80 Years Ago... Lindbergh Plane Departs for Paris

1010 WINS ^ | 5/21/08

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HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- It was 80 years ago Monday that Charles Lindbergh left Roosevelt Field on Long Island for the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

It was a misty, drizzly morning, and there was not a big crowd as Lindbergh climbed into the plane, revved the engine and headed east from what now is The Source mall on Old Country Road.

The plane took off about 7:50 a.m. down the grassy field headed to Paris.

Joshua Stoff at the Cradle of Aviation at Mitchel Field says Lindbergh's flight changed the way that people looked at aviation. People began to trust planes and considered it for travel.

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Eighty years ago today, twenty-five year old Charles Lindbergh made his flight from New York to Paris in the Spirit of St. Louis.

Lucky Lindy's flight was an important milestone on the path from the Wright brothers to today's Boeing 787. If he had fallen asleep during the 20-hour trek, or if anything else had gone wrong, Lindbergh would have died.

You can see the Sprit of St. Louis at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Considering how Lindbergh flew that little machine across the Atlantic Ocean, you cannot help but admire such courage. Only in America.

[theDentist]

Into the distance, a ribbon of black
Stretched to the point of no turning back
A flight of fancy on a windswept field
Standing alone my senses reeled
A fatal attraction holding me fast, how
Can I escape this irresistible grasp?

Cant keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, i

Ice is forming on the tips of my wings
Unheeded warnings, I thought I thought of everything
No navigator to guide my way home
Unladened, empty and turned to stone

A soul in tension thats learning to fly
Condition grounded but determined to try
Cant keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, i

Above the planet on a wing and a prayer,
My grubby halo, a vapour trail in the empty air,
Across the clouds I see my shadow fly
Out of the corner of my watering eye
A dream unthreatened by the morning light
Could blow this soul right through the roof of the night

Theres no sensation to compare with this
Suspended animation, a state of bliss
Cant keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, i

-Pink FLoyd, Learning to Fly

[DuncanWaring]

The actual flight duration was slightly in excess of 33 hours.

As an aside, Paul Harvey told a tale that Lindberg's grandfather, a banker, had migrated to the US from Sweden following an unfounded allegation of embezelment by political enemies. To ensure the rumors didn't follow him across the Atlantic, he changed his last name. Had he not changed his name, the first guy to fly from New York to Paris would have been ... Charles Manson.

[NonValueAdded]

Only 80 years ago. Think about how technology has changed between then and now. To think that we cannot tackle a climate change challenge is silly.

[GadareneDemoniac]

Not to take away from Lindbergh’s singular accomplishment, but the more I read about the man himself - at best, he was some kind of nut; at worst, evil.

I do realize that modern history seems to specialize in dumping on dead people who can’t defend themselves, but there are lots of unanswered questions about the kidnapping and the subsequent trial and Lindbergh’s activities in Europe before, during, and after WWII.

[Jay Howard Smith]

Considering how Lindbergh flew that little machine across the Atlantic Ocean, you cannot help but admire such courage.

My thoughts exactly when I first seen that plane. Personally, I wouldn't taxi it across the street.....!

[irishtenor]

***80 Years Ago... Lindbergh Plane Departs for Paris***

His luggage was found in Seattle yesterday.

[Monterrosa-24]

“...at best, he was some kind of nut; at worst, evil...”

He was a gifted pilot, an international hero, and one who suffered a parent’s nightmare. B.R. Hauptmann was guilty of the crime for which he was executed.

Lindbergh was not alone in the isolationist cause in the later 1930s.

[ishabibble]

First laugh of the day!!

[Joe 6-pack]

"If he had fallen asleep during the 20-hour trek, or if anything else had gone wrong, Lindbergh would have died."

And I suspect, aviation history would have been radically different.

[shorty_harris]

Today, in Waco, Texas, Lindbergh's grandson Erik will rededicate the SOFIA aircraft (a Boeing 747SP) to his famous grandfather. The aircraft was originally dedicated in 1977 as "Clipper Lindbergh" by Ann Morrow Lindbergh, the widow of the aviator.

[P-40]

Lindbergh was not alone in the isolationist cause in the later 1930s.

And after the *recent* horror of WWI....can we blame him?

[Don Corleone]

Eighty years ago today, twenty-five year old Charles Lindbergh made his flight from New York to Paris in the Spirit of St. Louis.

Actual departure was delayed due to weather....not much has changed after all.

[I still care]

I saw a fascinating special on Lindberg several years ago. They focused on the effort to make an overseas flight; in essence, several aviators took off before Lindbergh and all of them died.

[joylyn]

Lindbergh was by no means evil. Just eccentric. He was a talented if self-taught engineer, thoughtful, introspective and had a dry sense of humor. He was indeed taken in by the Germans — in large part because he admired their prowess in aviation.

He was not smart when it came to politics and world affairs. In fairness, however, Lindbergh was constantly being urged to play a role in public life and was none too eager.

Lindbergh’s father was an isolationist Congressman and he had a strong bent in that direction. He persisted in thinking that a( Hitler would be overthrown by military officers if he went too far and b( Germany would wear itself out fighting the Russians and not open a second front.

He was asked by the US gov to visit plants in Germany as a pretext for getting an aide in with him who could report back on what he was.

During WWII he flew several combat missions in the South Pacific, though a civilian.

[SoCalPol]

The Spirit of St. Louis was built around 5 miles from me here in San Diego.

I have original Pics of the plane my grandfather took when it was rolled out.