Lindbergh and Spirit of St. Louis.
The “magic” of Charles Lindbergh’s first solo non-stop flight between New York and Paris.
Charles Lindbergh’s historic solo flight New York to Paris completed 1927, Even now nearly hundred years gone magic mystique and romance of his journey lingers in our minds, Why?
First Trans Atlantic Flights.
Competition run by Daily Mail 1906 to 1930 for performing nominated aviation task, 1919's competition £10,000 prize to be awarded for first crossing of Atlantic Ocean between North America and Ireland.
15 June 1919 Alcock and Brown made first non-stop transatlantic flight.
Alcock hired by Vickers Engineering as pilot to fly Vimy IV twin-engine bomber in Daily Mail’s competition, Alcock part of Vickers’s team, Vimy converted for long flight bomb racks became extra petrol tanks, Brown hired by Vickers had knowledge of long-distance navigation and became Alcock’s navigator.
Vickers’s team took off from Lester’s Field, in St John’s, Newfoundland, Made landfall in Clifden, County Galway 8:40 am 15 June 1919 after less than 16 hours of flying, Winston Churchill presented Alcock and Brown with Daily Mail prize, One week later Alcock and Brown presented with KBE by King George V.
First transatlantic flight by rigid airship and first return transatlantic flight 2 July 1919 by Major George Herbert Scott of Royal Air Force flying airship R34 with crew and passengers from RAF East Fortune Scotland to Mineola, New York in four and a half days.
Military and corporates flying projects according to business cases and marketing plans, Pilots and engineers all employed, Risks underwritten, Bravery expected, Semi-routine job Little appeal to public.
Lindbergh's All-in Individuality.
Lindbergh always fascinated with all things flying, Spent time barnstorming and wing walking in Montana, Worked briefly as airplane mechanic.
Lindbergh barnstormed as “Daredevil Lindbergh”, Acquired own airplane, March 19 1924 began military training with United States Army Air Service, Graduated first overall March 1925, Earning Army pilot’s wings and commission as second lieutenant in Air Service Reserve Corps, Training critical to his development as both focused and goal-oriented aviator, April 13 1926 became Mail Messenger flyer.
Orteig Prize
New York hotelier Raymond Orteig approached by Augustus Post secretary Aero Club of America, Persuaded to put up $25,000 reward for first successful nonstop transatlantic flight between New York City and Paris, After lack of interest 1924 Orteig renewed offer for another five years, Prize attracted well-known highly experienced and well-financed contenders, None successful.
Lindbergh inspired and rose to challenge, Not enough personal savings, Organized presentation to local St. Louis businessmen, Major Albert Bond Lambert first to pledge $1,000 after Lindbergh committed personal savings of $2,000, February 1927, Lindbergh received complete financing from businessmen known as St. Louis backers, Finally had about $18,000 Far less than other rivals Money was tight.
Lindbergh’s group couldn’t buy monoplane, Suppliers insisted on picking pilot, Lindbergh lacked public visibility.
Eventually Ryan Aircraft Company agreed to design and build custom monoplane for $10,580 on February 25 deal was done, Spirit of St. Louis fabric-covered, Single-seat with no windscreen periscope provided, Single Wright J-5 Whirlwind reliable radial engine, High-wing monoplane designed by Lindbergh and Ryan Aircraft’s Donald Hall.
Two months later on May 10 Lindbergh flew Spirit to St. Louis then Roosevelt Field on New York’s Long Island.
Early morning Friday May 20 1927, Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field, Destination Le Bourget Aerodrome seven miles outside Paris, Trip of 3,610 miles, Every phase of trip epic struggle from overladed takeoff through rain fog and iced wings while trying to stay awake and carefully navigate using dead reckoning, Landed after 33.5 hours including circling Eiffel tower, Flew over crowd at Le Bourget Aerodrome and landed 10:22 PM Saturday May 21 1927.
Crowd estimated 150000, Stormed field and dragged Lindbergh out of the cockpit, Carried him around above their heads for nearly half an hour, Lindbergh accepted prize from Raymond Orteig New York June 16 1927.
Lindbergh received unprecedented acclaim after historic flight, Showered with honors, Hundreds of thousands enthusiastic well-wishers greeted him on every official occasion, United Press reported that “One million persons are in Brussels today to greet Lindbergh”, “Greatest welcome ever accorded private citizen in Belgium.”, Ticker tape parade in New York, Some 4 million people saw Lindbergh that day December 14 1927, Special Act of Congress awarded Lindbergh Medal of Honor presented to Lindbergh by President Coolidge at White House March 21, 1928.
Right Time, Right Place, Right Man
New York, Individual’s gateway Rewarded ambition and solid work, New York, Citadel of hopes and dreams, Lindbergh epitomised New Yorker’s sentiment.
Statue of Liberty binds New York and Paris in enduring unbreakable friendship, Lindbergh circled Eiffel Tower Heart of Paris paying homage to bond between France and America, Lindbergh entered France’s heart.
But Time sealed Lindbergh’s mystique, Staunch demeanor in individual struggle to overcome obstacles and survive epic flight cast him as symbol of every individual’s hope for succeeding in onerous task rebuilding and recovering from horrors of war.
Blessed be, We remember Charles Lindbergh and those times.
Join Medium with my referral link — Dr John Frederick Rose. Read every one of my stories and thousands of other writers on Medium. Your membership fee helps support me and other writers you read. You’ll also get full access to every story on Medium.