Spirit of St. Louis
Illustration of the Spirit of St. Louis The Spirit of St. ... Illustration of Spirit of St. ...
Type	NYP
Manufacturer	Ryan Airlines
Designed by	Donald A. Hall
Retired	30 April 1928
Status	Museum display, National Air and Space Museum
Primary user	Charles Lindbergh
Produced	1927
Number built	1
Unit cost	$10,000
Developed from	Ryan M-2

The Spirit of St. Louis is a custom-built aircraft flown by Charles Lindbergh that made the first non-stop solo transatlantic flight on 20 May and 21 May 1927. This was also the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris, for which Lindbergh won the $25,000 Orteig Prize. An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, and/or spacecraft. ... Tubal Claude Ryan (January 3, 1898 – September 11, 1982) was an American aviator born in Parsons, Kansas. ... Donald Albert Hall was a pioneering aeronautical engineer and aircraft designer who is most famous for having designed the Ryan NYP (known commonly as The Spirit of St. ... is the 120th day of the year (121st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... National Air and Space Museum exterior The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) of the Smithsonian Institution is a museum in Washington, D.C., United States, and is the most popular of the Smithsonian museums. ... Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) (aka Lucky Lindy; The Lone Eagle) was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and peace activist who, on May 20–21, 1927, rose from virtual obscurity to instantaneous world fame as the result of his exploits as the pilot of the... Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) (aka Lucky Lindy; The Lone Eagle) was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and peace activist who, on May 20–21, 1927, rose from virtual obscurity to instantaneous world fame as the result of his exploits as the pilot of the... Transatlantic flight is any flight of an aircraft, whether fixed-wing aircraft, balloon or other device, which involves crossing the Atlantic Ocean -- with a starting point in North America or South America and ending in Europe or Africa, or vice versa. ... is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the state. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... Charles Lindbergh (left) and Raymond Orteig The Orteig Prize was a $25,000 reward offered in 1919 by hotel owner Raymond Orteig to the first allied aviator(s) to fly non-stop from New York City to Paris or vice-versa. ...

Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Airfield in Long Island, New York and made a successful touchdown at the Le Bourget Aerodrome in Paris, France. The flight lasted 33 hours, 30 minutes and 29.8 seconds. Lindbergh was the 104th person to fly the Atlantic. Roosevelt Airfield was an airfield in Garden City, Nassau County, New York. ... This article is about the island in New York State. ... This article is about the state. ... Le Bourget airport (Aéroport du Bourget) is an airport, located in Le Bourget, close to Paris, France, nowadays only used for general aviation (business jets) as well as air shows. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... Atlantic and North Atlantic redirect here. ...

Design and development

Officially known as the Ryan NYP, the aircraft was designed by Donald A. Hall of the aircraft manufacturer Ryan Airlines, a short-lived company that was located in San Diego, California. The aircraft was loosely based on the Ryan M-2, a mail-carrier built in 1926, to cut design time. However the Spirit represented a "new design" considering the Ryan M-2 could not be redesigned to make the 3,600 mile flight. Hall elaborated on his original 1927 published facts in the "Engineering Data on the Spirit of St. Louis" (prepared for the US NACA, and included as an appendix in his book The Spirit of St. Louis by Charles Lindbergh). Donald Albert Hall was a pioneering aeronautical engineer and aircraft designer who is most famous for having designed the Ryan NYP (known commonly as The Spirit of St. ... The Ryan Aeronautical Company was founded by T. Claude Ryan in San Diego, California, USA in 1934. ... San Diego redirects here. ... NACA official seal The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) was a U.S. federal agency founded on March 3, 1915 to undertake, promote, and institutionalize aeronautical research. ... Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) (aka Lucky Lindy; The Lone Eagle) was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and peace activist who, on May 20–21, 1927, rose from virtual obscurity to instantaneous world fame as the result of his exploits as the pilot of the...

At the time, the company was owned by Benjamin Franklin Mahoney, who had founded the company as an airline in 1925 with T. Claude Ryan and retained him as manager after buying out his interest in 1926. There is dispute as to how involved T. Claude Ryan may have been with the company after selling his share to Benjamin Franklin Mahoney. It is known that Hawley Bowlus was the factory manager and oversaw the production of the aircraft. However B.F. Mahoney was the sole owner at the time of Donald A. Hall's hiring. Although designed for the New York to Paris flight and although the "Spirit" was built in San Diego, it was named after the city of St. Louis, Missouri because Lindbergh's financial investors lived in that city. The flight was inspired by the $25,000 Orteig Prize for the first non-stop flight between New York and Paris. On 21 May, the Spirit touched down at Le Bourget, thus qualifying to win the prize. An Airbus A380 of Emirates Airline An airline provides air transport services for passengers or freight. ... Tubal Claude Ryan (January 3, 1898 – September 11, 1982) was an American aviator born in Parsons, Kansas. ... William Hawley Bowlus was a designer, engineer and builder of aircraft (especially gliders) and recreational vehicles in the 1930s and 40s. ... Donald Albert Hall was a pioneering aeronautical engineer and aircraft designer who is most famous for having designed the Ryan NYP (known commonly as The Spirit of St. ... This article is about the state. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Americas Finest City Location Location of San Diego within San Diego County Coordinates , Government County San Diego Mayor City Attorney         City Council District One District Two District Three District Four District Five District Six District Seven District Eight Jerry Sanders (R) Michael Aguirre Scott Peters Kevin... Nickname: Location in the state of Missouri Coordinates: , Country State County Independent City Government  - Mayor Francis G. Slay (D) Area  - City  66. ... Charles Lindbergh (left) and Raymond Orteig The Orteig Prize was a $25,000 reward offered in 1919 by hotel owner Raymond Orteig to the first allied aviator(s) to fly non-stop from New York City to Paris or vice-versa. ... is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Hall and the Ryan Airlines staff worked closely with Lindbergh to design and build the single-seat, single-engine monoplane in just 60 days, although the actual cost isn't clear, since Mahoney offered the aircraft "at cost". In the spring of 1927, several other pilots and aircrew were also preparing to make the transatlantic flight to compete for the Orteig Prize.

Design

Lindbergh poses with the famous aircraft

Lindbergh believed that the more engines an aircraft had, the greater the possibility of engine failure. He was of the opinion that single-engine aircraft traveled farther, and thus decided to purchase one. To increase fuel efficiency, the Spirit of St. Louis was one of the most streamlined aircraft of its era. Image File history File links LindberghStLouis. ... Image File history File links LindberghStLouis. ...

Lindbergh believed that a flight in a small aircraft, designed around the dependable Wright J-5C, stood the best chance of completion. The Ryan NYP was very different from others since it had extra fuel tanks, in order to travel a much greater distance non-stop. The large main fuel tank was placed in the forward section of the fuselage, in front of the pilot, which improved the center of gravity of the aircraft. Locating fuel tanks at the front of the aircraft reduced the risk of the pilot being crushed to death in crash, thus there was no front windshield, and the pilot's view was limited to the side windows. A periscope was installed and fastened to the aircraft's left side to provide a forward view, as a precaution against hitting ship masts, trees, or structures while flying at low altitude; however, it is unclear whether the periscope was used during the flight. Lindbergh also used special navigation instruments such as the Earth Inductor Compass, which was the aircraft's main instrument, allowing Lindbergh to navigate while taking account of the magnetic deviation of the earth. This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Pioneer bubble sextant used in conjunction with the EIC The Earth Inductor Compass was designed in 1924 by Morris Titterington at the Pioneer Instrument Company. ... Magnetic deviation is the error induced in a compass by local magnetic fields, which must be allowed for if accurate bearings are to be calculated. ...

Lindbergh sat in a cramped cockpit which was 94 centimeters wide by 81 centimeters long and 130 centimeters high. The cockpit was so small, Lindbergh could not stretch his legs. The Spirit of St. Louis was powered by a 223-horsepower, air-cooled, 9-cylinder Wright J-5C "Whirlwind" radial engine. The engine was rated for a maximum operating time of 9,000 hours (more than one year if operated continuously), and had a special mechanism that could keep it clean the whole New York-to-Paris flight.

The race to win the trophy required timesaving design compromises. The original wingspan of the Ryan M2 was increased by 10 feet and redesigned to create a surface area large enough to lift 450 gallons (1,703 liters) of fuel (carried in five fuel tanks: left wing, right wing, mid wing, nose and in available payload space) along with the lone pilot and minimum necessary gear. The gallon (abbreviation: gal) is a unit of volume. ... The liter (spelled liter in American English and litre in Commonwealth English) is a unit of volume. ...

However, Donald A. Hall decided that the tail and control surfaces of the aircraft would not be altered from his original Ryan M2 design, thus minimizing redesign time that was not available without delaying the flight. The result was a less stable aircraft which the experienced Lindbergh nevertheless approved. There is dispute regarding whether Hall and Lindbergh also preferred this design since the estimated 40-hour flight would be very challenging in terms of pilot fatigue.^{[citation needed]} More than likely, Hall and Lindbergh together weighed the advantages and disadvantages of this setup, determining that an unstable aircraft would help keep Lindbergh awake. This indeed resulted in a aircraft with unstable flight characteristics, with a tendency to curve, dip, and bank at random times. The stiff wicker seat in the cockpit was also purposely uncomfortable, though custom fitted to Lindbergh's tall and lanky frame. Lindbergh later wrote in his account, The Spirit of St. Louis, about how the aircraft's movements woke him various times during the flight. Donald Albert Hall was a pioneering aeronautical engineer and aircraft designer who is most famous for having designed the Ryan NYP (known commonly as The Spirit of St. ... For other uses, see Bank (disambiguation). ... A wickerwork scratching post A wicker balloon basket capable of holding 16 passengers. ... Categories: Literature stubs | 1953 books | Books starting with S ...

Lindbergh also insisted that unnecessary weight be eliminated. For example, he carried no radio in order to save weight. Radios were quite unreliable at the time in any case. Also, although he was an airmail pilot, he refused to carry souvenir letters on the transatlantic journey, insisting that every spare ounce be devoted to fuel. The aircraft fuselage was made of treated fabric over a metal-tube frame. The wings were made of fabric over a wood frame.

A swastika was painted on the inside of the nosecone of the Spirit of St. Louis along with the names of all the Ryan Aircraft Co. employees that built the aircraft. It was a message of good luck prior to Lindbergh's solo Atlantic crossing as the swastika was a popular good luck charm and symbol with early aviators.^[1] The inside of the nosecone can be viewed on the original Spirit of St. Louis at the National Air and Space Museum. This article is about the symbol. ... A nose cone that contained one of the Voyager spacecraft is seen here as it is mounted on top of a Titan III/Centaur launch vehicle. ... National Air and Space Museum exterior The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) of the Smithsonian Institution is a museum in Washington, D.C., United States, and is the most popular of the Smithsonian museums. ...

Legacy

Lindbergh's transatlantic flight made him an instant celebrity and media star. In successfully winning the Orteig Prize, his solitary flight seemed to stir the public's imagination. He wrote: "I was astonished at the effect my successful landing in France had on the nations of the world. It was like a match lighting a bonfire" ^[2].

He subsequently flew the Spirit of St. Louis to Belgium and England before President Calvin Coolidge sent a Navy cruiser to bring Lindbergh and his aircraft back to the United States. Lindbergh then flew the Spirit of St. Louis on promotional and goodwill tours across the United States and Latin America. The final flight of the Spirit of St. Louis took place on 30 April 1928, when Lindbergh flew from St. Louis to Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., where he presented the historic aircraft to the Smithsonian Institution. For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. ... USS Port Royal (CG-73), a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser (really an uprated guided missile destroyer), launched in 1992. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... is the 120th day of the year (121st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bolling Air Force Base, in Southwest Washington, DC, is named for Col. ... The Smithsonian Institution Building or Castle on the National Mall serves as the Institutions headquarters. ...

Charles Lindbergh wrote the book WE about his 1927 epic transatlantic journey from New York to Paris only weeks after the flight. The title "WE" refers to Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis being together and the only two on the flight. In 1953, he wrote The Spirit of St. Louis which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1954. Look up we in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Categories: Literature stubs | 1953 books | Books starting with S ... The Pulitzer Prize is an American award regarded as the highest national honor in print journalism, literary achievements, and musical composition. ...

Aftermath

Although Jamaican Airlines (its company name at the time) capitalized on the notoriety of the NYP special, an offshoot, the Ryan B-1 Brougham emerged as a five-seater with the same J-5 engine but modified with a conventional cockpit layout and a shorter wingspan. Under the newly restructured B.F. Mahoney Company, further development continued with the six-place Model B-7 with a 420 hp engne and the Model C-1 with 220 hp. In 1928, Mahoney built a DeLuxe B-2 as a gift for Charles Lindbergh. ^[3]

While these further developments were only superficially comparable to the "Spirit of St. Louis," an exact duplicate was built 45 days after the transatlantic flight, the NYP-2, ordered by the Japanese newspaper Mainichi. The NYP-2 carrying serial number 29 was registered as J-BACC and achieved a number of record-breaking flights early in 1928 before a crash ended its career.^[3]

The original Spirit of St. Louis is currently on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, in the main atrium on the same side as the Bell X-1 and SpaceShipOne. The aircraft was presented to the Smithsonian Institution by Lindbergh in 1928. National Air and Space Museum exterior The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) of the Smithsonian Institution is a museum in Washington, D.C., United States, and is the most popular of the Smithsonian museums. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... The Bell X-1, originally designated XS-1, was a joint NACA-U.S. Army Air Forces/US Air Force supersonic research project and the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in controlled, level flight. ... Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne SpaceShipOnes patch The Scaled Composites Model 316 SpaceShipOne is an experimental air-launched suborbital spaceplane that uses a hybrid rocket motor. ... The Smithsonian Institution Building or Castle on the National Mall serves as the Institutions headquarters. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1928: Events January January 6-8 - Lt Christian Schilt makes ten flights in an O2U Corsair to evacuate wounded marines from the besieged village of Quilali, Nicaragua. ...

Many replicas have been made — both static and flying. Three replicas of the Spirit of St. Louis were converted from Ryan B-1s for the 1957 film The Spirit of St. Louis starring James Stewart. One replica is on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan while a second movie model is at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. ^[4] Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... The Spirit of St. ... For other persons named James Stewart, see James Stewart (disambiguation). ... A Ford Model T, used for giving tourist rides, is shown above at Greenfield Village. ... Location in Michigan Coordinates: , Country United States State Michigan County Wayne County Government  - Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. ... The EAA AirVenture Museum is a museum dedicated to the preservation and display of aircraft in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. ... Location of Oshkosh, Wisconsin City hall Downtown Oshkosh at U.S. Route 45 Oshkosh Public Museum Mouth of the Fox River into Lake Winnebago. ...

Another aircraft also used in the film is located at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, in Garden City, New York. This aircraft was built in 1928 by Ryan as a "Brougham," along identical lines as the "Spirit of St.Louis." It is one of two surviving original sister ships of the "Spirit of St.Louis." This aircraft was once flown by Lindbergh.^[5]

The Experimental Aircraft Association owns two Spirit of St. Louis replicas, both of which were registered under the original's NX211. Other examples are found at the Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport, the Missouri History Museum, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, San Diego Aerospace Museum and San Diego International Airport. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. ... Diagram of STL. Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport (IATA: STL, ICAO: KSTL) is the primary airport for Saint Louis, Missouri and the surrounding area. ... The Missouri History Museum located in St. ... Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (IATA: MSP, ICAO: KMSP) is the largest and busiest airport in the five-state upper Midwestern region of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. ... San Diego Aerospace Museum is an aviation and space exploration museum in San Diego, California. ... FAA diagram of San Diego International Airport San Diego International Airport (IATA: SAN, ICAO: KSAN, FAA LID: SAN), also known as Lindbergh Field, is located in San Diego, California. ...

Specifications (Ryan NYP)

Data from ^[6][7]

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 27 ft 7 in (8.4 m)
• Wingspan: 46 ft (14 m)
• Height: 9 ft 10 in (3 m)
• Wing area: 320 ft² (29.7 m²)
• Airfoil: Clark Y
• Empty weight: 2,150 lb (975 kg)
• Loaded weight: 2888 lb (1,310 kg)
• Useful load: 450 gal (1,703 l)
• Max takeoff weight: 5,135 lb (2,330 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Wright Whirlwind J-5C Single blade Standard Steel Propeller, 223 hp (166 kW)

The distance AB is the wing span of this Aer Lingus Airbus A320. ... For the kite, see foil kite. ... In aviation, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (or MTOW) is the maximum weight with which an aircraft can achieve flight. ... The Wright Whirlwind was an aero-engine developed by the Wright Aeronautical Corporation. ... Hamilton Standard, a famous aircraft propeller part supplier, was founded in 1910 by Thomas F. Hamilton. ...

Performance

• Maximum speed: 133 mph (220 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 100- 110 mph (160-175 km/h)
• Range: 4,100 mi (6,600 km)
• Service ceiling 16,400 ft (5,000 m)
• Rate of climb: Considered marginal^[7] ()
• Wing loading: 16 lb/ft² (78 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 23 lb/hp (10.4 kg/hp)

V speeds are speeds that define certain performance and limiting characteristics of an aircraft. ... V speeds are speeds that define certain performance and limiting characteristics of an aircraft. ... The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing, as limited by fuel capacity in powered aircraft, or cross-country speed and environmental conditions in unpowered aircraft. ... In aeronautics, a ceiling is the maximum density altitude an aircraft can reach under a set of conditons The service ceiling attempts to capture the maximum usable altitude of an aircraft. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... In aerodynamics, wing loading is the loaded weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing. ... Power-to-weight ratio is a measure commonly used when comparing various vehicles (or engines), including automobiles, motorcycles and aircraft. ...

See also

References

Notes

The National Socialist German Workers Party, (German: , or NSDAP, commonly known as the Nazi Party), was a political party in Germany between 1919 and 1945. ...

Bibliography

is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Spirit of St. Louis

• Spirit of St. Louis at the National Air and Space Museum
• The Spirit of St. Louis
• Lindbergh's Transatlantic Flight: New York to Paris Timeline, May 20-21, 1927
• Photo Archive by Donald A. Hall: Designer of the Spirit of St. Louis
• [1]

Donald Albert Hall was a pioneering aeronautical engineer and aircraft designer who is most famous for having designed the Ryan NYP (known commonly as The Spirit of St. ...

Gallery

The Spirit of St. Louis on display in the National Air and Space Museum Picture of the Spirit of St. ... National Air and Space Museum exterior The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) of the Smithsonian Institution is a museum in Washington, D.C., United States, and is the most popular of the Smithsonian museums. ...	Nose of the Spirit of St. Louis, with the Wright Whirlwind Radial engine visible Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2016x1512, 1034 KB) Pictures taken by Raul654 around Washington DC on May 7, 2005. ...	Spirit of St. Louis Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1000 × 750 pixel, file size: 589 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): National Air and...	Spirit of St. Louis Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixels Full resolution (1000 × 750 pixel, file size: 748 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Spirit of St. ...
Spirit of St. Louis spinner Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2816x2112, 410 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...	Spirit of St. Louis spinner Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 539 pixels Full resolution (2076 × 1398 pixel, file size: 188 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...	Spirit of St. Louis model Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 364 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...	The Spirit of St. Louis as displayed at the National Air and Space Museum. Image enhanced. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 518 pixel Image in higher resolution (1760 × 1140 pixel, file size: 436 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... National Air and Space Museum exterior The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) of the Smithsonian Institution is a museum in Washington, D.C., United States, and is the most popular of the Smithsonian museums. ...