How American advances in aviation between 1865 and 1929 forever changed travel in the United States. (LS)

Major events in US aviation.

Period: 1860 to 1930

First attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon ended in failure.

1873

John Wise and his partner, W. H. Donaldson planned a flight from New York to Europe. Their balloon was 160 feet high, and measured 400,000 cubic feet. The balloon ripped during inflation, and the attempt was cancelled. The feat was not accomplished until 1978. (Image: http://www.bchsnow.org/images/Balloon_Graphic_1873.jpg, http://www.bchsnow.org/artifact.cfm?id=214&featured=Balloon_Graphic_1873&caption=1873%20Balloon%20Graphic%20newspaper)(Accessed July 26,2017)

First glider flight in the United States.

Aug 28, 1883

John J. Montgomery made the first controlled flight of a heavier than air craft. He utilized the gentle slope of his family farm in Otay Mesa, California, just outside of San Diego. (Image: http://www.wmof.com/1183mglider.jpg, http://www.wmof.com/1883.htm)(Accessed July 26, 2017)

First manned, powered, controlled, and sustained flight.

Dec 17, 1903

Orville Wright made the first manned, controlled, powered, and sustained flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. He and his brothers went on to make three more flights that day before damaging the Flyer beyond repair. (Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/First_flight2.jpg/1920px-First_flight2.jpg, https://en.wikipedia.org/) (Accessed July 26, 2017)

First transcontinental flight.

1911

Calbraith P. Rodgers completed the first flight across the U.S. He covered 4,321 miles, from New York to California. It took 82 hours and 4 minutes, but 49 days. "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." - Cal Rodgers (Image: http://pioneersofflight.si.edu/content/calbraith-perry-rodgers-vin-fiz, http://pioneersofflight.si.edu/content/first-american-transcontinental-flight)(Accessed July 26, 2017)

The Post Office began its air mail service.

1918

From 1918 to 1927, the Post Office purchased aircraft and trained pilots to deliver mail across the country. Since many Americans were unsure about the safety of flying as passengers, these airmail contracts allowed many companies to survive as larger and safer aircraft were being built and tested. (Image: www.antiqueairfield.com/features/airmail/4_dh4_sm600.jpg, http://www.antiqueairfield.com/features/us_airmail.html)(Accessed July 27th, 2017)

Four Army Air Service pilots complete the first circumnavigation of the globe.

1924

Two of the four Douglas World Cruisers completed the trip, covering 27,000 miles in 175 days, using 74 stops. The goal was to evaluate the airplane as a global technology. (Image: https://airandspace.si.edu/webimages/previews/6198p.jpg, http://pioneersofflight.si.edu/content/first-flight-around-world)(Accessed July 26,2017)

First solo, nonstop flight across the Atlantic.

1927

Flying a modified Ryan monoplane, the "Spirit of St. Louis", Charles Lindbergh completed his solo, nonstop flight from New York to Paris. He completed the 1,000 mile feat in thirty-three and a half hours, joking he could have flown another 500 miles. (Image: http://selfeducatedamerican.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/The-Spirit-of-St.-Louis-02.jpg, https://www.google.com/)(Accessed July 26, 2017)

Pan American Airways is founded.

1927

Originally delivering mail and passengers from Key West, Florida to Havana, Cuba, Pan Am would grow to become the nations premier international air carrier. They would go on to pioneer many of the systems used in aviation systems used today. (Image: https://jpbpa2.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/ford-trimotor1.jpg, https://www.google.com/)(Accessed July 27, 2017)