"Flying Cross Country with Your Wife, Mother and the Navy"

Nov. 5 Honeywell lecture recalls the story of Cal Rogers' epic 1911 flight across the U.S.

SEATTLE, Oct. 21, 2011--On Nov. 5 aviation historian and author Mike Lavelle will present the sometimes-madcap story of the first flight across the United States, "Flying Cross Country with Your Wife, Mother and the Navy in 1911." In 1911 aviator Cal Rodgers tried to win the $50,000 prize offered by publisher William Randolph Hearst to the first pilot to fly across the U.S. within 30 days. Lavelle's presentation is a fast-moving summary of the challenges, misfortunes and triumphs as Rodgers completed what was considered an impossible feat at the time. The 2 p.m. program is sponsored by Honeywell, and free with admission to the Museum.

Cal Rodgers failed to win the Hearst prize, but he completed an epic, 4000-mile journey crisscrossing the country in 49 days and 82 flying hours. Sitting bravely on the leading edge of his Wright EX Flyer named Vin Fiz, Rodgers was involved in 16 accidents resulting in broken legs, a concussion and a twisted spine. Yet with the 69 planned and unplanned landings en-route, Rodgers introduced the age of the flying machine to thousands of average Americans.

Aviation historian and author Mike Lavelle is the Director of Public Programs at The Museum of Flight. His is also a certified flight instructor and aircraft mechanic, and he is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society of Great Britain. Lavelle has made presentations to universities, museums and aviation groups on topics ranging from early aviation to the jet age.

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The non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest independent air and space museums in the world. The Museum's collection includes more than 150 historically significant air- and spacecraft, as well as the William E. Boeing Red Barn^® -- the original manufacturing facility of the Boeing Co. The Airpark includes outdoor displays with the first jet Air Force One, a Concorde airliner, and the first Boeing 747 jumbo jet. The Museum aeronautical library and archival holdings are the largest on the West Coast. The Education Office offers weekend family programs, programs for students and educators, and overnight camps for children. McCormick & Schmick's Wings Café is on site.

The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field half-way between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors 65 and older, $13 for active military, $9 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit

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