Rodgers flew a Wright biplane,
and during his long trip the machine was repeatedly
repaired, so great was the strain of the long journey in the
air. Rodgers is estimated to have covered 4,231 miles,
although the actual route as mapped out was but 4,017 miles.
Elapsed time to Pasadena, Cal., 49 days; actual time in the
air, 4,924 minutes, equivalent to 3 days 10 hours 4 minutes;
average speed approximating 51 miles per hour. Rodgers'
longest flight in one day was from Sanderson to Sierra Blanca,
Texas, on October 28, when he covered 231 miles. On November
12, Rodgers fell at Compton, Cal., and was badly injured,
causing a delay of 28 days.
European Circuit Race.--Started from Paris on June 18,
1911. Distance, 1,073 miles, via Paris to Liege; Liege to Spa
to Liege; Liege to Utrecht, Holland; Utrecht to Brussels,
Belgium; Brussels to Roubaix; Roubaix to Calais; Calais to
London; London to Calais and Calais to Paris. Three aeronauts
were killed either at the start or shortly after the race
was in progress. They were Capt. Princetau, M. Le Martin
and M. Lendron. Three others were injured by falls. Seven
hundred thousand spectators witnessed the start from the
aviation field at Vincennes, near Paris. There were more
than forty starters, of which eight finished.
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