Charles Lindbergh

aviation · history · adventure · determination

Flew solo across the Atlantic. On May 20 and 21, 1927, Charles Lindbergh flew his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, all the way from New York to Paris without stopping. He was alone in the cockpit for over 33 hours straight, making him the first person ever to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Won a big prize. Lindbergh was trying to win the Orteig Prize, which offered $25,000 to whoever could fly nonstop between New York and Paris. His incredible journey earned him the prize and made him instantly famous around the whole world.

Set a world record. Lindbergh's flight covered 3,600 miles and was the longest solo flight anyone had ever made at that time. It was nearly 2,000 miles longer than any flight before it, showing just how incredible his achievement was.

Built a special plane. The Spirit of St. Louis was designed and built specifically for this dangerous journey across the ocean. The plane had extra fuel tanks and was stripped down to be as light as possible so it could fly the enormous distance.

Changed transportation forever. Lindbergh's successful flight proved that airplanes could safely cross the Atlantic, opening up a whole new era of long-distance air travel between continents. His courage and skill showed the world what aviation could become.