Did Lindbergh give rides i the Spirit?

[Stephan Wilkinson]

I am reading a book ("The Aviators," by Winston Groom) in which the author frequently refers to Charles Lindbergh having "given rides" to notable people, including Henry Ford, in the Spirit of St. Louis. Did this actually ever happen? Certainly it's possible, if they stuck a seat behind Lindbergh's and perhaps did some ballasting to keep the CG in place, but I do wonder...

[tom d. friedman]

no way!! he cherished his privacy even before he married & lost his son to Hauptman. the media besieged him from the getgo. the spirit of st. Louis was a national treasure after that historic flight. yes, he toured w/ it somewhat, but it was retired very quickly.

[Champ driver]

No one has ever been given a ride in the Spirit of St Louis, not even his wife. If you read much about the man you would know he would never allow anyone to alter the plane just for rides.
The Spirit was flown around the United States on a 48 State tour and through Latin America after returning from Europe. It was donated to the Smithsonian with less than 500 hours on her.

[barnbstormer]

Yes-numerous times...
As can be seen in the Spirit of St. Louis logbook.
http://www.charleslindbergh.com/history/log.asp
See Aug 11 & 12, 1927 and three flights on Oct 16, 1927 for a start.

See also May 3,14 & 15, and Oct 4 and 25. Also interesting to note the plane was allowed to be piloted by at least two other pilots.

[Champ driver]

Either I didn't know that, or I had forgotten it.
Sorry, I stand corrected.

[Cherrybomber13]

I find this part more interesting... Seem like we could have lost Lucky Lindy ... Bermuda Triangle?

February 13, 1928 Havana to Lambert Field, St. Louis, Mo.
(Both compasses malfunctioned over Florida Strait, at night. The earth-inductor needle wobbled back and forth. The liquid compass card rotated without stopping. Could recognize no stars through heavy haze. Located position, at daybreak, over Bahama Islands, nearly 300 miles off course. Liquid compass card kept rotating until the Spirit of St. Louis reached the Florida coast.)

15 hrs. 35 min.

.

[Lynn Allen]

Even flew over my house 9/27/1927 going to Dallas...

[APG85]

Every couple of years, I re-read Lindbergh's book "The Spirit of St. Louis". One of the best aviation books I have ever read. I first read it as a teenager and I couldn't put it down. I remember staying up almost all night reading it and dragging myself to school the next day. A great pilot and a great author...

[SaxMan]

Major Lanphier, who was the CO of Selfridge Field, was one of those allowed to fly the Spirit. Was he a relative to Tom Lanphier of the Yammamoto Mission fame? (possibly his father?)

[StangStung]

Where did the passenger fit? Is there someplace for a jump seat? Seems like there must be.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

I just read an account of Henry Ford's flight in the SoSL, and it turns out that he basically sat on the right armrest of Lindbergh's seat, bent almost double since his ass was at about roof-height. Ford claims to have "manipulated the stick," though it's not known if he actually did.

As for Lanphier flying the Spirit, that's extremely doubtful. I don't think Lindbergh ever let anybody else fly that airplane. Lanphier probably did what Ford claims to have also done.

[Baldeagle]

Don't know why you would say that without some quick research, Lindbergh himself wrote in "Spirit of St. Louis" that on July 1, 1927, "Major Lanphier, Commanding Officer of Selfridge Field, piloted the Spirit of St. Louis on one flight in the vicinity of the field." Listed as 0 hrs. 10 min.

And on August 8 another good friend of Lindbergh, Lt. Phil Love also piloted the Spirit on a 10 minute flight. 3 days later Ford went for his ride, his first in an airplane, and the day after that Lindbergh took his mother for a ride.

3rd listing on a google search.



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[APG85]

There is at least one picture of Lindbergh's mother looking out of the cockpit window just before take-off.