An aviation milestone was achieved on this date 80 years ago, as famed pilot Wiley Post landed his Lockheed monoplane on Long Island, New York, completing the first solo flight around the world. In a feat of endurance, he made the trip in 7 days, 18½ hours. His plane is now displayed in the National Air and Space Museum. Post, blind in one eye, was an aviation pioneer who held many high-altitude records, and discovered the jet stream. He was killed, along with humorist Will Rogers, in a 1935 crash. Today, round-the-world flights are commonplace. In the U.S., over 700 million passengers board the nation’s airliners each year. That averages well over two annual flights per American. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.
Sunday, July 21st. A substantial and recurring feature of national media reporting — on TV, in newspapers and on the web — is devoted to nutrition and health. There, doctors and public health officials express concerns about obesity, diabetes, and the quality of the diet of many Americans. However, junk food shows no sign of waning in popularity. And every devil has its advocate, as today is National Junk Food Day, celebrating the naughty temptations on offer. Still, Americans are increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables they consume — rising from just over 600 pounds each in 1980 to nearly 650 pounds today. You can find current data on the country’s economy by downloading the new “America’s Economy” mobile application at <www.census.gov/mobile>.
Saturday, July 20th. It took a while after the invention of the gas-powered automobile by Karl Benz in Germany in 1886 for someone to steal the wheels. The first stolen car is said to be of a French aristocrat’s Peugot in Paris in 1896. In this country, the first auto theft is believed to have occurred in St. Louis in 1905. But this slow beginning has become an all-too-robust present. With July and August being the peak months for automotive thefts, this is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month. The goal is to raise public awareness of the danger, and remind drivers to above all take their keys and lock their vehicles. Nearly three-quarters of a million cars, trucks and busses are stolen annually, with the average loss for owners valued at nearly $6,500. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.