MIAMI – Today in Aviation, Charles Rolls became the first person to fly a nonstop double crossing of the English Channel in 95 minutes in 1910. Rolls, who co-founded Rolls-Royce, received the Royal Aero Club’s Gold Medal for his achievement, which included the first eastbound airborne crossing of the English Channel. The flight is commemorated with a statue in Monmouth and another in Dover. Aviation Pioneer Charles Rolls was a pioneer aviator and, at first, a balloonist, with over 170 balloon ascents under his belt. The Gordon Bennett Gold Medal for the longest single flight time was awarded to him in 1903. Charles Rolls. Photo: http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/art-13853, Public Domain