Skip to Content
Skip to Table of Contents

← Previous Article Next Article →

ATPM 7.01
January 2001

Download ATPM 7.01

Choose a format:

Desktop Pictures

Spirit-Of-St-Louis

spirit-of-st-louis-420

Download | Description

Reader Comments (43)

Robert · September 19, 2001 - 21:38 EST #1
WOW! This old thing flew from St. Louis to Paris non-stop!?
Lee Bennett (ATPM Staff) · September 19, 2001 - 22:20 EST #2
Actually, it was from New York to Paris. There's some more info in this short bio of Charles Lindbergh.
Stephanie Kay Westbrook · April 24, 2002 - 19:26 EST #3
Hello. I am so glad that I found this page. I have a school project due on May 13 and I am doing a project on the White House. Without this page, I would've never found this! Thanks a lot!

Stephanie
Jessica · December 8, 2002 - 23:05 EST #4
What does this plane have to do with Washington, D.C.?
Lee Bennett (ATPM Staff) · December 8, 2002 - 23:09 EST #5
Jessica - its connection is that it's currently located in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in D.C.
ChillPadPrincess · January 20, 2003 - 16:15 EST #6
Why is it called the Spirit of St. Louis if it flew from NY to Paris?
Lee Bennett (ATPM Staff) · January 20, 2003 - 22:55 EST #7
ChillPad - it was named in honor of Lindbergh's supporters in St. Louis, Missouri, who paid for the aircraft. Its manufactured name was the Ryan NYP Monoplane. It was built by Ryan Airlines Company, and the NYP was an acronym for New York-Paris.

This information came from the Aeromuseum site.
Omonua Smith · May 24, 2003 - 00:31 EST #8
I am impressed.
Ricardo Mosquera, MD · July 10, 2003 - 19:43 EST #9
I visited several years ago but I want to know if you have more information about his trip through Central America, especially when he arrived at Panama City. Thanks.
Lee Bennett (ATPM Staff) · July 11, 2003 - 00:46 EST #10
Ricardo - does this page help any?
Ricardo Mosquera, MD · September 4, 2003 - 00:53 EST #11
Thanks for help.
Arron Taylor · November 9, 2003 - 12:35 EST #12
I want to know what color the Spirit of St. Louis was. I am building a model for my scout pack meeting and want to paint my model the same colors as the orignal. Thank you.
Lee Bennett (ATPM Staff) · November 9, 2003 - 21:15 EST #13
Arron - if the picture on this page doesn't tell you what color the plane was, I have no idea how to tell you any better—unless this slightly wider, but a bit darker, shot helps any.
Arron Taylor · November 11, 2003 - 09:55 EST #14
Thanks, Mr. Bennett. I painted it silver flat and did the tires in black and I am going to write the words in black marker on the body. I think I have a big chance to win because I learned a lot of things in trying to put my model together with my dad, like who flew it and where he went, and how long it took him to get there. I was amazed to learn that Mr. Lindbergh attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and I plan to tell my pack about that too.
Joseph · March 5, 2004 - 16:25 EST #15
He was going to fly to Rome, but went to Paris instead.
Simon (The Netherlands) · July 13, 2004 - 16:30 EST #16
Very nice picture of the front of the "Spirit of St. Louis"! I get goose-flesh from the name "Spirit of St. Louis" (because of the her.oism of the plane and the flyer [pilot] Charles Lindberg)!
Mary · March 1, 2005 - 23:05 EST #17
This picture isn't the replica right?
Lee Bennett (ATPM Staff) · March 2, 2005 - 01:46 EST #18
Mary - my understanding was that the Air and Space Museum's artifacts were all genuine. Perhaps various amounts of restoration work has been done, but they're still the original aircraft.

Someone feel free to correct me if you definitively know otherwise.
Sadao Ohata · March 5, 2005 - 10:46 EST #19
Several years ago,we Japanese had a precious chance to see the Smithsonian Institute Exhibitions in Tokyo. There, of course, above aircraft was be exhibited in the stadium. I don't forget greatest impression to gazing it just at face. I am sure that America is very young country, but they could promote to wonderful land with their frontier spirit. Continuing with energ for ever,I hope. Thank you very much.
Jinny · April 3, 2005 - 08:39 EST #20
This is a very helpful site! Do you know where the Spirit of St. Louis is currently located?

-Jinny
Lee Bennett (ATPM Staff) · April 3, 2005 - 14:23 EST #21
Jinny - as far as I know it is still located in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., as it has been for many years. That was its location five years ago when I took this photo. I'm quite certain it hasn't been moved.
vince · July 22, 2005 - 09:48 EST #22
it's still there, its really cool to look at. The Air and Space Museum is definently one of the coolest museums on the national mall.
John Beck · October 19, 2005 - 18:10 EST #23
He left without a kiss goodbye. He flew alone so that those who would follow could fly together.
Trey Matthew Goodman · December 9, 2005 - 16:06 EST #24
What is the Armburst Cup? And can you tell me i little about it? Please it would mean a lot to me. Thank You!!!!!
Lee Bennett (ATPM Staff) · December 9, 2005 - 20:05 EST #25
Trey - we can't tell you any more about it than what you can find in a Google or Wikipedia search.

And FYI - it's Armbrust, not Armburst.
Brian Snyder, Baltimore MD · January 16, 2006 - 23:59 EST #26
I recently "flew" this plane in microsoft's flight simulator 2004, and I was stunned to find that the pilot's seat offers practically NO view of what's in front of the plane!!! Talk about flying by your instruments... I have the utmost respect for Mr. Charles L. for making that flight. How did he make the landing without being able to see?
Rich'd Burchell · May 16, 2006 - 02:49 EST #27
Some notes on the "spirit". Prop spinner tip has been replaced: the original carried the "engine-turn"(sometimes called "swirl" pattern)Why? Is it a lost art? Propeller: original finish: shiney , almost mirror polished steel. Present prop: corogard? light gray. Wheels; fabric wheel covers stitched (yes, with heavy thread) onto wheel rim. Contemporary pics show rather sloppy job. Now quite neat. Also: note what appear to be flare chutes in fuselage bottom.(far right of photo) These seem to be installed after Paris flight. Possibly for S.America Good-will Tour? This aircraft has long been one of my AL-TIME favorites. Only one pilot (yes, just one) flew the Spirit of St, Louis. Charles A. Lindbergh!
Monica · October 12, 2006 - 21:29 EST #28
Wht are those two black cylinders on the bottom of the plane all the way to the right?
Bruce · May 16, 2007 - 12:51 EST #29
This is by far the most excellent picture I have seen on this site!!!
Jack Mihaff · June 12, 2007 - 11:01 EST #30
This is such an amazing place. I've gone here about 69 times and i have loved every time. Never gotten sick of it and it has been the best thing ever.
John Biros · July 13, 2007 - 18:49 EST #31
My dad once rented a building located at 7812 Hamilton Ave. in Pittsburgh, Pa. When I was very young, I found a book hidden away in the building that I think stated that the propeller for the Spirit of St. Louis had been manufactured there. Can you confirm where the propeller was made?
Lee Bennett (ATPM Staff) · July 13, 2007 - 21:00 EST #32
John - few, if anyone at all, are experts with this aircraft. Google and Wikipedia are much better sources for such information. For example, it took me less than 15 seconds to find http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Standard
Paul Morrison · January 12, 2008 - 09:29 EST #33
There is a film about the Spirit of St Louis called.
'The Spirit of St Louis' (1957) A biographical drama starring James Stewart and Patricia Smith, the story of Charles A Lindbergh and his istoric 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic from New York to Paris.
Sadao Ohata · February 28, 2008 - 03:09 EST #34
This is just footstep of exploring history.
Michael Backus · May 9, 2008 - 16:11 EST #35
The original prop spinner from the Spirit of Saint Louis is on separate display at the Air and Space Museum, Wash DC. It was removed to show the crew inscriptions in the inside, including good luck (pre Nazi) swastika.

Here is a great shot of the inside of the spinner on display:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/21/Spirit_of_St._Louis_Nose_Cone_1.jpg
Brad Rich · March 20, 2009 - 22:01 EST #36
Monica, those two black cylinders are flare tubes.
brad ward · May 29, 2009 - 14:12 EST #37
My grampa Irving was a mechanic on this plane. he carved a peice out from the inside of the tail section (like a puzzle peice that can fit back in).
Samuel · December 7, 2009 - 16:16 EST #38
Curious about photos from syracuse Ny time line 7/28/27 .I have actual photos taken by one of the members who orginized the reception there .Not only of the man himself and his lady but also his Mechanics plane that arrived apx 20 minutes before he did .They are typed narration on the back but not signed .The lady I forget her name I believe her husband was a Col in the RAF .But thats another story
Samuel Gibbs · December 7, 2009 - 16:20 EST #39
Im curious as to how many replicas of the Spirit of Saint Louis were made and when the actual bird was retired time and date wise .
Samuel Gibbs · December 7, 2009 - 16:25 EST #40
Brad im sure your gramps has plenty of pictures of him and The spirit of Saint Louis .But how many has he got of his old Bi-plane he flew on the tore ? If hes intrest'd give me a Email address and ill send him what I have .History is a great thing to be enjoyed by all especialy by those who made it .
Grant Hildebrand · May 23, 2010 - 14:33 EST #41
I believe the comment that Lindbergh first intended to fly to Rome is incorrect. He was trying for the $25,000 Orteig Prize, offered by Raymond Orteig for, specifically, the first non-stop flight from NY to Paris, or Paris to NY. Two earlier attempts, one from NY, one from Paris, had cost four lives.

Lindbergh decided to forgo forward visibility because he did not want to be caught between the necessarily large fuselage fuel tank and the engine in case of a crash; therefore the tank had to be forward of the cockpit.
Jim Bould · February 9, 2011 - 09:46 EST #42
Does anyone have pictures of the actual plane tail section with any initials etched into the plane? My grandfather lived right there where the plane took off. Story goes: my father and his brothers were there as young boys and etched some of there initials in the tail section somewhere before he flew to Paris. Lindbergh himself yelled at them to get away from the plane. Can't verify if this was true or not or just made up. email if you have anything please. jimbo4456@aol.com
Holmes Brannon · June 23, 2011 - 16:46 EST #43
Magnificent photo of the Spirit of St Louis! She used to be hung in the Great Hall of the original (red) Smithsonian building until the Air and Space Museum was built. Once, in the 1960s, I spent a summer in Washington, DC and got to be friends with some of the Smithsonian guards. One old gentleman told me a story--which I believe is true. He said that earlier, about once every year, the night watchmen would hear a knock on the door to the Smithsonian. It would be Charles Lindbergh. Without a word, Lindbergh would come in and, alone in the silence of the night, stand in the Great Hall and stare up at his airplane for long minutes. Then, still without a word, the Lone Eagle would walk back out into the darkness.

Add A Comment





 E-mail me new comments on this article