American aviator Charles A. Lindbergh takes off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, on the world’s first solo, nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean and the first ever nonstop flight between New York to Paris.
“How did he do it?”
The following written content via Space Center
Before the world was captivated by landing on the moon, it was transfixed with a landing in Paris. Charles Lindbergh wasn’t the first to fly across the Atlantic, but he was the first to make the non-stop transatlantic flight alone, propelling him into aviation history. On May 20, 1927, Lindbergh took flight aboard the Spirit of St. Louis, a highly modified Ryan M-2 aircraft, in an attempt to become the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic. “Lucky Lindy” as he came to be known, charted a course from New York to Paris, and despite ice, fog, and sleep deprivation, he achieved what many had failed to do before him.
On the evening of May 21, Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis touched down at the Le Bourget airfield in Paris, after flying a total distance of 3,610 miles in 33.5 hours.
A global celebrity was born.
How did he do it?
A former barnstormer and airmail pilot, Lindbergh was no rookie aviator. He secured $15,000 of funding from Harold Bixby, the head of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, and set his sights on the $25,000 Orteig prize. All he needed now was a plane.
As with most great feats, there was huge risk involved in the Orteig challenge. Pilots had attempted to make the journey prior to Lindbergh’s own attempt. Many were never heard from again. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean alone is no simple task, but Lindbergh was determined to make the trip.
Unlike many other pilots of his time, Lindbergh thought that a single-engine plane would work best for the journey. He had some trouble finding an aircraft company to work with, but eventually discovered one out of San Diego that offered a great price, and a near-impossible 2-month construction guarantee.
Ryan Airlines Corporation, based out of an old fish cannery and in a state of disrepair, failed to make a good first impression upon Lindbergh. Read more from Spacecenter
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