Middle Tennessee State University senior Collin McDonald of Carthage, Tennessee, left Murfreesboro May 19 to begin a monthlong adventure that eventually will take him on a cross-country journey that follows that of aviation pioneer Cal Rodgers more than 100 years ago.

McDonald, 22, who is a 4.0 student majoring in aerospace maintenance management and an Honors College Buchanan Fellow, plans to take 30 days to complete the flight he is calling “Vin Fiz2” because Rodgers’ plane was called The Vin Fiz after a grape soft drink. McDonald anticipates at least 100 stops along the way. Here’s a recap of his deaprture:

Learn more about McDonald’s adventure at www.mtsunews.com/mcdonald-retraces-pioneers-path.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)