Mt. Pulaski Township Historical Society

PLANE BEATS TRAIN

The marker says it all: The historic race between a Wright Brothers bi-plane (2 wings) and an Illinois Central Steam train took place September 29, 1910 from Washington Park in Chicago to the State Fairgrounds in Springfield. Wilbur Wright was a passenger on the train. Walter R. Brookins piloted the bi-plane. The win established the first airline route in Illinois and won the $10,000 prize offered by the 'Record Herald' newspaper. Two World records were set at this landing - - sustained flight of 88 miles plus the record for long distance flight of 169 miles. The bi-plane averaged 33 MPH at the height of 1,000 ft., despite losing 1 wheel at Mt. Pulaski. The open field marking the second refueling of the epoch making flight was owned by F. W. Obermiller.

Walter Brookins had a teacher named Katherine Wright. Katherine had two brothers, Wilbur and Orville. As a child Brookins was interested in the Wright brothers experiments. He learned to fly at the Wright Flying School.

wilbur wright and pilot brookins from newspaper

This page is "Plane Train Race" on the Mt. Pulaski Township Historical Society, Mt. Pulaski, Logan County, Illinois, site. The address of this page is http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilmpths/planetrain.htm.

This Page Was Last Updated Saturday, 10-Jan-2009 14:18:49 MST

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