Title: Panama and The Canal
from an Aeroplane
Artist: unknown
Year of Publication: 1913
Publisher: USA: Schmidt Litho S.F.
Language: English
Size: 80" x 79"
Index Number: 00197

Description:

In 1913, the strategically important Panama Canal was still under construction. The airplane was in its infancy, and the United States Government was just beginning to realize the military importance of the new invention. Because of the high winds and unsettled atmospheric conditions in the area, the U.S. Government thought that the construction of the Panama Canal would be safe from air attack since it was very difficult then to fly the fragile aircraft in bad weather. But in April 1913, Robert Fowler, an experienced long-distance pilot, proved that it was indeed possible to fly across the Panamanian Isthmus, and his successful flight with a movie camera operator forced President Wilson to outlaw any more flights above the Panama Canal.