In 1911, William Randolph Hearst offered a prize of $50,000 to the first pilot to make a transcontinental flight in fewer than 30 days. After 20 hours of flying lessons, adventurer Cal Rogers acquired a Wright EX biplane and a sponsor (the Armour Company) and prepared to depart for California. The airplane was decorated with the trademark of an Armour soft-drink product, "Vin Fiz". In addition to the prize money, Rogers was to receive five dollars from Armour for every mile he flew. But it was not until almost two months later, after 70 landings, a number of which were crashes, and extensive repairs to the aircraft, that Rogers reached his destination.