Raycraft Ranch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Raycraft Ranch
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| Location | N of Carson City, on U. S. 395, Carson City, Nevada |
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| Area | 334.2 acres (135.2 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76002243 |
| Added to NRHP | May 4, 1976 |
The Raycraft Ranch is a special place near Carson City, Nevada. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means it's an important historical site. The ranch is famous for a very exciting event. It was the location of the very first airplane flight in Nevada! This amazing flight happened on June 23, 1910.
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The Raycraft Ranch Story
The Raycraft Ranch holds a big piece of history. On June 23, 1910, something incredible happened there. The very first airplane flight in the state of Nevada took place! This flight was a huge deal for a few reasons.
Nevada's First Airplane Flight
Imagine a time when airplanes were brand new. Most early flights happened near sea level. People thought it was impossible to fly a powered plane at high altitudes. The Raycraft Ranch is located at 4,675 feet (about 1,425 meters) above sea level. This made the flight there extra special. It proved that planes could fly even in thinner air!
Who Flew the Plane?
A famous person named Ivy Baldwin made this historic flight. He was already well-known for parachuting and flying balloons. For this flight, he used a special plane. It was a biplane, meaning it had two sets of wings. This plane was a 48-horsepower Curtis-Paulam model.
The Challenge of High Altitude
Flying at a high altitude like Carson City was a big challenge. The air is thinner up there. This means the engine gets less oxygen. It also means the wings get less lift. Scientists and engineers had to figure out the right kind of fuel. They needed fuel strong enough to make the plane work well in the thin air. The flight at Raycraft Ranch helped them learn a lot about this.
The Historic Flight Details
The first flight by Ivy Baldwin was short but very important. The plane went up about 30 feet (9 meters) into the air. It flew for about a quarter of a mile (0.4 kilometers). The flight ended when a part of the plane broke down. Even so, it was a huge success. It showed that powered flight was possible in Nevada's high desert. This event opened the door for more aviation in the state.
