Altimeter Used by Earle Ovington, United States Postal Service's First Air Mail Pilot, 1911

Summary

Earle Ovington piloted the first U.S. Air Mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. On September 23, 1911, Ovington flew over Long Island in a Bleriot XI airplane with a sack of mail tucked into the cockpit. He carried the letters just three miles, but it was enough to earn Ovington the designation "Air Mail Pilot No. 1."

Earle Ovington piloted the first U.S. Air Mail flight operated by the United States Post Office Department. On September 23, 1911, Ovington flew over Long Island in a Bleriot XI airplane with a sack of mail tucked into the cockpit. He carried the letters just three miles, but it was enough to earn Ovington the designation "Air Mail Pilot No. 1."

Artifact

Altimeter

Date Made

1911

Heroes Of The Sky
 On Exhibit

at Henry Ford Museum in Heroes of the Sky

Object ID

36.33.5

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of P.G. Morriss

Material

Metal
Glass (Material)
Leather

Color

Light brown

Dimensions

Height: 6.75 in

Width: 6.25 in

Depth: 2 in

Inscriptions

Inside flap of case: Earle L. Ovington / Newton Highland(Highline?) / Mar. 6, 1911(?) Massachusetts

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