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!
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.
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
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.
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.
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)!
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.
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.
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.
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?
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!
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
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.
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:
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
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 .
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.
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
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.
Reader Comments (43)
Stephanie
This information came from the Aeromuseum site.
Someone feel free to correct me if you definitively know otherwise.
-Jinny
And FYI - it's Armbrust, not Armburst.
'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.
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
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.
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