Cal Rodgers flew the first transcontinental flight in a Wright EX airplane. O. Armour financed this flight in exchange for Cal’s EX to become a flying billboard for his new grape soda, Vin Fiz. This name was written on the EX and the three-car train Armour hired for Cal to track his way to Pasadena, California from Sheepshead Bay, New York. Cal made it in 49 days after many landings and crashes. He had been trying to win R. Hearst’s prize money of $50,000 for the first person to do the transcontinental flying in thirty days. Shortly after Cal had made it to California, he died flying his Wright Model B (a bigger wing span that accommodated passengers.) The airplane crashed in water at Long Beach, California, and killed him.