First Transcontinental Air Race Started in 1919

Belvin Maynard Landing to Win Race

First Transcontinental Air Race began in 1919. The race was also called the Transcontinental Reliability and Endurance Test. Fifteen airplanes took off from San Francisco, and 48 planes left Roosevelt Field in New York. The 5,400 mile round trip was sponsored by the American Flying Club of New York. “Flying Parson” Army Lieutenant Belvin Maynard won the race. He took three days six hours to fly from New York to California, and he needed three days 21 hours to fly back.