Read the selection and follow the instructions.

In the 1920’s flying was still new and exciting. It was also very dangerous. Planes had no radio contact
with the ground. Charles Lindbergh became the most famous pilot of that time. He was the first to fly
across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1927 he made a goodwill flight to Latin America. During that trip a young
Mexican flyer was impressed by Lindbergh. That young Mexican was Emilio Carranza, age 22.

Emilio Carranza was born in 1905. After joining the army, he learned to fly at the Mexican school of
Aviation.

Carranza spend most of his army life working with airplanes. He tried to fly planes longer distances each
time, and in worse weather. Once, during a flight form Mexico City to Ciudad Juarez, the engine of his
plane caught fire. He was about to jump from the plane when he saw a black rain cloud. He flew the
plane into the cloud where the rain put out the fire and he saved his life.

Because of Lindbergh’s visit in 1927, Carranza decided to make a flight to the USA. He planned a 2,000-
mile flight from Mexico City to Washington D.C. During the trip he would make no stops.

He had to do many things to get ready for the flight. The first was to get permission form the two
countries. Both countries agreed. The second was to ger enough money for the trip. A Mexico City
newspaper, the Excelsior, helped raised the money. The third was to get a new airplane. An airplane
company from San Diego, California, built the plane. The last step was to practice, he flew day and night,
into heavy storms and through many types of obstacles. Finally, Emilio Carranza was ready.

Many flyers thought he would not even get his plane off the ground. Named the Mexico-Excelsior, the
plane had to carry 326 gallons of fuel, which made it much heavier than it was during practice. Early on
Sunday, June11, 1928, Carranza climbed into his plane. He flew over the high mountains near Mexico
City and across the Gulf of Mexico. Then, his plane started making a strange sound. The engine had
mechanical problems! Carranza turned back. He stopped the plane and started it again. The strange
sound disappeared. So instead of landing on the ground, he continued flying as planned.