Planes The Spirit Of St Louis

Home

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Current Events This Week: January 2023

African Americans by the Numbers

Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

The plane that made Charles Lindbergh an instant hero by Gerry Brown Spirit of St. Louis Specs Length: 8.41 m (27 ft, 7 in.) Wingspan: 14.02 m (46 ft) Height: 2.99 m (9 ft, 10 in.) Engine: Wright Whirlwind J-5C, 223 horsepower Max weight: 2,330 kg (5,135 lbs) Empty weight: 975 kg (2,150 lbs) Manufacturer: Ryan Airlines Co., San Diego, Calif., 1927 Related Links Famous PlanesThe Wright BrothersAnne Morrow LindberghLindbergh KidnappingFamous Firsts in AviationKitty Hawk to World War IIAbsolute World Records in AviationNational Aviation Hall of FameCharles A. Lindbergh, perhaps the most famous pilot since the Wright Brothers, made the first nonstop solo transatlantic flight in the silver Ryan strut-braced monoplane The Spirit of St. Louis. Early on May 20, 1927, Lindbergh began the 3,610-mile trip from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, to Le Bourget Field outside Paris, France, landing 33½ hours later to a mob of 100,000 ecstatic Parisians. Lucky Lindy instantly became an international hero for the daring and lucrative flight. Prize Money as Motivator Part of the reason for his daring was the $25,000 prize first offered in 1919 by French-American and New York hotelier Raymond Orteig to the first aviator to fly non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean between New York and Paris. Others, usually in a multi-engine plane design, had either already attempted or were planning an attempt when Lindbergh, in his single-engine design, made his famous crossing. But the plane had already made history on its maiden voyage. Following several test flights, Lindbergh flew the aircraft from San Diego to New York, stopping only in St. Louis. The flight time of 21 hours and 40 minutes broke the transcontinental record. Custom Design The plane itself was custom designed by Donald Hall under the direct supervision of Lindbergh but based on a standard Ryan M-2 aircraft. Due to the extended nature of the flight, the wingspan was lengthened by 10ft, and the fuselage was slightly enlarged and strengthened to bear the weight of a larger fuel load. The cockpit was moved toward the back of the plane a bit, and the Wright Whirlwind J-5C engine was moved forward. The fuel tanks were placed in front of the cockpit; in order to see forward Lindbergh used a periscope or turned the plane and looked out the side window. The plane, which was officially named Ryan NYP The Spirit of St. Louis, was named in honor of Lindbergh’s financial backers, several men from St. Louis who paid for the building of the airplane. The NYP stands for New York–Paris. Museum Piece The plane now can be seen at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. More from Aviation Features

.com/spot/planes1.html

Sources +

Our Common Sources

The plane that made Charles Lindbergh an instant hero

Charles A. Lindbergh, perhaps the most famous pilot since the Wright Brothers, made the first nonstop solo transatlantic flight in the silver Ryan strut-braced monoplane The Spirit of St. Louis. Early on May 20, 1927, Lindbergh began the 3,610-mile trip from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, to Le Bourget Field outside Paris, France, landing 33½ hours later to a mob of 100,000 ecstatic Parisians. Lucky Lindy instantly became an international hero for the daring and lucrative flight.

Famous PlanesThe Wright BrothersAnne Morrow LindberghLindbergh KidnappingFamous Firsts in AviationKitty Hawk to World War IIAbsolute World Records in AviationNational Aviation Hall of Fame
Length: 8.41 m (27 ft, 7 in.) Wingspan: 14.02 m (46 ft) Height: 2.99 m (9 ft, 10 in.) Engine: Wright Whirlwind J-5C, 223 horsepower Max weight: 2,330 kg (5,135 lbs) Empty weight: 975 kg (2,150 lbs) Manufacturer: Ryan Airlines Co., San Diego, Calif., 1927

Prize Money as Motivator

Part of the reason for his daring was the $25,000 prize first offered in 1919 by French-American and New York hotelier Raymond Orteig to the first aviator to fly non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean between New York and Paris. Others, usually in a multi-engine plane design, had either already attempted or were planning an attempt when Lindbergh, in his single-engine design, made his famous crossing.

But the plane had already made history on its maiden voyage. Following several test flights, Lindbergh flew the aircraft from San Diego to New York, stopping only in St. Louis. The flight time of 21 hours and 40 minutes broke the transcontinental record.

Custom Design

The plane itself was custom designed by Donald Hall under the direct supervision of Lindbergh but based on a standard Ryan M-2 aircraft. Due to the extended nature of the flight, the wingspan was lengthened by 10ft, and the fuselage was slightly enlarged and strengthened to bear the weight of a larger fuel load. The cockpit was moved toward the back of the plane a bit, and the Wright Whirlwind J-5C engine was moved forward. The fuel tanks were placed in front of the cockpit; in order to see forward Lindbergh used a periscope or turned the plane and looked out the side window.

The plane, which was officially named Ryan NYP The Spirit of St. Louis, was named in honor of Lindbergh’s financial backers, several men from St. Louis who paid for the building of the airplane. The NYP stands for New York–Paris.

Museum Piece

The plane now can be seen at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

The plane that made Charles Lindbergh an instant hero#

Related Links#

Prize Money as Motivator#

Custom Design#

Museum Piece#

The plane that made Charles Lindbergh an instant hero

Related Links

Prize Money as Motivator

Custom Design

Museum Piece