Traces of Texas reader Charles Frederick sent in this wonderful photo of his grandfather with his biplane at Ellington Air Field south of Houston, essentially where Clear Lake is today. His name was Clifford A. Wright and he is the man in the middle. The plane is a Curtiss… pic.twitter.com/WDeWCwhBz8

— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) June 7, 2025

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Traces of Texas reader Charles Frederick sent in this wonderful photo of his grandfather with his biplane at Ellington Air Field south of Houston, essentially where Clear Lake is today. His name was Clifford A. Wright and he is the man in the middle. The plane is a Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny." After WWI, many were sold to individuals an former military pilots who became barnstormers.

Amazing photo, Charles! I want to step right into it! Thanks for sharing!

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Cockpit view of Blue Angels formation flight! pic.twitter.com/PZhWI9LRyQ

— Aviation (@webflite) October 28, 2025

GO GO GO NASA X-59! First Flight!!!!! pic.twitter.com/Ykeq2FNZZr

— Matt Hartman (@ShorealoneFilms) October 28, 2025

rwtxag83 said:

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Soon to be renamed the X-59 Pinocchio!

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GAC06 said:

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This is the first airplane to ever land in Beeville or in Bee county, for that matter. It was 1911 and Mr. Charley A. Pressey arrived after flying all the way from Georgia in this Curtiss flying machine. Can you imagine flying from Georgia in this contraption, at a time when you… pic.twitter.com/U38NxQO8MX

— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) November 24, 2025

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This is the first airplane to ever land in Beeville or in Bee county, for that matter. It was 1911 and Mr. Charley A. Pressey arrived after flying all the way from Georgia in this Curtiss flying machine. Can you imagine flying from Georgia in this contraption, at a time when you had no idea what the weather would be like ahead? Mr. Pressey was also known for establishing the first moving picture theater in Beeville in 1906. The name of the business was Superba Family Theatre and the admission price was five cents.

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Can you guess the aircraft model?
📸 by ig/aviationphotoshots pic.twitter.com/9GJJhrstIZ

— aircraftmaintenancengineer (@airmainengineer) December 5, 2025

1st Lieutenant William T. Campbell, Major Albert L. Sneed, and Captain Showalter stand by the tail of a Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" at Love Field in Dallas on Nov. 12 or 13, 1918. Note those dates? WW I had ended the previous day, on Nov. 11. The men were there as part of something… pic.twitter.com/y589qS1pVI

— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) December 20, 2025

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1st Lieutenant William T. Campbell, Major Albert L. Sneed, and Captain Showalter stand by the tail of a Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" at Love Field in Dallas on Nov. 12 or 13, 1918. Note those dates? WW I had ended the previous day, on Nov. 11. The men were there as part of something called the "Flying Frolic," which invited the public out to the field to watch the planes fly, perform aerial maneuvers in formation, watch a parachuting demonstration etc ... They are the "magnificen young men in their flying machines." In their pilot attire, aren't they the dictionary definition of swashbuckling?

Courtesy the wonderful archives at SMU's Degolyer Library.

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Traces of Texas reader Bruce Brown was a pilot for Southwest Airlines back in 1973 and kindly submitted this nifty photo of two hot-pants clad stewardesses, both of whom Bruce knew. This was taken at Love Field, and Bruce says that back then you could sometimes fly from Dallas to… pic.twitter.com/aAYKDIo8Nd

— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) January 22, 2026

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Traces of Texas reader Bruce Brown was a pilot for Southwest Airlines back in 1973 and kindly submitted this nifty photo of two hot-pants clad stewardesses, both of whom Bruce knew. This was taken at Love Field, and Bruce says that back then you could sometimes fly from Dallas to San Antonio for ten dollars. That blows me away.

Thank you, Bruce! Great image!

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A crowd gathers around Calbraith P. Rodgers after he crash landed his biplane in Austin in 1911. Rodgers crashed at what's now 51st street and Duval in the capital city. That location is now in central Austin but at that time it was on the outskirts. Rodgers was trying to win a… pic.twitter.com/g3u9GOyHUV

— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) January 24, 2026

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A crowd gathers around Calbraith P. Rodgers after he crash landed his biplane in Austin in 1911. Rodgers crashed at what's now 51st street and Duval in the capital city. That location is now in central Austin but at that time it was on the outskirts. Rodgers was trying to win a prize for the first transcontinental flight. It's a great story.

On Oct. 10, 1910, publisher William Randolph Hearst offered the Hearst prize, US$50,000, to the first aviator to fly coast to coast, in either direction, in less than 30 days from start to finish. Rodgers persuaded J. Ogden Armour, of Armour and Company, to sponsor the flight, and in return he named the plane, a Wright Model EX, after Armour's grape soft drink Vin Fiz. A special train of three cars, including sleeper, diner, and shop-on-wheels full of spare parts, was built to follow Rodgers, who planned to fly above the railroad tracks. A competitor, James J. Ward, was also departing from New York in a Curtiss Pusher. He crashed and dropped out before he left New York state.

Rodgers left from Sheepshead Bay, New York, on September 17, 1911, at 4:30 pm. He reached Chicago, the only required stop, on October 8, 1911. His arrival to Chicago attracted national attention.

In order to avoid the Rocky Mountains, he then took a southerly route, flying through the Midwest until reaching Texas. He turned west after passing San Antonio. On November 5, 1911, he landed at Tournament Park in Pasadena, California, at 4:04 pm in front of 20,000 people, missing the prize deadline by 19 days. He left Pasadena on November 12, but crashed at Compton. After the Vin Fiz was repaired, on December 10, 1911, he reached Long Beach, California, flew some time above the Pacific Ocean, landed on a beach and taxied the plane into the ocean. 50,000 people had gathered.

Rodgers had carried the first transcontinental U.S. Mail pouch. The trip required 70 stops and endured countless crashes and aircraft malfunctions. Rodgers paid $70 a week to the Wright brothers' technician, Charlie Taylor, who followed the Vin Fiz by train and performed the repairs

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