Charles A. Lindbergh completed the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in history on May 21, 1927. He flew his Ryan NYP "Spirit of St. Louis" 5,810 kilometers (3,610 miles) between Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, and Paris, France.
He took a time of 33 hours and 30 minutes. Because of this landmark achievement Lindbergh won the $25,000 prize offered by a New York hotel owner to the first aviator to fly an aircraft directly across the Atlantic between New York and Paris. When he landed at Le Bourget Field in Paris, Lindbergh became an instant hero who single handedly charted the course of aviation across the Atlantic.
The consequence of the flight was an aviation boom commonly referred to as "Lindbergh boom". Aircraft industry stocks rose in value. Interest in flying captured the mind of one and all. Lindbergh's next tour to the US in the "Spirit of St. Louis" amply showed that the plane was a safe, reliable mode of transportation. Following the U.S. tour, Lindbergh took the aircraft on a goodwill flight to Central and South America.
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NYP is an acronym for "New York-Paris".In Honor of Lindbergh's supporters in St. Louis who paid for the aircraft the name "Spirit of St. Louis" was bestowed.
Design Features:
Designed by Donald Hall under the direct supervision of Charles Lindbergh the "Spirit of St. Louis" was an exemplary example of human engineering. It is a highly advanced version of a conventional Ryan M-2 strut-braced monoplane, propelled by a reliable Wright J-5C engine. The fuel tanks were placed in front of the cockpit for safety in case of an accident. So Lindbergh could not see directly ahead. He saw by using a periscope on the left side or by turning the airplane and looking out a side window.
Wingspan: 14 m (46 ft)
Length: 8 m (27 ft 8 in)
Height: 3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Weight, gross: 2,330 kg (5,135 lb)
Weight, empty: 975 kg (2,150 lb)
Engine: Wright Whirlwind J-5C, 223hp
Manufacturer: Ryan Airlines Co., San Diego, Calif., 1927
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