LINDBERGH anniversary

[glendalegoon]

May 20 Lindbergh took off

May 21 Lindbergh landed

1927.

Am I the only one who remembers this critical day in aviation history?

[Wander00]

That's for sure - a very significant event indeed

[joy ride]

A hugely great and important achievement, but don't forget Alcock and Brown's heroic crossing 9 years earlier!

[DaveReidUK]

Am I the only one who remembers this critical day in aviation history? Before my time, I'm afraid, so I don't have any recollection of the occasion. :O

Joking aside, there have been thousands of events in aviation history that could be described as game-changing, so any given day will see the anniversary of several of them. Glenn Curtiss was born 136 years ago today, for example.

But yes, I would agree that Lindbergh's achievement is up there with the other aviation Hall of Fame greats. Incidentally, in 1977 Air France commemorated the 50th anniversary of his flight in suitable fashion

http://www.eaa.ca/news/2013/images/spirit-and-concorde.jpg

albeit with a slightly faster block time. :O

[Alan Biles]

He was actually the 67th person to fly the Atlantic but he was the first to do it solo. Apparently he chose a single-engine cab over twin as it reduced the chances of engine failure.


Just thought I'd throw that in.

[Dash8driver1312]

It's not like many people bother to remember Traian Vuia either...

[Captain Dart]

In a similar vein, he wasn't exposing himself to relying on other people with the concomitant risk of failure. The stories of the infighting of the other contending teams, and therefore the delays, are quite interesting. Lindbergh did have his foibles, but relying on other people to get the Spirit over the Atlantic wasn't one of them. He just went and did it.

I found his recently republished account of the Atlantic crossing oddly inspirational; and I'm not even an American. His battle to stay awake (after a previous poor night's sleep for whatever reason...) was incredible, and as a long haul pilot myself, I dips me lid to him.

[Phileas Fogg]

A few of James Stewart's movies were amongst my favorites including "The Spirit of St. Louis"

[glendalegoon]

Lindbergh's flight was not planned as a solo crossing of the atlantic.

It was planned (and achieved) as a non stop flight from New York to Paris, the atlantic crossing was incidental (though a big part of) the journey.

Earhart, years later made a solo crossing of the atlantic, but did not achieve her goal of getting to paris. And she didn't start in New York either.

Lindbergh set his goal and accomplished it, ahead of schedule, with fuel reserves for Rome!

Alcock and Brown are to be admired, but they were not the first to cross the atlantic in an airplane. That honor goes to the NC4. Under the command of Commander Reed.

speaking of missing planes, we have never found nungesser and coli's plane, the white bird, so MH370 can take its time (though I seem to remember an engine was found somewhere, but not sure)

[Phileas Fogg]

speaking of missing planes, we have never found nungesser and coli's plane, the white bird, so MH370 can take its time

There's two hundred or so loved one's families losing sleep every night over what happened to their loved ones and you suggest that it can take it's time in preference to two adventurers of many decades before?

Sir ... You are a Prize One Pratt!

[glendalegoon]

I can see your understanding of my statement was not the intention I had in mind.

I simply meant that there are many missing planes and it may take a great amount of time to find them. nungesser and coli, earhart, miller are three that are still missing after some 70 years or more.

You have no idea what I have done to help the families of the missing MH370 and I won't mention it here. But they are in my prayers as I hope they are in your prayers.


being a pratt isn't bad as long as there is a whitney nearby.

though lindbergh had a wright.

[scotbill]

Meanwhile - does anyone remember that the first air Atlantic crossing East - West was the R34 Airship - before Alcock and Brown in July 1919.
It took four and a half days - although they returned in 80 hours.

[4Greens]

R34 - check out Neville Shute autobio 'Slide Rule'. He was on it and working.

[joy ride]

Without wishing to diminish the achievement of Commander Read in the NC4, Alcock and Brown actually flew non-stop across the North Atlantic and were the first to do so in a heavier-than-air machine.

I have always felt that their heroic achievement is comparable to Lindberg's but is little known outside UK. Each time I see the Vickers Vimy in the Science Museum I shudder at the thought of flying across the Atlantic in such a machine. Heroism, or perhaps foolhardiness, of the very highest order!

[DaveReidUK]

The statue of Alcock and Brown at Heathrow has been moved around so many times (it's currently in front of the Academy building) that it's probably clocked up more miles than they did in their Vimy.

[Flash2001]

I think Nevil Shute crossed the Atlantic on the R100.

After an excellent landing etc...

[glendalegoon]

yes, ''slide rule'' is a fine book and nevil shute a very important aviation and writing person.


the R34 was after alcock and brown, not before. alcock and brown were in june of 1919. R34 in july 1919


and the NC4 was in May of 1919.


The saga of the NC4 is documented in a fine book called, "THE FIRST ACROSS". the title indicating they were the first across the atlantic.



First.


alcock and brown were second. simple enough.


and the NC4 went mainland to mainland. Not island to island.

[seafire6b]

From Wiki:

The NC-4 was a Curtiss NC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_NC) flying boat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_boat) which was designed by Glenn Curtiss (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Curtiss) and his team, and manufactured by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_Aeroplane_and_Motor_Company). In May 1919, the NC-4 became the first aircraft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airplane) to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, starting in New York State (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State) and making the crossing as far as Lisbon, Portugal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon,_Portugal), in 19 days. This included time for stops of numerous repairs and for crewmen's rest, with stops along the way in Massachusetts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts), Nova Scotia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia) (on the mainland), Newfoundland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newfoundland_(island)), and twice in the Azores Islands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azores_Islands). Then its flight from the Azores to Lisbon completed the first transatlantic flight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_flight) between North America and Europe, and two more flights from Lisbon to northwestern Spain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain) to Plymouth, England (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth,_England), completed the first flight between North America and Great Britain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Britain).

The accomplishment of the naval aviators (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_aviator) of the NC-4 was somewhat eclipsed in the minds of the public by the first nonstop transatlantic flight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_flight_of_Alcock_and_Brown), which took 15 hours, 57 minutes, and was made by the Royal Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force) pilots John Alcock (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Alcock_(RAF_officer)) and Arthur Whitten Brown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Whitten_Brown), two weeks later.

[glendalegoon]

Getting Back to Lindbergh. I imagine a mt rushmore of aviation and it would be : wilbur&orville, lindbergh, and doolittle.

[joy ride]

I would add one or two pre-W&O pioneers, like Cayley and Lillenthal who paved the way!

[Brian Abraham]

You can hardly call Lindberghs flight "critical". It was but another step forward in progress.

As for the Wrights and Lindbergh on an aviation Rushmore, Charlie Taylor and Charles Lanier Lawrance would be more fitting, as neither would have got off terra firma without their engineering skills.

[Discorde]

It was reading Lindbergh's 'Spirit of St Louis' as a 19-year-old that inspired me to learn to fly. Forty-eight years and 20k+ hours later I'm still doing it.

It was disappointing to learn later of Lindbergh's unpleasant political views, which tarnished his image in my view.

But SoSL is still my favourite aviation book - I treat myself to a reread every few years.

[Wander00]

Not read the book, but the film kept the fires of aviation ambition burning

[NRU74]

I met him in c1968. Our crew were waiting for transport to take us from our hotel on Waikiki up to Hickam. In the foyer was an old man (approx 5 years younger than I am now) who was also waiting for his cab. The receptionist went over to him with a book and said in quite a loud voice something like 'gee Mr Lindbergh would you please sign this copy of your book' which he did. We then went over to speak to him and chatted for a few minutes until his taxi arrived.He was flying to Maui which was where he said he was living. Actually, no I haven't told this to my grandchildren !

[glendalegoon]

Lindbergh's political views have to truly be studied before condemning him.

What is amazing is that he asked President Roosevelt to reinstate his commission in the army to serve in combat during WW2. It was denied for political reasons. He went on to serve as a representative of chance vought and helped the marines use their new F4U fighter. He also helped the army air force extend the range of the P38 and Gen Macarthur personally thanked him.

He flew in combat wearing the eagles of a marine colonel, though he was not in the marines or any service. They gave him a uniform in case he was shot down and captured. HE WAS RISKING BEING SHOT AS A SPY if it was ever found out he was just a manufacturer's rep and not a serviceman.

There is always more to a story and deep investigation and research might prove his views were not fully understood.

There is a picture of him giving what appears to be a "heil hitler" salute. In actuality that was part of the way Americans use to say the pledge of allegience to our flag. There is even a movie with judy garland and mickey rooney doing the same thing. It was generally stopped after hitler got to be such a big shot.

[seafire6b]

Lindbergh - thoroughly deserving of his place in history. However, have to agree with a previous poster - as a politician he was "only" a great aviator.

Unfortunately, at best he is judged politically naive in the extreme, with perhaps more than reasonable grounds to suspect as being anti-Semitic too. Little wonder that he was dropped like a hot potato when Japan and Germany brought the USA to war. He soiled his own page in the history books.

[Noyade]

It was denied for political reasons.Sure was...

http://i61.tinypic.com/23vc21i.jpg

[seafire6b]

IGh

If the truth is "negative comments", then so be it. Anyway, here's the negative comment that you wrote above:

Charles Lindbergh,
Nazi? Or Progressive?Unlike me, it was you that said "Nazi" - for myself, and from respect to the man, I'll just stick with the more charitable "politically naive".