Lewis Earle Sandt (1888-1913)
Brookville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
A pioneer aviator, Sandt was the first American to make an international flight, from Erie to Canada, in 1912. Like many early pilots, he died as a result of crash injuries a year later. His efforts helped spur popular interest in flight. He lived here for most of his brief life.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
In 1912, only a few years after the Wright brothers first flew, Lewis Sandt of Brookville climbed into a fragile early aircraft and flew from Erie into Canada — the first international flight by an American. The feat thrilled crowds and helped fire the public's imagination for aviation. Like so many pioneer aviators, Sandt paid the ultimate price, dying of crash injuries the following year at just twenty-five.
Why it matters
Sandt's daring flight belongs to the reckless, formative years of American aviation, when a handful of pilots risked everything to prove that the sky belonged to everyone.
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Related people
- · Lewis Earle Sandt
Related events
- · First international flight by an American (1912)
Themes & tags
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