In 1910, William Randolph Hearst offered $50,000 to the first person to complete a transcontinental flight across America in 30 days with a stop in Chicago, Illinois. Adventurer and newly trained aviator Calbraith "Cal" Perry Rodgers secured sponsorship from the Armour Meatpacking Company and agreed to promote its new grape-flavored soft drink, Vin Fiz. After finalizing the agreement, Rodgers departed Sheepshead Bay, Long Island, New York, on Sept. 17, 1911, in a customized Wright Brothers EX Flyer named Vin Fiz. Because mountain ranges posed a major problem for early underpowered aircraft, he turned south toward Texas after reaching Chicago. A support train carrying spare parts, mechanics, and his wife Mabel accompanied the attempt. Rodgers entered Texas, reached San Antonio by Oct. 22, landed in Uvalde and later Spofford two days later, survived a crash the next morning while taking off, and landed in Del Rio on Oct. 26, 1911. The airplane's arrival in Del Rio was such an event that schools closed so children could watch the Vin Fiz land in a field east of San Felipe Creek and south of the railroad tracks. Although his stay there was brief, the landing brought aviation to Val Verde County. Rodgers then continued west toward El Paso and reached Pasadena, California, on Nov. 5, 1911, but did not win the Hearst challenge. During the attempt, he flew more than 1,000 miles in Texas and landed in the state 23 times.