Charles Lindbergh ►Today, hundreds of people fly across the Atlantic Ocean every day. But this was not always the case. Over eighty years ago, the only way to travel between the United States and Europe was by boat. It took airplane designers and a brave pilot to change the way people traveled across the ocean. The pilot’s name was Charles Lindbergh. The Pilot
► Charles Augustus Lindbergh was born February 4, 1902.
► He was known as "Lucky Lindy" and "The Lone Eagle." The Prize
►In 1919, a hotel owner named Raymond Ortig offered $25,000 to the first person who could fly nonstop from New York to Paris. ►Several pilots had tried and failed throughout the years. ►In 1927, Charles Lindbergh was convinced he was going to be the one to complete this difficult flight and collect the prize. The Plane: The Spirit of St. Louis
►Lindbergh convinced nine businessmen from St. Louis to help him buy a special plane for the flight. ►To thank them for their support, he named the plane The Spirit of St. Louis. The Spirit of St. Louis
►The Spirit of St. Louis was constructed in only two months. ►The plane was little more than a flying fuel tank, containing 450 gallons of fuel. The Flight
►On May 20, 1927, Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field near New York City and headed for Paris. ►The entire trip took Lindbergh just under thirty-three hours. In fact, when Lindberg reached Paris he had not slept in 55 hours!! ►The distance was 3,600 miles. The Trip
►http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/lindbergh/ maps/flight.html The End of the Trip
► Lindbergh became the first pilot in history to successfully complete a solo, nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. ► In front of thousands of cheering fans, he proudly collected his prize. The story made the front page of newspapers all around the world, and “Lucky Lindy” became an instant hero. How did Charles Lindbergh’s flight impact the United States?
► Charles Lindbergh’s flight impacted the people of the United States because it caused a large interest in flying and airplanes. ► Airplanes and flying itself was a huge success after Lindbergh’s flight. ► “…suddenly everyone wanted to fly, and there weren't enough planes to carry them.”
Elinor Smith Sullivan winner of the 1930 Best Woman Aviator of the Year Award ►I was astonished at the effect my successful landing in France had on the nations of the world. To me, it was like a match lighting a bonfire. – Charles A. Lindbergh