one we can all benefit from 100 years later.

Graduate of William and Mary and the University of Virginia, author lives in Warrenton, Virginia, researching and writing on subjects ranging from the concrete and knowable facts of history to the ideas and fantasies of philosophy.