Jack Vilas, 1881-1976

First Flight Across Lake Michigan


	Jack Vilas, 1913.

"First Flight Across Lake Michigan, "
Daily Journal and Tribune,
Knoxville, Tennessee: Tuesday, July 2, 1913, ,
Transcribed by Bob Davis - 8-26-06 "Chicago, July 1. -Logan A. Villas, an amateur aviator of Chicago, today made the first aeroplane flight across Lake Michigan. His trip, made in a hydroaeroplane from St. Joseph, Mich., to Chicago consumed one hour and thirty-four minutes. Villas was accompanied by William Baster, of Benton Harbor, Mich., and followed the steamship lane from St Joseph to Chicago, the distance being about 58 miles. He said shifting air currents compelled him frequently to change the level on which he was flying."

ON JULY 1, 1913
THE FIRST FLIGHT ACROSS LAKE MICHIGAN
FROM ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN TO CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
WAS COMPLETED BY
JACK VILAS
TO RECORD THIS MILEPOST IN AVIATION HISTORY
THIS TABLET IS PLACED BY THE CHICAGO AERO COMMISSION
JULY, 1951

PLAQUE MARKS LAKE MICHIGAN FLIGHT One of the historic markers of which EB's are justly proud is the plaque honoring Jack Vilas, an EB past president, for the first flight across Lake Michigan, from St. Joseph, Michigan to Chicago, Illinois. That flight was made on July 1, 1913. To record this milepost in aviation history, the Chicago Aero Commission erected the plaque in July, 1951. We are sorry it does not bear the Early Bird wings.
from THE EARLY BIRDS CHIRP, JUNE 1960, NUMBER 63
1960
W. A. Patterson, President of United Air Lines Says:
"United Air Lines is pleased to announce that a Boeing 720 Jet Mainliner has been named in honor of Jack Vilas. The Jet was named the "Mainliner Jack Vilas" in ceremonies at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, June 19, in honor of Mr. Vilas' many pioneering contributions to commercial aviation".
from THE EARLY BIRDS CHIRP, JUNE 1962, NUMBER 69

HEADLINE NEWS
Contributed by Larry Blyly, 7-9-09

You can read the entire stories by following the links

VILAS OFF AT 2:41 ;
BASTAR IS WITH HIM

Chicago Sportsman Starts His Sensational Dash
Across Lake Michigan From St. Joseph in First
Flying Boat On Great Lakes.--Local Theatri-
cal Man is Passenger On Craft And Says
He Expects To Have "Bully Good Trip"

Billy Bastar Finds
It Hard To Remain
On Old Mother Earth

St. Joseph Young Man
Writes Of His Exper-
ences With Vilas.

SAYS FLYING IS SAFER
THAN AUTOMOBILING

Do You Remember
The Herald.Palladium
Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, Michigan
Monday, June 30, 2008
Transcribed by Larry Blyly, 7-1-08

"50 years ago
Ross Field will be bustling with activity this afternoon as air and Twin City area officials gather to give 67-year old Jack Vilas a rousing send-off on his historic flight across Lake Michigan. Vilas was the first man to ever fly across Lake Michigan in a single-engine plane. He made his historic flight on July 1, 1912. He will re-enact the flight as climax to the Midwest area celebration commemorating the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Civil Aeronautics Administration."

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