TR BECOMES FIRST POTUS TO FLY IN AN AIRPLANE
Kinloch, Missouri (JFK+50) On October 11, 1910, Theodore Roosevelt became the first POTUS to fly in an airplane. The President was on the stump for Republican candidates here in Missouri when he was invited to join pilot Arch Hoxsey* in his bi-plane for a short ride.
The historic flight took place at a Wright Exhibition held at the airport in Kinloch, near St. Louis, Missouri. As the aircraft passed one hundred yards above the grandstand, Mr. Roosevelt "leaned forward and waved his hands."
After landing, the 26th President of the United States said...
"It was great! First Class! It was the finest experience I have ever had."
*Archibald Hoxsey (1884-1910) was born in Staunton, Illinois & worked for the Wright Brothers. AH set the world altitude record of 11,474 feet on Dec 26, 1910. The aviator was killed in a crash attempting to set a new altitude record on New Year's Eve of 1910.
JFK+50 NOTE
Theodore Roosevelt was a former POTUS at the time of the flight. He served September 14, 1901 to March 4, 1909. He completed the second term of William McKinley & was elected in his own right in 1904. TR would make an unsuccessful bid for another term as a Progressive candidate in 1912.
SOURCES
"TR Goes Flying," Air & Space, www.airspace.mag.com/
"TR Takes to the Skies, First President in Flight," by Julie Hill, Archives, October 111, 2011, www.archives.com/
