Remembering: Lindbergh and The Spirit of St. Louis

A challenge had been placed, to be the first to fly non stop between New York and Paris, and to do so alone.

The prize of $25,000 drew many famous pilots from across America and Europe.

One of the pilots to join was a relatively unknown air mail pilot, Charles Lindbergh.

Lindbergh commissioned a small monoplane, which had designed and then named after the city of St. Louis, who had been his chief sponsor.

On May 20, 1927, Lindbergh and The Spirit of St. Louis took off, barely making it off the ground due to all the weight of gas cans that it was carrying.

His main challenge being staying awake, Lindbergh flew 3,610 miles in thirty-three and a half hours, and won the prize, becoming an international celebrity.