space-bridge-to-nowhere:

Finally done with my latest cross stitch project: Kiddo the
Airship Cat with his vessel, the airship America!
If you’re not familiar with Kiddo, he’s famous in aviation history for being
the first cat to attempt a transatlantic crossing by airship and for also being the
subject of the very first air-to-land radio transmission. Read on:

The pet of a member of the crew of
Walter Wellman’s America, Kiddo was
reported to have stowed away in one of the airship’s lifeboats before takeoff
from Atlantic City, New Jersey on October 15, 1910. Initially, he didn’t enjoy
the experience, howling piteously and upsetting the airship’s chief engineer,
Melvin Vaniman. The America was the
first aircraft to carry radio equipment, and Vaniman ordered a wireless message
sent to Wellman’s secretary back on shore – so the historic first radio
communication from an aircraft in flight reads: “Roy, come and get this goddamn cat.” (From Animals Aloft by Allan Janus)

You can read more of Kiddo’s story at Purr ‘n’ Fur (don’t
worry, he survived the airship debacle, became a celebrity, and comfortably
retired). As for the cross stitch piece, it’ll soon be adorning my office at the
aviation/aerospace archives. Here’s to you, Kiddo. The best goddamn airship cat
ever.

(Special thanks to James Biddulph for creating the pixel art!)