Perry Rogers-wild man.

[Richard Hays]

Just visited the grave site of this wild man. I can't believe I never heard of this guy before. Has anybody else??

Quick overview: Was the first guy to buy a Wright Flyer ( other than military ) for personal use. Gets a 90 minute ( could that be right? ) lesson from the Wright Brothers and off he goes with his new toy.

Gets a sponsorship from a soda pop and food manufacturer to fly trans-continental beginning in Long Island and ending in Pasadena, California. No instruments. No compass. Nothing. Flies over NYC. Flies over Rocky Mountains. Crashed numerous times.In fact.....with almost every landing. Had a chase crew to fix his wing though. Keep in mind that there were no landing strips or good roads or anything for that matter for this guy to take off or land upon. Jeeesh. Anyway......

Promotes a soda pop called Vinn Fizz which was apparently a really crappy grape soda. Becomes quite the story as he progresses westward. Ends up flying into a flock of seagulls and crashes to his death while doing a show shortly after he becomes the first man to ever fly across the united states. Proves to the world that this type of aviation was possible. Also becomes the first person to die from a bird strike.

Footnote: Born in Pittsburgh. Lived in Havre de Grace Maryland for awhile as a kid. Buried in Pittsburgh-Allegheny cemetery. Nice monument. Family was also somewhat famous. This should be a movie! What a wild man!

Raise a glass to one of the classic early pioneers of aviation. I did. I guarantee he'd be flying hang gliders today. FYI: his aircraft is supposedly in the Air and Space Museum. Look for it next time you're there. I know I will.

Richard Hays
MHGA

[Richard Hays]

spelling correction: Rodgers

Location correction: Long Beach, CA.

[dbodner]

I haven't heard of him per se. But, I did see the Vin Fizz airplane at the Air and Space Museum a long time ago. Maybe it's still there.