Although a number of aviators had flown across the United States since Cal Rodgers first accomplished the feat in 1911, there was no organized route and landing areas were few and far between, especially in the western U.S. Air Service transcontinental air race in October 1919. , General William "Billy" Mitchell, a staunch advocate of aviation, put together a U.S. Early airplanes has no radios, instruments or other navigational aids and pilots flew by dead reckoning Few facilities existed and pilots were often forced to land due to bad weather however, fatalities were rare. In the fall of 1918 the Post Office purchased six specially-built mail planes and hired civilian pilots. They argued that this cross-country flying would provide invaluable experience to student flyers and the Secretary of War agreed. In 1918 Congress appropriated $100,000 to establish experimental airmail routes and the Post Office encouraged the Army Signal Corps to lend its planes and pilots to start the service. ![]() ![]() From 1912 to 1916 they urged Congress to appropriate money to launch airmail service and in 1916, $50,000 was authorized but no aircraft were received due to the absence of suitable planes. By 1912 it had authorized 52 flights at fairs, carnivals and air meets in more than 25 states. ![]() Post Office Department authorized the first experimental mail flight in 1911 at an aviation meet on Long Island, New York. The First Transcontinental Airmail Route.
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