Description:
The artist, Joel Iskowitz, explains why he chose to do this painting. "I was very impressed with this achievement when researching for the 100th Anniversary of Military Flight last spring at Wright-Patterson AFB. What drew me to this was the sheer magnitude of both the concept and execution of this larger than life endeavor made possible by individuals of great character, vision and commitment. The Round-the-World-flight established the range and superiority of American military and civilian aviation at the dawn of a new era that would change global power and history for the last three quarters of the century and beyond." The following is excerpted from the Seattle World Cruiser Aerodrome site: The first flight around the world was flown by United States Army Air Service pilots in specially-built Douglas World Cruisers, DWCs, between 6 April and 28 September 1924. The flight began with a shake-down cruise from Santa Monica, California on March 17th and the world flight officially started from Seattle's then-municipal airport at Sand Point on the shores of Lake Washington. The late Peter M. Bowers, eminent aviation historian and author, noted in his award-winning article written for the world flight's 50th anniversary: "The magnitude of that flight, in terms of preliminary study, engineering, and world-wide logistic support, crew training, interservice cooperation, diplomatic clearances, and personal skill and determination is almost directly comparable to a moon landing today." Major General Mason M. Patrick, Chief of the United States Army Air Service, ended his announcement of the project, by saying, "The flight would secure for the United States, the birthplace of aeronautics, the honor of being the first country to encircle the world entirely by air." Aviation was born, in that it could accomplish new, great, and exciting feats. The world was conquered." Man had wrapped his wings around the globe and it was now, for the first time, really his world. The first flight ended in Seattle on 28 September 1924, but a great event never really ends. For a First is a celebration for all time. History had been made and the world was full of new possibilities.
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