On Fridays we post something on social media that is either a Fact or is Fiction. People can comment which they think it is before heading here to see the correct answer. Here is Friday Fact or Fiction #28!
Today’s Post: In 1923, Oakley G. Kelly, a pilot from Grove City, and John A. Macready made the first nonstop flight across the United States.
Answer: FACT! According to the Grove City Area Historical Society and Museum’s website:
Kelly and Macready flew a single-engine Fokker T-2 monoplane from New York to San Diego. The flight left Long Island, New York on May 2, 1923 and flew to San Diego, California. It was their third attempt to fly nonstop across the country. The flight took just under 27 hours for the 2,470-mile trip. Kelly handled the takeoff and Macready landed the plane. During the flight, they exchanged positions at the controls five times each flying six-hour shifts. For over half the flight they flew over unknown territory – at night through rainstorms. According to the National Petroleum News, June 6, 1923, “Lieut. Oakley Kelley and Lieut. John A. Macready used Pennzoil special airplane oil, manufactured by the Penn American Refining Co. and distributed by the Pennzoil Co. of Oil City.”
Their plane is on display at the National Air and Space Museum. The single-engine Fokker T-2 monoplane had a Wingspan 81.4 feet, a fuselage length of 49.1 feet and a maximum air speed of 96 mph.