Lucky Lindy: Charles Lindbergh's AmazingTransatlantic Flight

Monday, April 22, 2024
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
North Mankato Fire Station #2, 1825 Howard Dr, North Mankato

The year 2024 marks the 97th anniversary of Lindbergh’s historic non-stop, solo flight across the Atlantic from New York to Paris.

To commemorate this historic event, Historical Experiences, Inc. brings to you Lucky Lindy: Charles Lindbergh's Amazing Transatlantic Flight.

Roosevelt Field, New York: On May 20, 1927, a little-known air-mail pilot by the name of Charles Lindbergh, in an airplane dubbed the Spirit of St. Louis, took off, lifting 5000 pounds of airplane, fuel and pilot up and over the end of the muddy runway, narrowly missing a line of trees and telephone wires. This marked the first and one of the most dangerous obstacles Lindbergh would have to overcome to be the first pilot to fly non-stop across the Atlantic and win the $25,000 Orteig Prize. But it was not about the money. Lindbergh had a love of flying, a desire to excel in his art and a profound faith in the future of aviation. Lindbergh was certain a non-stop trans-Atlantic flight was the best way to promote the fledgling field of aviation.

In an age when countless passengers fly across the oceans every day, it is difficult for us to genuinely appreciate what a magnificent feat Lindbergh had accomplished. At a time when the development of airplanes was still in its infancy and many, who called Lindbergh the “flying fool,” did not think airplanes had what it takes to make such a trip, Lindbergh refused to listen to the naysayers and searched for and eventually helped to design a plane that could do it. Completing this flight would not just be technologically challenging, but it would prove to be physically challenging as well. Because Lindbergh insisted on making the flight on his own, with no co-pilot, he would have to stay awake at the controls of his plane for the entire 33 1/2-hour flight of 3,600 miles, navigating across the trackless Atlantic. An amazing feat before the existence of GPS.

Arn Kind, of Historical Experiences, Inc., is a historian and teacher of 46 years' experience. He will bring the story of Lindbergh’s epic flight to life for us on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 1pm at the North Mankato Fire Hall.

Don’t miss this exciting presentation!